Nurses, doctors and dentists
Polish nurses, midwives, doctors and dentists belong to the professions with automatic recognition under Directive 2005/36/EC, Annex V, if the diploma is listed there and conditions are met. You still need the German licence to practise (Approbation for doctors and dentists, Erlaubnis zum Führen der Berufsbezeichnung for nurses and midwives).
Steps
- Apply for recognition and the licence at the Berlin authority (Berlin service page: recognition of EU nursing qualifications). For doctors and dentists, ask LAGeSo: berlin.de/lageso.
- Show: identity, diploma and training certificates, proof of good standing (no criminal record, health fitness), language proof.
- If training does not meet the automatic-recognition conditions, an equivalence check follows. Substantial differences may need an adaptation course or knowledge test (Berlin service page).
Language
The Berlin service page names German at roughly B2 (CEFR) for nursing. Doctors usually need a medical language test as well. Exact requirements for doctors and dentists in Berlin were not checked.
Working while the application is pending
Whether and how you may work as an assistant (for example as a nursing assistant) during the procedure depends on the employer and the authority; not checked.
Good to know
- The nursing profession is governed by the Nursing Professions Act (PflBG).
- Do not pay agencies for "guaranteed recognition": Scams.
- Health insurance for the practice: Social security and health.
A question this page does not answer? Contact us. Free orientation only, no legal advice for individual cases.