In short: If you do not yet have a nursing qualification, you can train as a nurse in Germany. The generalist nursing Ausbildung lasts three years full-time (up to five part-time), is paid from the first month, and ends with a German licence. International applicants need a school certificate at about intermediate level, German at about B1 and a visa for vocational training under § 16a Residence Act.
Note: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. The law and the decisions of the competent authorities are decisive; rules can change. As of October 2026.
Who is the Ausbildung for?
It suits school leavers and career changers who do not have a completed nursing degree or nursing training. If you already hold a nursing qualification from abroad, the route via recognition and a nursing job is usually much shorter.
How long does it take and what do you learn?
Under § 6 of the Nursing Professions Act (PflBG), the training lasts three years full-time and at most five years part-time. It combines theory at a nursing school with practical training; the practical part is larger. It is generalist: you learn to care for people of all ages in hospitals, care homes and home care, and finish as Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann.
Requirements for international applicants
- School education: an intermediate school-leaving certificate or a qualification recognised as equivalent; alternatives with a lower certificate plus further qualifications exist (§ 11 PflBG). The competent body in Germany decides whether your certificate is equivalent, so start the evaluation early.
- German: usually B1 for the visa, unless the school has checked your German itself or you will attend a preparatory course (§ 16a (3) Residence Act). Some schools expect more; check with yours.
- Health fitness and reliability, as later needed for the licence.
- A training contract with a training provider (hospital, care home or home-care service) and a place at a nursing school.
Is there an age limit?
The Nursing Professions Act sets no upper age limit for the training. Training providers decide whom they accept. If you are under 18, additional rules apply, for example on parental consent and accommodation, so most international trainees start as adults.
Pay during the training
Yes, nursing trainees are paid. Under § 19 PflBG the training provider pays an appropriate training allowance for the whole training, and trainees are covered by social insurance. The exact amount is in your training contract or the applicable collective agreement.
The visa: § 16a Residence Act
§ 16a covers residence for vocational training. Depending on the type of training, in-company training (with approval of the Federal Employment Agency) or school-based training applies. The residence purpose can include a preparatory German course. You may work in an unrelated job for up to 20 hours a week. If your training place ends for reasons you are not responsible for, you have up to six months to find a new one. You apply at the German embassy or consulate in your country.
After the Ausbildung
Once you pass the state examination, you receive the licence to work as Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann. It is a German qualification, so no recognition is needed. You can switch to a residence permit as a skilled worker; if you do not have a job yet, you can get a residence permit to look for work for up to 18 months (§ 20 Residence Act).
Alternative: nursing assistant training
From 2027 a uniform nationwide nursing assistant training (Pflegefachassistenz) will be introduced. It is shorter and can be a step towards full nursing training. See Nursing assistant training from 2027.
How to find a training place
Training places are advertised by hospitals, care homes and home-care services, on the job board of the Federal Employment Agency, and on Make it in Germany. The federal information portal pflegeausbildung.net explains the training in detail.
How Berlin Tehran helps
Our focus is placing healthcare professionals who are already qualified. If you are unsure whether recognition or an Ausbildung is the better route for you, send us your documents. We usually reply within 48 hours with an honest first assessment. We do not provide legal advice; authorities make all decisions.
Contact us as a healthcare professional All guides
Frequently asked questions
What is a nursing Ausbildung in Germany?
It is the three-year generalist vocational training to become a Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann under the Nursing Professions Act. It combines classes at a nursing school with practical training at a hospital, care home or home-care service, and ends with a state examination.
What are the requirements for a nursing Ausbildung as an international student?
As a rule, an intermediate school-leaving certificate or a qualification recognised as equivalent (§ 11 PflBG), sufficient German (usually B1 for the visa), health fitness, a training contract and a residence permit for vocational training under § 16a Residence Act.
Is there an age limit for nursing Ausbildung in Germany?
The Nursing Professions Act sets no upper age limit. Training providers decide whom they accept, and applicants under 18 face additional rules, for example on parental consent and accommodation.
Do nursing trainees get paid in Germany?
Yes. Under § 19 PflBG the training provider pays an appropriate training allowance for the entire training. The amount is set in the training contract or the applicable collective agreement.
Which German level do I need for the training visa?
Usually B1 (§ 16a (3) Residence Act), unless the school has checked your language skills itself or you will learn German in a preparatory course in Germany. Some schools expect a higher level, so check with your school.
Can I work during the Ausbildung?
Yes. Alongside the training you may work in an unrelated job for up to 20 hours a week (§ 16a (3) Residence Act).
What happens after the nursing Ausbildung?
After passing the state examination you hold a German licence, so you do not need recognition. You can switch to a residence permit as a skilled worker; if you have no job yet, you can get a permit to look for work for up to 18 months (§ 20 Residence Act).
Related guides
- Working as a nurse in Germany: requirements, recognition and visa
- Vietnam to Germany: nursing training and nursing jobs
- German language requirements for nurses
- Care professions in Germany
Sources (official, as of October 2026)
- § 6 PflBG – duration and structure · § 11 PflBG – entry requirements · § 19 PflBG – training allowance (German)
- § 16a Residence Act – vocational training · § 20 – job search after training (German)
- pflegeausbildung.net – federal information portal on nursing training
- Make it in Germany – official portal