The Nursing (Pflege) Route, Step by Step
Nursing (Pflege) is our main focus. There are two routes into nursing in Germany, and the right one depends on whether you are already a qualified nurse.
- Not a nurse yet: you do the nursing Ausbildung in Germany.
- Already a qualified nurse: you usually apply for recognition of your qualification instead.
Route 1: The Nursing Ausbildung
What you need
- School: a certificate of intermediate education (Make it in Germany).
- German: B1 or B2 (Make it in Germany). Ask the nursing school which level it needs. The German missions in India ask for at least B1 for medical professions.
- A training place: a contract with a hospital, care home or outpatient care service.
How long it takes
By law, the nursing Ausbildung takes three years full time, or at most five years part time. Practical training in care settings is the larger part, and theory is taught at a nursing school. Before your third year you can choose to specialise, for example in long-term care.
Pay during training
Nursing trainees are paid. One example is the public pay agreement for federal and municipal employers (TVAöD Pflege), from 1 May 2026: