You are a nurse, a midwife or you’re holding a degree as a pediatric nurse? Then you’ve come to the right place!
At Signite, you as an expert take over the active part. Register for free and start looking for employers which might be interesting for you. We help you to do so by providing our pre-defined criteria and questions. You know already where you want to work? Or are you quite flexible regarding location but want to start working as soon as possible?
Just tell us about your wishes in our matching app and we will show you the employers that fit your requirements. If we find a match, you can easily schedule a job interview.
And this is only the beginning of your Signite journey!
In Germany, all employees have the same rights and obligations. In addition to official requirements such as the need for professional recognition and a valid work permit, there are other requirements for you as an employee in the health sector.
You are expected to be willing to work shifts, including nights and weekends. As you probably already know from your home country, reliability, punctuality and a sense of responsibility are also important prerequisites for working as a nurse. You take on an important function in everyday work, which is why teamwork and good communication are also important.
Besides those general requirements, it is your responsibility to negotiate the individual conditions of your employment like salary, benefits, area of work or training and integration concept. Questions regarding support for the professional recognition process or transfer should also be clarified with the employer at an early stage, ideally already in the interview. Of course, we are here for you to help you keep track of everything.
We strongly believe that by using the right technology we can speed up processes, make them more transparent and understandable.
By using our matching app we’re not only connecting you with your future employer. We also structure all subsequent processes like professional recognition, language training and visa application.
Your communication with Signite and your employer will happen via the software so you never miss a task or important update. If you want to gain more insights about the different process steps, we even give you access to our Signite Portal, a trivia page on our homepage that gives you inside information. This digital approach helps us to increase efficiency, data security and most importantly, time. So there is nothing standing in your way to start working in Germany as soon as possible.
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In Germany, this group of professionals belongs to the so-called regulated professions. This means that you need a professional licence to be allowed to work, specifically: a professional certificate.
In order to obtain this as a foreigner from a third country, in almost all cases a check of the professional knowledge and (from 2024) also the professional language knowledge is required. In rare exceptional cases, there is direct recognition, but the vast majority receives a so-called notice of deficits after submitting an application. These missing competences can be proven either in an adaptation course or by passing a knowledge exam.
Here we explain the difference:
Knowledge examination
Adaptation course
Exam to determine the equivalence of a foreign qualification with the German qualification in a recognized/reglemented profession.
Internship with your own employer or a cooperating institution to compensate for the differences between your own vocational training and the German qualification.
In addition to the medical expert, examiners from the nursing school and a practical instructor from the expert's own institution are present at the examination. The examination usually takes place on a real patient but can also be a simulated exam situation.
The skilled worker goes through various stations with different contact persons and practical instructors. There is a final interview with the supervisor and representatives of the nursing school.
There is a practical and an oral part. Duration and content depend on the individual requirements and the respective federal state.
Paid internship with teaching modules. Duration and content depend on individual requirements and the respective federal state.
Registration for the examination after receipt of the assessment notice. There is only limited availability of examination dates. There is usually a preparatory course before the examination.
Registration for the adaptation course after receipt of the assessment notice. The start of the course depends on the employer's availability.
Held at a nursing school (theory) as well as at your own workplace (practice) or a cooperating hospital. Fast and direct way to obtain professional recognition and thus the higher salary of a specialist. Only two attempts possible. Very stressful and challenging for some.
Takes place at your own workplace or at a cooperating hospital. Different stations are passed through. Some modules can be implemented at a nursing school.
Fast and direct way to obtain professional recognition and thus the higher salary of a specialist.
Individual approach, more time to learn and get used to the new area of responsibility.
Only two attempts possible. Very stressful and challenging for some.
Requires more time, up to 1.5 years. The income and area of responsibility remain at the level of an assistant for a long time.
Knowledge examination
Adaptation course
Exam to determine the equivalence of a foreign qualification with the German qualification in a recognized/reglemented profession.
Internship with your own employer or a cooperating institution to compensate for the differences between your own vocational training and the German qualification.
In addition to the medical expert, examiners from the nursing school and a practical instructor from the expert's own institution are present at the examination. The examination usually takes place on a real patient but can also be a simulated exam situation.
The skilled worker goes through various stations with different contact persons and practical instructors. There is a final interview with the supervisor and representatives of the nursing school.
There is a practical and an oral part. Duration and content depend on the individual requirements and the respective federal state.
Paid internship with teaching modules. Duration and content depend on individual requirements and the respective federal state.
Registration for the examination after receipt of the assessment notice. There is only limited availability of examination dates. There is usually a preparatory course before the examination.
Registration for the adaptation course after receipt of the assessment notice. The start of the course depends on the employer's availability.
Held at a nursing school (theory) as well as at your own workplace (practice) or a cooperating hospital. Fast and direct way to obtain professional recognition and thus the higher salary of a specialist. Only two attempts possible. Very stressful and challenging for some.
Takes place at your own workplace or at a cooperating hospital. Different stations are passed through. Some modules can be implemented at a nursing school.
Fast and direct way to obtain professional recognition and thus the higher salary of a specialist.
Individual approach, more time to learn and get used to the new area of responsibility.
Only two attempts possible. Very stressful and challenging for some.
Requires more time, up to 1.5 years. The income and area of responsibility remain at the level of an assistant for a long time.
You don’t speak a word of German except “Hallo”? Or have you already attended a language course? Whether you are an absolute beginner or have some previous knowledge, you can join Signite at any level.
We adapt the further processes individually to your level. You can either learn German independently and attend courses or join one of our partner language schools. No matter how you decide – with Signite you can learn German for free!
For the visa and thus for the transfer to Germany, the B1 level with a corresponding certificate from a recognised institution is required. For professional recognition you will then need a B2 certificate and from 2024 you will have to pass an additional language exam in Germany, specifically for your profession. It is therefore even more important to learn as much German as possible before you leave your home country. This will make your start easier.
