If you trained as a nurse or doctor outside Germany, you cannot work in that profession in Germany until your qualification is officially recognised. This process is called Anerkennung (recognition). It sounds complicated, but it follows clear steps, and you can start it from your home country.
Why recognition is required
Nursing and medicine are regulated professions in Germany. That means the job title is protected by law: only people with German approval may work as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau / Pflegefachmann) or as a doctor. Recognition compares your training with the German training and decides whether they are equivalent.
Who decides
There is no single national office. Each of Germany's 16 federal states (Bundesländer) has its own authority for health professions, and you apply in the state where you plan to work. The free Anerkennungs-Finder on the official portal anerkennung-in-deutschland.de tells you exactly which office is responsible for you.
Documents you will usually need
- Your diploma or degree certificate
- Transcripts listing your subjects with the hours of theory and practical training
- Proof of work experience (employer letters), which can make up for gaps in training
- Passport and a CV in table format
- Your professional licence or registration from your home country, and often a Certificate of Good Standing
- A German language certificate (see below)
- Certified German translations by a sworn translator
Get the hours of theory and practice in writing from your college. Missing hours are the most common reason for a partial decision, and they are much harder to obtain once you have left.
Possible outcomes
- Full recognition: your training is equivalent. You receive permission to use the professional title (for doctors: the Approbation).
- Partial recognition (Defizitbescheid): the authority lists the substantial differences it found. You can still get full recognition by completing a compensation measure.
Compensation measures
If there are differences, you choose how to make them up. Nurses can usually pick between an adaptation course (Anpassungslehrgang), which is supervised practical training in a German hospital or care home lasting several months, and a knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung) focusing on the areas where differences were found. Doctors from outside the EU normally take the Kenntnisprüfung.
Many candidates come to Germany and complete the compensation measure while already working, for example as a nursing assistant. Since 2024 the recognition partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft) makes this easier: you can enter Germany with an employer who supports your recognition, as long as your qualification is recognised in your home country and you have at least A2 German.
Have a question about your situation?
Our consultants answer questions like this every day, free of charge. Book a call and get advice that fits your qualifications and plans.
Language requirements
- Nurses: usually German at B2 level. Some states accept B1 to begin the process.
- Doctors: general German at B2, plus the medical language exam (Fachsprachprüfung) at C1 level, taken at the regional medical chamber.
How long it takes and what it costs
Once your file is complete, the authority should normally decide within three to four months, although it often takes longer in practice. Fees depend on the state and are usually a few hundred euros, plus the cost of translations and any compensation measure.
Rules and fees change and differ between states. Always check with the responsible authority, or ask one of our consultants, before you pay for translations or courses.
How Europe Careers helps
Our consultants check your documents before you submit them, tell you which state and authority fit your plans, and match you with employers who support recognition, including adaptation courses and recognition partnerships.