Best German Nursing Adaptation Courses
If you want to work in Germany as a nurse, you might consider taking a German Nursing Adaptation course before applying for a job. It will provide you with all the needed skills and competencies for the early stages of professional work in Germany.
Such programs help nurses from non-EU/EEA countries to prepare for work in Germany and gain the required skills and knowledge. After the adaptation course, they can attend the recognition examination and pass it without a problem.
International nurses can also apply for recognition of qualification from their home country, but only if they have received a job offer from a German employer and have a German language certificate B1.
The adaptation courses provide theory and practice in German so that nurses are confident to work in the German language and have at least the B2 level.
It’s also much easier to find a job while participating in the adaptation program; some agencies offer contacts to the employees and help in job search/application as well as preparation for the work visa.
What is the German nursing adaptation course?
Nursing and all other medical areas in Germany are facing a major shortage of skilled employees. So, the country always welcomes skilled candidates from this sector to work here. Germany also stands as one of the best-paying countries for jobs in the medical field.
However, all foreign nurses must be recognized for their qualifications. For this, they might need to complete additional courses to fill the gap and, in all cases, pass the official exam.
German nursing adaptation course helps to make the preparation for recognition in Germany easier and increases the success rate. Providing organizations train foreign nurses according to the exam and even assist them with the legislation process.
It’s an integral program of study modules and services intended to develop foreign nurses’ core academic, technical, and employability skills, providing them with continuous education and training.
The awareness of the European healthcare system and intercultural communication are also a part of the course. Each module in the curriculum is designed to improve your employability and career prospects in Germany.
Who needs a nursing adaptation course?
Nurses who would like to work in Germany but don’t have enough knowledge of the German language and whose qualifications aren’t recognized in Germany yet will benefit from a course.
Who can apply?
- The graduates of BSc in Nursing with a duration of not less than 4 years;
- OR the graduates of Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery with a length of not less than 3 years + minimum 2 years of work experience;
- Intermediate proficiency in English (no IELTS/ TOEFL required).
Best German Nursing Adaptation Courses in 2023
You can opt for courses in different countries depending on your location and willingness to travel. Some might fit better, some less. Usually, these institutions enroll nurses from around the world, but sometimes only non-European ones.
1. Klaipedy University, Lithuania
Nursing Adaptation Course at Klaipedy University in Lithuania is one of 3 programs offered by the English company Medi Jobs.
This program from Medi Jobs allows international nurses to improve their language skills and to get placed with reputed medical organizations and employers in Germany.
Klaipeda University is a public institution, a national and Baltic Region leader located in the Lithuanian seaport Klaipeda, a vibrant city, the 3rd largest in Lithuania.
The University has its department of nursing and a foreign language center. The department prepares nurses with general and special nursing competencies and provides education at the university level that corresponds with European standards.
The campus is also researching patient safety, death and dying, nurse empowerment and professionalism, patient care and empowering education, ethics in nursing, etc.
Klaipeda University has several decades of experience conducting international English studies and has excellent tutors with proficient knowledge and experience.
It’s a relatively young and growing university that provides high-quality education for a reasonable price.
Lithuania is a small Baltic country with 3 million people. The cost of living is low, which makes it an affordable place for foreign nurses to come to complete adaptation courses. However, the country has a high quality of living and Western comfort.
Medi Jobs is an English recruitment company for medical professionals in Germany. They have high-quality nursing adaptation courses that can be attended in Lithuania and Malta. Medi Jobs is one of the top medical recruitment companies in the world.
Therefore, they help foreign nurses find employers in Germany after completing the German nursing adaptation course.
This course lasts 10 months with a key focus on the language modules and European healthcare standards.
Nurses learn the language up to the B2 level and nursing modules during the course.
The nursing part includes:
- Introduction to the German medical system and quality assurance
- Mental Health – Wellbeing
- Pharmacology and Geriatric
- Palliative Nursing Issues
- Decision Making
Intake for the course: 1 September
Course fee: 3,700 EUR
Accommodation
Klaipeda University offers a brand new dormitory on the main campus with excellent living conditions for Course participants. Cost: 140 EUR/month.
What will you learn, and which competencies will you gain during the course?
This course is intended for candidates who already have a degree in nursing and at least one year of work experience and would like to qualify to work as a nurse in Germany.
The adaptation course delivers a practice-oriented introduction to the language and preparation for their career in Germany.
Your competencies after completing the course
- Communicate in German at general and specialized levels (healthcare) and have a solid background to improve language skills further in the workplace.
- Get familiar with the latest situation in the German healthcare system and the latest methods of assistance and care in Europe.
- Intercultural communication skills
Other benefits nurses can expect during the course:
- Personal assistance to get placed in a hospital or eldercare home with a minimum contract of 2+ years
- Small class size with a student–tutor ratio of 15:1
- Well-qualified healthcare professionals
- Eligibility to apply for a license to practice in Germany
- Assistance with visas and permits and interviews
After receiving a job offer in Germany with a long-term contract, nurses can bring their families and afterward receive permanent residency or citizenship.
Here you can read more about the course and what’s included.
2. Nursing adaptation course from Medi Jobs, Malta
Medi Jobs is an English recruitment company for medical professionals in Germany. They have high-quality nursing adaptation courses that can be taken in Lithuania and Malta. The courses taught at universities also say enough about the high quality of the program.
They support all kinds of medical professionals, from nurses to doctors. In Malta, students participate in classes at the College of Arts, Science, and Technology of Malta. For the enrolment, you need to have a nursing qualification and at least 2 years of experience.
The adaptation course lasts an entire year (12 months) and costs 6,500 EUR. During this time, nurses learn the German language from zero to the B2 level and nursing-related subjects in German.
This nursing adaptation program is built in the same way as in Lithuania, and Medi Jobs also supports participants with the required services.
Professionals of Medi Jobs help with job placement & application as well as all processes related to the visa. Nevertheless, they also support you with licensing procedures in Germany.
With the Medijobs nursing adaptation course in Malta, you can do both, have a year of vacation in the beautiful place, and gain all the necessary skills and knowledge for your future job in Germany.
For the application, nurses must submit all documents directly to the partner universities. The selection procedure for admission to the program will be done based on your academic qualifications and professional records, personal motivation statement, and English language skills.
Read the detailed information about the course in Malta here.
3. IAS College Wismar, Germany
IAS (International Academy of Students) is a German college that offers a unique adaptation course (PAP) for international nurses to prepare themselves for work in Germany and achieve the required level of expertise in German and in their field.
The program lasts for 15 months. They also offer another program for young school graduates who want to start nursing training in Germany. This course has a duration of 3,5 years.
PAP prepares nurses for all Nursing Jobs in Germany. The lessons are in German, so communication won’t be a problem when nurses start their jobs.
The course gives high priority to language skills. The PAP has a profession-oriented curriculum, where nurses get practical geriatric training and other intercultural competencies.
Moreover, the IAS has a partner school in Pune, India, called Fergussen College. The IAS cooperates with the Deccan Educational Society (DES), where Indian students can join language and cultural programs in India at their German Center.
After successfully completing the courses or levels, participants get direct admission to programs offered by IAS College and its partners in Germany.
IAS Campuses are situated in the north of Germany in the old cities of Schwerin and Wismar. The admission office is based in Lübeck, Germany.
Furthermore, there are partner offices in various countries worldwide to consult students in their home countries. So you might even find a representative in your country!
Benefits of the IAS Adaptation course in Germany
The nursing adaptation program prepares international nurses in the German language, subject-oriented language (nursing language), the know-how of theory, and practical training (internships) in German hospitals, senior care institutions, or outpatient care.
Intercultural competencies will also be taught. The curriculum is coordinated with the German Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (LAGuS) and cooperates with DAA (Deutsche Angestellten Akademie).
After completing the PAP course, the participants are eligible to do the “Kenntnisprüfung” / nursing recognition exam. Upon completing this exam, foreign nurses are qualified to work as hospital nurses in Germany.
Read here more about IAS College and course.
Who is eligible?
- Holders of diploma / vocational nursing
- Or bachelor/master in nursing
- And official recognition as nurses in their home country/country of study
Steps to take:
- Complete the application form and send the required documents; wait for our International office /ministry of health to verify/proof your documents (3 to 4 Weeks).
- When accepted, students receive the IAS admission acceptance form. It must be signed and returned to IAS via email as a scanned copy (1 to 2 weeks).
- Transfer Fees
- Skype-interview
- Original admission letter via email
- Open a Blocked Bank account in Germany
- Apply for visa
- Receive the visa and travel to Germany
IAS takes students twice per year. The summer intake starts on 1st March, and the winter on 31st August. The course is offered in two forms:
- For EU citizens or foreigners with long-term visas – a length of 15 months
- For Non-EU citizens, the program lasts for nine months, and a German B1 certificate (Goethe Institut, Telc or ÖsD) is obligatory
What after the course?
Since you are already in Germany, it will be much easier to find an employer during your studies or after. Graduates of the nursing adaptation course are eligible to apply for equivalence as German geriatric nurses.
After a successful recognition process (passing the examination), they became registered hospital nurses in Germany. The license is valid in Germany and other European countries.
For more detailed information about the course, you should contact the IAS College.
4. Nursing adaptation course, Malta
This course is meant exclusively for non–EU/EEA citizens working as a nurse in their home country or some other country. Be aware that the so-called bringing program in Malta trains nurses in English and isn’t explicitly suitable for Germany.
Yet, after completing the course and passing a positive recognition exam, it will be possible to work in Germany. Your nursing certificate will be accepted in the entire EU.
The program bridges the gap and provides knowledge based on European nursing practices. Students get a wide understanding of social care settings and health science. They learn to make decisions in critical conditions and acquire the ability to handle pressure.
The six-month program allows you to work as a registered nurse in Malta or any other European country.
The main requirement for enrolment is non-European nationality and a B.Sc. nursing degree. The program is structured in English, hence, suitable for nurses who already know German or strive to work in another country.
What is covered in the course:
- Multidisciplinary approaches in health and social care
- Quality assurance in health and social care
- Ethical Issues and decision-making
- Work-based training in health science
- Intermediate English
- Gerontology
- Mental health
What you can expect after completing the program:
- Eligibility to register as a nurse in the Malta Council of Nurses and Midwives and work as a registered nurse in Europe
- Getting a wide knowledge of the skills that are required to practice as a nurse in Europe as per the European norms
- Understanding the local nursing practice methods practiced in Europe
- Ethical, Religious, and other related issues are studied and are understood to cope with work in a different country
The benefits of the program:
- Location – who would mind living in Malta
- Nurses are allowed to work 20 hours per week during the program
- Studying at one of the top universities in the world
- Nurses can stay back after course completion and even receive a permanent residence in the future
Moreover, after completing the course, nurses have 6 months to look for work, and as soon as they get placed, they receive a working visa, which can be converted to PR after working for 2-3 years.
Malta is one of the few countries providing graduate certificates in nursing bridging programs for nurses.
