Apply for recognition as a geriatric care specialist with a professional qualification from a third country

Application

You must submit an application to the appropriate authority to obtain permission to use the professional title “Altenpflegerin” or “Altenpfleger.” Alternatively, you may apply to use the professional title “Altenpflegefachperson.”  You can upload the application and supporting documents electronically. Do not send any originals by mail.

Equivalency Review

The competent authority will then verify whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent authority compares your foreign professional qualification with the German professional qualification as a “Geriatric Care Specialist” under the Nursing Professions Act. The professional qualification is considered equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

You may also choose to skip the equivalency assessment and take a knowledge test or complete an adaptation course directly. In that case, the competent authority will not conduct an equivalency assessment.

Possible Outcomes of the Equivalency Assessment

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements. You will then be granted permission to use the professional title “geriatric care specialist,” “geriatric care provider (female),” or “geriatric care provider (male).”

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, skills, or competencies (lifelong learning). Knowledge, skills, and competencies must be certified by an authority in the country where you acquired them.

However, it may be that the significant differences cannot be compensated for by your professional experience, knowledge, skills, or competencies. In this case, the competent authority will inform you of the significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification and explain why you cannot compensate for these significant differences.

The competent authority will also inform you of the compensatory measures you can take to address the significant differences. If you decide not to take any compensatory measures, your professional qualification will not be recognized. In that case, you will not be permitted to work as a geriatric care specialist in Germany.

Compensatory Measures

There are various compensatory measures:

• Adaptation course: The adaptation course lasts a maximum of 3 years.

• Knowledge exam: The knowledge exam tests your knowledge in specific subjects and areas. The knowledge exam consists of an oral and a practical portion.

Even if you decide to waive the equivalency examination, you can choose between an adaptation course or a knowledge examination.

If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will be authorized to use the professional title “Geriatric Care Specialist,” “Geriatric Care Provider (female),” or “Geriatric Care Provider (male).”

More information

Equivalency Determination

As part of the authorization process (recognition process), an equivalence assessment is generally conducted. You may request a separate decision regarding the outcome of this assessment.

Procedure for Ethnic German Repatriates

As a late repatriate, you may choose to go through the recognition process either under the laws listed here or under the Federal Displaced Persons Act. You may decide this for yourself. The responsible agency will advise you on which process is right for you.

Legal Remedies

You may take legal action (for example, file an appeal) against the decision of the competent authority within a specified time limit. The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision notice. You should first speak with the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

• The relevant agency will tell you which documents you need to submit. Generally, the most important documents are:
  
  • Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
  • Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
  • Resume
  • Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g., diplomas, professional certificates)
  • Evidence of education
  • Evidence of your relevant professional experience in a profession comparable to geriatric care
  • Evidence of additional relevant knowledge for working as a geriatric care specialist
  • Information regarding any previous application for recognition. If applicable, please specify the agency to which you submitted the application.
  • Proof that you intend to work in this profession in Germany
  • Do you still live or work in a third country—that is, outside the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland? If so, you may need to provide proof that you have received a job offer from a health and long-term care facility in Bremen to work as a certified nursing professional.
• You will usually submit these documents at a later date. The relevant agency will let you know when to submit them:
  
  • Proof of your personal suitability: Criminal record or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin.
  • Proof of your medical fitness: Medical certificate.
  • Proof of your German language proficiency: Language certificate
• The relevant office will let you know which documents you need to submit—whether as a simple copy, a certified copy, or the original.

The costs generally depend on the amount of work involved.

Additional costs may also arise (for example, for translations, certifications, or remedial measures such as an adjustment course or a proficiency exam). These costs vary from person to person.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

There are no deadlines.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the application. The responsible agency will then let you know by when you must submit the missing documents.

How long does it take to process

4 months The relevant agency will notify you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the process will take no more than 4 months.

• § 40 Gesetz über die Pflegeberufe (Pflegeberufegesetz - PflBG)
• § 43 Gesetz über die Pflegeberufe (Pflegeberufegesetz - PflBG)
• § 58 Absatz 2 Gesetz über die Pflegeberufe (Pflegeberufegesetz - PflBG)
• § 64a Absatz 2 Gesetz über die Pflegeberufe (Pflegeberufegesetz - PflBG)
• §§ 43 ff. Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsverordnung für die Pflegeberufe (Pflegeberufe-Ausbildungs- und -Prüfungsverordnung - PflAPrV)

• Informationen zur Anerkennung ausländischer Berufsqualifikationen auf dem Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland
• Finanzielle Hilfen für das Anerkennungsverfahren
• Öffentlich bestellte Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer in Deutschland
• Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)
• Verfahren nach dem Bundesvertriebenengesetz