Apply for recognition of foreign professional qualifications (EU/EEA/Switzerland) as a geriatric nurse/geriatric nurse specialist

Geriatric nurses and geriatric care specialists look after and care for older people in need of assistance. They support them in coping with everyday life. They advise older people, motivate them to engage in meaningful activities and perform nursing and medical tasks.

The profession of geriatric nurse or geriatric care specialist is regulated in Germany. This means that you need a state permit to work as a geriatric nurse or geriatric care specialist in Germany. With this permit, you are allowed to use the professional title of geriatric nurse or geriatric care specialist and work in this profession.

Even if you have a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can still obtain state approval from the relevant office in Germany. To get approval, you need to have your foreign professional qualification recognized.

In the recognition procedure, the competent authority compares your foreign professional qualification with the German professional qualification and checks its equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the state permit.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also fulfill further requirements for the granting of the permit. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient knowledge of German and medical fitness.

If your professional qualification does not come from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

Procedure
1. Application
You apply to the relevant office for a license to use the professional title of geriatric nurse or geriatric care specialist.

2. Assessment of equivalence
The competent authority will then assess whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent authority will compare your foreign professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a geriatric nurse or geriatric nurse specialist. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no substantial differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

3. Possible outcomes of the assessment
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to fulfill the other requirements. Then you will receive permission to use the professional title of geriatric nurse or specialist in geriatric care.
Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide proof of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority of the state in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.
However, it may be that the substantial differences cannot be compensated for by this knowledge. In this case, your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a geriatric nurse or geriatric care specialist in Germany.
The competent authority will, however, inform you of the substantial differences and explain why you cannot compensate for them through your professional experience. In most cases, you can take a compensation measure. This will enable you to compensate for the substantial differences.
4. Compensatory measures
There are various compensatory measures:
Adaptation period: The adaptation period lasts a maximum of three years.
Aptitude test: The aptitude test only covers the areas in which substantial differences have been identified. The aptitude test consists of a practical examination combined with an interview.
You can choose between an adaptation period or an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and fulfill all further requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title of geriatric nurse or geriatric nurse specialist.

You can also access this service online

Online processing

  • Do it online now
    You do not need to register for online processing and can submit the application directly online.

Prerequisites

  • Training in the healthcare profession completed in the EU/EEA/Switzerland that is equivalent to German training or an equivalent level of knowledge
    The equivalence of the level of knowledge is to be proven, if necessary, by an examination or an adaptation course.
  • Health suitability
  • Proof of good repute and good standing for practicing the healthcare profession
  • Sufficient knowledge of German level B 2
  • Proof of responsibility

Documents required

  • Application for permission to use the professional title in the case of training in the European Union (EU)
  • Proof of responsibility for the state of Berlin
    (e.g. confirmation of employment, proof of habitual residence in the state of Berlin / main residence, applications for vacancies in the state of Berlin, invitations to job interviews)
  • Curriculum vitae in tabular form with signature and date
  • Birth certificate and, if applicable, name change certificates
  • Proof of identity (valid identity card or passport)
  • Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority
    To verify personal reliability, information from the Federal Central Criminal Register (certificate of good conduct) is required for submission to an authority (document type O).
    The information must not be older than three months.
  • Certificate of Good Conduct/Certificate of Clearance of Offences
    of the police or judicial authorities of the home country, if applicable, of the study country (if presented, not older than 3 months)
  • Certificate of good standing from the country of origin
    of the competent authority of the country in which the profession was practised (if presented, not older than 3 months)
  • Medical certificate from a doctor licensed to practice in Germany
    (if presented, not older than 3 months)
  • Documents on the training course and training qualification with German translation
    (see checklist for the granting of a licence to use the professional title for medical professions when training in an EU member state)
  • Certificate B 2 on knowledge of the German language
    Certificate from the Goethe Institute, telc (telc certificates from Serbian language schools are not recognized), TestDaf or ECL certified language school; not older than 3 years. Note: The submitted language certificates will be checked for authenticity and accuracy. It is not necessary to submit the language certificates at the time of application.
  • Foreign language documents
    Foreign-language documents must be submitted with certified translations by translators who are generally sworn or authorized or publicly appointed in Germany.

Fees

EUR 164.00

Average time to process request

approx. 3-4 months, if all documents are complete

Notes on responsibility

Permission to use the professional title is only granted by the Berlin State Office for Health and Social Affairs.

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