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Nursing Jobs for Foreign Nurses in Germany

Nursing Jobs for Foreign Nurses in Germany titlecard

Many foreign nurses are looking for a job in Germany every year, and not without reason. The German healthcare sector has seven million employees. German hospitals are some of the largest employers in the country, providing a large number of job vacancies.

Currently, Germany has around 80,000 open nursing vacancies and expects to have about 150,000 by 2025. All qualified nurses have good chances of receiving a job in Germany, regardless of their nationality.

The shortage of medical personnel makes employment in Germany easier. However, getting a job as a nurse can be difficult for some nationalities and easy for others. In this post, you will learn how to find employment in Germany and the steps you need to take.

Related: Benefits of working as a nurse in Germany.

Working in Germany as a Nurse

Aerial shot of a village in Germany

Germany is considered one of the best countries for health workers in the world and for other professions as well. Today is the 5th most popular country for immigration.

Working as a nurse in Germany, you can expect a well-deserved salary, good working conditions, and a chance to live in the middle of Europe.

Opened vacancies in the health sector are continuing to grow. It’s estimated that an additional 200,000 nursing personnel (including nurses, caregivers, and nursing assistants) will be needed by 2030.

In Germany, the nurses are usually employed by the hospital and not directly by the patient as private personnel. This means a hospital will be your employer, and you will have a fixed number of patients to care for, depending on the position and responsibilities.

Besides, German regulating authorities for labor make sure that all employees are satisfied with work conditions so that they can provide the service at the highest level.

https://expatrist.com/how-to-become-a-nurse-requirements-to-study-nursing-in-germany/

Opportunities for Foreign Nurses in Germany

There are plenty of opportunities to work as a nurse in Germany, which are increasing over the years. In March 2020, Germany made some significant changes in immigration law.

Now foreigners with vocational training (nursing is recognized as vocational training) can come to Germany on a Job Seeker Visa and look for a job. Before, this visa was only available for university graduates with some working experience.

Visa is issued for 6 months, and foreigners can even undertake employment in Germany for up to 10 hours per week (before it wasn’t allowed).

This opportunity gives nurses a chance to be hired by German employers faster and also to complete some internships or trial work so they can be sure that it is the right place for them.

However, as a new rule, foreign nurses must have a language certificate of at least a B1 level; otherwise, a visa won’t be granted. After finding an employer, they can apply for a long-term working visa from their home country.

Read more about German Job Seeker Visa.

Someone willing to work in the health industry must understand that language is critical. Level B1 and upwards is expected and recognized in Germany as a nursing certificate or a diploma.

If foreign applicants fulfill these two main requirements, they will be welcomed by most employers in Germany.

Nurses have opportunities to stay in Germany for an extended period and maybe for their entire life. There should be no problem in extending a residence permit and receiving a permanent residence permit.

Moreover, foreign employees are eligible to bring their spouses and kids to Germany for long-term living.

Read more about working in Germany as a nurse.

Where Can You Work as a Nurse in Germany?

Woman guiding an older woman inside the hospital

Nurses are needed in different industries, not only in classical hospitals (although it is still a favorite employment place). 

1. Hospitals/clinics

The most typical place where nurses work in Germany is hospitals and clinics. They have modern facilities, good infrastructure, a work council protecting employees, regulating working hours, and the best nurse wages.

Check the job offers on the Stepstone and Stellenanzeige. If you want to know how much you will earn in Germany as a nurse, visit this platform, it will provide exact numbers!

2. Elderly/retirement homes and nursing homes

Germany has 1.5 million people over 90 years old and millions between 60 and 90. Many of them need help in their daily life, or they just prefer to spend their retirement surrounded by people of a similar age. Many single people in Germany live in elderly homes if they don’t have someone to take care of them.

Nurses are responsible for the medical side of their lives and also daily life; they accompany and support seniors. It includes fulfilling their physical, mental, social, and psychological needs.

3. Dormitories for people with disabilities

Nurses are also needed in homes for disabled people. In general, they have the same responsibilities as in the elderly home.

4. Practices of specialist doctors

Doctors who work as self-employed and not in hospitals and clinics also need nurses for assistance and other tasks. Usually, specialists in a particular field open their own practice where they invite patients, for example, in internal medicine or dentistry. Usually, jobs at private practices or clinics are paid less than in large hospitals.

5. Outpatient social services

Many private companies offer nursing assistance to patients in the comfort of their homes. In this case, nurses will drive from one client to another to do some medical procedures with them, assist them, or provide any other help they need.

Some people in Germany can’t afford to live in an elderly home, so nurses serve them at home, but overall, it’s quite the same work as in the elderly house. Private nurses and caregivers are rare as they are usually costly and only employed by the rich.

6. Vocational schools

Teaching at vocational schools is another excellent opportunity for nurses who want to upgrade their status and become lecturers. For this, they need a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and sometimes a master’s, which is pursued in Germany or a European country.

7. Rehabilitation centers

Rehabilitation centers called Reha in Germany, where people recover after some injury or have chronic illnesses. Nurses’ job is to assist and support them in their everyday life.

8. Private companies

Most large companies require a doctor in the house; sometimes, nurses assist them as well. They are there to care for the company’s employees and control working conditions so they don’t harm people.

The nurses who worked in the companies together with doctors (Betriebsarzt) are called “Betriebskrankenschwestern,” but it’s a more unusual profession than a common one.

How to Find and Apply for a Nursing Job in Germany

First, make sure your nursing degree is equal to the German one. However, you can also find an employer first and apply for recognition later.

Let’s assume you already speak good enough German so that you can apply for a job. If that’s not the case, you need to start learning German as soon as possible. German employers will require you to have at least level B1, but the higher, the better.

Here are detailed steps you need to take to get a job as a nurse in Germany:

*To find a job, you can apply for a Job Seeker Visa and come to Germany for six months to attend interviews and work up to 10 hours per week.

1. Translate your credentials and certificates into German

Also, most organizations will need your certificates in German; otherwise, they won’t be accepted. Use Lingokid to translate all your documents affordable and completely online.

2. Apply for as many job offerings as you can

Look for a job on websites like Monster, Medijobs, Stellenanzeige, Make it in Germany: Job Listings, Stepstone, and Kimeta, or you can simply visit the websites of the hospitals and check Jobs/Karriere. Send your application with all the required documents attached and wait for answers.

Documents such as updated CVs, certificates about work experience, language certificates, nursing certificates, and motivation letters are quite common.

You might want to get professional help in completing a German job application. It’s very advisable to apply in German, so organizations see you speak the language.

3. Attend interviews

If the company shows its interest and invites you to the interview, be prepared to show up in person in Germany. This means you will need to fly there. Unfortunately, not many hospitals will agree to video interviews. You also can’t rely on them to reimburse your costs of traveling.

They would also expect you to volunteer for a couple of days in the hospital so they can see your work and how you match with the team.

4. Sign up a working contract and fly back home

5. Apply for recognition of your nursing qualification

File for recognition of your degree at the German authority in charge of the state you’re going to work (ask your employer). Wait. This can take more than a year. While you’re waiting, upgrade your German.

6. Apply for a working visa

After Germany recognizes your qualifications, you can apply for a working visa in your home country.

7. Finish line – Get your visa, move to Germany, and start your nursing career!

Request help from the professionals

Apart from going through this process on your own, you can refer to the many recruiting agencies that specialize in hiring foreign nurses for German employers. They will assist you with all questions and provide instructions and actions that need to happen.

There is also a government employment project, “Tripple Win” for foreign nurses from particular countries: Bosnia, Serbia, Tunisia, Philippines, and Vietnam*.  

*Vietnamese nurses are eligible for support of another state project, which works almost the same way as Tripple Win.

The government supports them to get a nursing job in Germany, apply for and receive their residence permit, and integrate into the country. Nurses from Vietnam are required to have at least 3 years of experience before applying for the program.

Many foreign job seekers use the services of international recruitment agencies in their home country so they can avoid making mistakes and move to Germany faster. I would also recommend using a professional agent if you aren’t eligible for the Tripple Win program.

However, if you meet all qualification requirements for a nursing job in Germany and have or can get a language proficiency certificate, it should not be too difficult to manage it yourself.

If you show a potential employer your language skills are reasonable, most hospitals will be happy to invite you.

Chances in Geriatric/Elderly Care

Older person holding hands with a younger person

Germany has a high demand for professionals in geriatric or elderly care.

The reason for this is the rapid aging of the German population; while life expectancies in Germany are 82 years for men and 85 years for women now, 1.5 million Germans are over 90 years old. There are simply not enough nurses to care for all older people.

Consequently, Geriatric care will be the there easiest and fastest way to receive a job in Germany for foreign nurses.

There are thousands of vacancies all over the country for such positions. For each 100 job openings for geriatric nursing personnel, there are only about 35 interested applicants.

Hospitals and elderly houses are actively hiring foreigners, assisting them with procedures, providing language courses, and sometimes even accommodating them.

Since Germany has the longest life expectancy in Europe, this problem with the lack of personnel will be more severe, and more foreign nurses will be recruited.

Currently, nearly 2.6 million German seniors require long-term geriatric care, which is estimated to grow to 3.5 million by 2030.

Regulation of the Nursing Profession in Germany

Recognition of your nursing qualifications in Germany is the most crucial factor. Moreover, we need also to understand how nursing professions are regulated in the country because it’s 100% different than where you come from.

Most German nurses were educated in three-year vocational programs in nursing schools attached to the hospital. Only more recently, nurses also received education in colleges and graduated with a B.Sc. However, it’s more common if they want to teach nursing and not necessarily work as a practicing nurse.

In both cases, they must pass an official standardized exam (staatliche prüfung) at the end of the course to be registered with the health authority of the corresponding federal state as a “general” nurse. It includes written, oral, and practical parts.

If they fail in one of the parts, a second attempt is possible. After a successful examination, students receive authorization from the state.

https://expatrist.com/how-to-become-a-nurse-requirements-to-study-nursing-in-germany/

Regulation for Nursing Assistants

A nursing assistant is another profession in German hospitals. These people help and assist the actual nurses in their daily duties. There is special vocational training to become a nursing assistant in Germany.

Unlike a nurse, a nursing assistant (Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegehelfer) is not a regulated profession in Germany. Nursing assistants in Germany, also known as healthcare assistants, typically attend one-year vocational programs in the same schools as nurses.

They don’t need to pass any official standardized exam. However, they still have to demonstrate their fitness for the job to the local health authority of the federal state to be allowed to practice their profession.

Since the absence of strict regulations, many foreign nurses in Germany started their careers as nursing assistants. Meanwhile, they can get their nursing degree recognized and climb the career ladder.

Qualification Requirements for Nurses in Germany

The main requirement for non-EU/EEA nurses is a nursing university degree; nurses from EU/EEA might also complete vocational training in their countries, which will be enough. In general, the requirements are different for each country.

Foreign nurses and nursing assistants wishing to work in Germany must demonstrate that they possess professional qualifications and skills (usually a minimum of two years of working experience) equivalent to those of their German colleagues.

In addition, they must pass a German language proficiency exam level B1, be in good physical condition, and have a clean criminal record in their home country.

Language proficiency is often the biggest entry barrier for most foreign nurses as they are not only required to communicate with their patients in German but also to do a lot of writing in German to document their work.

Consequently, nursing adaptation programs are very helpful in preparing yourself for professional life in Germany. During these courses, qualified tutors will teach you everyday and professional language.

Besides this, lectures are held in universities and not in these small, stinky classrooms as typical language courses do.

Check this article to learn more about the best nursing adaptation programs in Germany and abroad.

Recognition of Foreign Nursing Qualifications in Germany

To start working as a nurse in Germany, your foreign nursing qualifications must be recognized in the first place. Before that, you could only work as a nursing assistant.

The recognition is made in Germany, and each state is responsible for this. Just email one of them in the region you plan or already reside in.

Here are the main documents foreign nurses will be required to have for a recognition submission:
  1. Translate qualification certificates and work experience certificates into Germany and approved by German Nursing authorities
  2. Together with all semester transcripts and marks
  3. Police clearance certificate from your home country to show you do not have a police record or cases against you
  4. Medical certificate to show you are in good health
  5. B1/B2 German language proficiency certificate – GOETHE/TELC/OSD
  6. A detailed and updated CV
  7. High school certificates 
  8. Passport

To be recognized as a nurse in Germany, you will need to wait until authorities verify your certificates and all the criteria in them and pass a special nursing exam.

Automatic Recognition of Nursing Diplomas from EU/EEA

Certified nurses from European countries, including Switzerland, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway, will have their qualifications automatically recognized. They can start with the job application as soon as they have received a German language certificate.

What If Your Qualifications Aren’t Accepted?

Those applicants who fail to meet the professional qualification requirements will be allowed to either take a final nursing exam (same as German nurses pass) or will have to pursue additional training that may last up to three years.

Additional training might include attending classical vocational training with German students for 1, 2, or 3 years or taking only particular courses in professional school. They also could fill the gap in their home country by attending university or vocational school.

Foreign nurses will be asked to take an intensive language course if the problem is the German language.

Further Training

To increase the chances of hiring, nurses can also complete further training in a particular specialization. This will increase their competencies in the field and make them more competitive with other nurses.

Only nurses who are recognized in Germany qualifications are eligible for further training. Nurses can choose between a wide range of further training in the following fields for which no high degree is required:

Germany offers hundreds if not thousands of different kinds of training or professional training for nurses. The employer pays some, and some are paid by nurses.

Most popular and well-paid fields, among others:
  • Anesthesia and intensive care
  • Operations and endoscopy service
  • Oncology
  • Clinical geriatrics
  • Rehabilitation and long-term care
  • Palliative and hospice care
  • Hygiene
  • Nephrology
  • Psychiatric care
If you have a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, which is also recognized in Germany as an academic level, these qualifications are available for you:
  • Head of the department
  • Care expert
  • Care consultant
  • Palliative Care
  • Specialist in culture-sensitive care
  • Specialist in-home care
  • Specialist for health and social services
  • Assistance, support, and helpers in the care

Average Salaries for Nursing in Germany

Not a secret that salary and career opportunities are huge motivators for foreign nurses to work in Germany. Below, you can see average salaries for nursing professionals in different fields and positions.

ProfessionEUR monthly
Office nurse2,800
Nurse in hospital2,900
Geriatric nurse2,900
Pediatric nurse2,900
Gynecology nurse2,900
Dialysis nurse2,900
Emergency room nurse2,900
Operating room nurse3,200
Senior nurse3,600
Nurse average2,900
Nursing assistant1,900
Senior caregiver2,600
Caregiver assistant2,000

The starting salary of a nurse in Germany is around 2,400 EUR gross monthly; you shouldn’t agree on less, except if your language skills are low or you are applying for a nursing assistant.

What is the monthly salary of nurses in Germany?

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2 Comments

  1. My name is George Bethinia, a registered general nurse and mental health nurse who is interested to work in Germany. How can I apply

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