I want to work as a nurse or carer in Germany
Two different levels do two different jobs. To APPLY for the recognition-partnership visa the published floor is A2 (since March 2024), but several states and recognition authorities expect B1 for nurses specifically, so plan for B1. To get your nursing licence and work as a Pflegefachkraft you need B2, and in most states a nursing language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege) on top.
Recognition-partnership visa (enter and start recognition)
A2-B1The statute says 'sufficient German'; A2 is the published administrative floor since March 2024. For nurses specifically, several states and authorities expect B1 at the application stage, so plan for B1.
- GoetheA2
- telcA2
- ÖSDA2
Full nursing licence (Berufserlaubnis)
B2Standard is B2 general German, plus most states require a nursing specialist-language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege).
- telcB1·B2 Pflege(the dedicated nursing exam)
- GoetheB2
- ÖSDB2
telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege is the dedicated nursing exam (it covers both the B1 and B2 nursing-language range and cannot be taken as a partial exam); Goethe B2 and ÖSD B2 are also accepted in many states. B1 only covers interim work as a nursing assistant. Nursing recognition is decided state-by-state.
- A2 opens the door to enter and start recognition, but several states require B1 for nurses at application. Confirm the exact level with your recognition authority before booking A2.
- B2 plus the state's nursing language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege) is what earns the licence. Confirm the accepted providers and whether the Fachsprachprüfung is required with your destination state's authority (zuständige Stelle).
Know the second a slot opens
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- Recognition-partnership visa (A2 to apply) · Make-it-in-Germany (Federal Government)
- §16d AufenthG (recognition of foreign qualifications) · gesetze-im-internet.de (Federal Ministry of Justice)
- telc Deutsch B1·B2 Pflege (nursing exam) · telc gGmbH
The five German exams at a glance
All five are CEFR-aligned and accepted as a class. Which one counts is set by the institution you apply to.
| Exam | Levels | Mainly used for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Institut | A1 to C2 | All routes; strong for university (C2) and visas | Most exam centers in India |
| telc | A1 to C2 | Ausbildung, nursing (B1·B2 Pflege), jobs | Slots tend to open more often |
| ÖSD | A1 to C2 | All routes; Austria's official exam | Accepted across routes |
| TestDaF | B2 to C1 (TDN 3-5) | University admission | No A1; not for a spouse visa |
| ECL | A2 to C1 | General immigration / jobs | No A1 or C2; rarely used for university |