In this post you will learn which documents you need in order to apply for a “Defizitbescheid” (assessment notice/recognition notice) in Germany, specifically in this case in Hesse.
If you are from a country from outside of the EU and you want to work in Germany as a nurse, recognition of your qualifications will be necessary.
One of the steps in this procedure is to obtain this so called “Defizitbescheid” (assessment notice), which will tell you, how your foreign professional qualifications compare to German ones and if there are differences, what to do in order to get to the desired level so you can be fully recognized in Germany.
Official information brochure (in German)
Below you can download the official German documents containing a list of all the necessary documents for a Defizitbescheid in Hesse.
The documents/forms date from the year 2022.
List of necessary documents for the Defizitbescheid in Hesse
(explained in English)
In the next section you will find all the necessary documents for the Defizitbescheid with additional explanations and excerpts from the “Merkblatt” (information brochure) in German. For the information simply click on the “+” button. The documents are listed in order of appearance.
Antrag – application for recognition
You’ll find the application form towards the bottom of the page
“Antrag (bitte den als Download zur Verfügung stehenden Vordruck verwenden)“
Vertrag – regular copy of the contract from your future employer
Vertrag – regular black and white copy of the contract from your future employer
Meldebestätigung (registration certificate/proof of residence) only necessary if you alredy live in Germany
“Nachweise über ein Beschäftigungsverhältnis in Hessen oder glaubhafte Nachweise, dass Sie den Pflegeberuf in Hessen ausüben werden oder Meldebestätigung des Einwohnermeldeamtes über Ihren Hauptwohnsitz (wenn Sie bereits in Deutschland wohnen)“
Geburtsurkunde/Heiratsurkunde – international birth or marriage certificate
A simple black and white copy of your international birth or marriage certificate as proof of name is enough for the Defizitbescheid
You will need an officially certified copy of the original document, if you want to apply for the fast-track procedure later on
“Standesamtliches Dokument über Namensführung, Geburtsort und Geburtsdatum; dies können Sie durch Geburts-/Heiratsurkunde, Auszug aus dem Familienbuch nachweisen; ggf. ist eine deutsche Übersetzung erforderlich (es reicht die unbeglaubigte Kopie)“
Ausweisdokument – regular copy of your passport
“Ausweisdokument (es reicht die unbeglaubigte Kopie des Personalausweises oder Reisepasses)“
Tabellarischer CV – tabular CV
You’ll find the tabular CV form towards the bottom of the page
“Lebenslauf in deutscher Sprache mit Angaben über Schulbildung, Berufsausbildung, bisherige Tätigkeiten (bitte verwenden Sie den als Download zur Verfügung gestellten Vordruck)“
Diplom – diploma
“Abschlussdiplom bzw. Abschlusszeugnis der erworbenen Ausbildung in der Landessprache und in deutscher Übersetzung“
Fächerliste – transcript of records / subject list
Most likely you will have a bachelor degree or something similar, so a transcript of records from the university should suffice.
In case you have a school diploma, you can use your subject list from school.
“Nachweis der Ausbildungsstätte über den Inhalt und Umfang der dort absolvierten Berufsausbildung einschließlich der Abschlussprüfung in der Landessprache und in deutscher Übersetzung; Aus diesem Nachweis müssen folgende Informationen hervorgehen:
a. Dauer der Ausbildung (von – bis)
b. Art und Umfang der erteilten Unterrichtsfächer (Stunden pro Fach, getrennt nach theoretischem und praktischem Unterricht/Übungen); die Stundenzahl pro Fach sollte auf
die gesamte Ausbildungsdauer bezogen sein. Sofern bei dem Nachweis die wöchentlichen Stunden pro Fach angegeben sind, ist es unbedingt erforderlich, dass auch die Anzahl der Unterrichtswochen pro Schuljahr bzw. Semester aufgeführt ist.
c. Art und Umfang der praktischen Ausbildung; es muss aufgeführt sein, in welchen Versorgungseinrichtungen/Fachgebieten/Abteilungen mit welcher Stundenzahl pro Bereich die praktische Ausbildung wahrgenommen wurde.“
Fach-/Staatsprüfung / Staatsexamen – certificate of the state examination
If you have state examinations in your country or any other for of verification for your profession apart from the diploma, you can enclose that as well, otherwise you can ignore this document.
“Nachweis der Ausbildungsstätte über den Inhalt und Umfang der dort absolvierten Berufsausbildung einschließlich der Abschlussprüfung in der Landessprache und in deut-scher Übersetzung; (…)”
Nachweis über Berufstätigkeiten als Krankenschwester/Krankenpfleger – proof/verification of work experience (if you have any)
“Falls gegeben: Nachweis über pflegeberufliche Berufstätigkeiten in der Landessprache und in deutscher Übersetzung“
Sprachzertifikat – language certificate
A B2 language certificate is necessary after you pass the Anpassungslehrgang (adaptation period) or Kenntisprüfung (knowledge test), which is necessary to get fully recognized and you will need a B1 level in order to receive a visa.
Currently acknowledged certificates are Goethe, ÖSD and telc.
You can look up the definition of the terms here: https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/en/service/glossary.php
“Sprachzertifikat zum Nachweis ausreichender Deutschkenntnisse; dem Download „Merk-blatt Deutschkenntnisse“ entnehmen Sie bitte die akzeptierten Sprachzertifikate/Niveaustufen; der Nachweis ausreichender Deutschkenntnisse durch eines der in dem Merkblatt aufgeführten Sprachzertifikate ist auch zu erbringen, wenn ein Anpassungslehrgang erfolgreich absolviert oder eine Kenntnisprüfung bestanden wurde. In diesem Fall ist das Deutsch-Zertifikat spätestens nach erfolgreichem Anpassungslehrgang bzw. nach bestandener Kenntnisprüfung vorzulegen.“
Important
All the documents listed in the text box below need to be officially certified by a notary, in your municipality or the embassy, after you make a black and white copy of them.
Afterwards, these documents have to be translated by a publicly appointed/authorized translator.
diploma
transcript of records/subject list
certificate of the state examination
proof/verification of work experience (if existent)
*Every federated state in Germany has its own rules concerning the official certification of documents. In Hesse it is possible to certify documents by a notary, at the embassy or in your municipality, while the federated state of Rhineland-Palatinante only accepts certifications by a notary or the embassy.
Tabular CV and application for recognition forms
*The documents date from the year 2022.
How to fill out the “Antrag” (application for recognition form)
First, you have to check the box that applies to your profession (in most cases it is going to be the first one).
Pflegefachmann/Pflegefachfrau / Gesundheits- und Krankenpflegerin/Gesundheits- und Krankenpfleger = registered practical nurse
Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpflegerin/Gesundheits- und Kinderkrankenpfleger = registered pediatric nurse
Altenpflegerin/Altenpfleger = geriatric nurse
Altenpflegehelferin/Altenpflegehelfer = elderly care assistant
Krankenpflegehelferin/Krankenpflegehelfer = auxiliary nurse
In the box below you’ll write the country where you finished your education.
In the section below that you can choose which law should be applied while processing your documents. From what we know at the moment, we would recommend the second box.
(date of information 9.6.2022)
Now you have to enter your personal data.
If you already live in Germany you can check the box “Ja” next to “Aktuell wohnhaft in Deutschland“, next to “Zeitpunkt, seit dem Sie in Deutschland wohnen” let them know when you started living in Germany.
Next, you can insert your address in Germany – “Wohnanschrift in Deutschland” – , if you don’t live in Germany yet you can leave all the boxes above empty, you’ll check “Nein” and you enter your current address abroad next to “Wohnanschrift im Ausland“.
Presumably due to the data protection act you now have to confirm that you agree to be contacted via e-mail and that your data gets shared this way. Therefore, we recommend that you check every box with “Ja” and provide your e-mail address and your number below.
If you are applying on your own without the help of anyone else you have to check “Nein“.
If you are planning to apply for your visa via the fast-track procedure for skilled workers – § 81a of the Residence Act (beschleunigtes Fachkräfteverfahren – § 81a Aufenthaltsgesetz) both boxes should be check “Ja” and the name of the authorized person. Usually it is a person on the part of the employer who is in charge of the fast-track procedure.
In the category “Arbeitsstelle” check “Ja” and enter the required employer information.
The field “Begründen Sie Ihre Antragstellung in Hessen (falls kein Arbeitgeber in Hessen)” remains blank if you have an employer.
If you are applying for a Defizitbescheid (assessment notice) for the first time you’ll check “Nein” at the end of the document. If you already applied for a Defizitbescheid before you’ll have to fill in the necessary data.
At the very bottom you’ll just fill in the date and sign and that’s it.
If you are sending in all the documents yourself, you can use the following address:
Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt
Dezernat II 24.2 Pflege, Pflegefachberufe
64278 Darmstadt
If you are using the fast-track procedure for skilled workers, you’ll have to send all the documents to the address of the “Ausländerbehörde” (foreigners authority) which cooperates with your employer. Usually it’s the “Zentrale Ausländerbehörde” (central foreigners authority) of the “Bundesland” (federated state) your employer is situated in, but if the federated state has no central foreigners authority it is the local one.
We hope that our first post in English was useful to you and if you want to know more about similar topics, follow our blog or any of our other social media sites.
Your Jobs & Spirit team
Updated on the 4.1.2023
Hello,
Could you please help me;
The Hospital has contacted me to send them „Defizitbescheid des Regierungspräsidiums Stuttgart 8falls“ and i really have no idea what i‘m gonna do.
Thank‘s in advance
With best regards.
Hello,
in order to be able to help you, we need more information.
So you can contact us on WhatsApp 00385 91 1803 964 and we can talk about it.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
the Jobs & Spirit team
Hello,I got Anpassunglehrgang in Dramstadt Hessen . But my hospital is not accepting this recognition because of new nursing council law. I applied few hospital with this ,they are not accepting. Can you help me?
Hello,
thank you for contacting us.
If you contact us directly via WhatsApp – 00385 911803964 – we can look into it and see, if we can help you.
Hello, I would like to ask you
Do we need a license to practice the profession in order to apply for recognition
Hello and thank you for contacting us,
depending on where you come from and in which state you want to work, you need at least a diploma and sometimes also a licence to get fully recognized.
You can find a full overview of all necessary documents for recognition for all states here: https://www.jobsandspirit.com/en/2022/10/05/all-application-forms-for-the-defizitbescheid-by-federal-state/
We hope this was of help to you.
Your Jobs & Spirit team
How long will take the Equivalent assessment in Hessen Darmstadt?
Hello,
thx for contacting us. Unfortunately, it is not possible to give you an exact timeframe. I depends on how much work they have. In theory it shouldn’t take longer than 3 months, but at the moment we have a candidate who is already waiting longer than 3 months. In general, up to 3 months should be the rule.
Best of luck – the Jobs & Spirit team
Need a translation for Hessen State?
Hello and thank you for contacting us.
That is correct, if you wish to be recognized as a nurse in the state of Hesse, your documentation needs to be translated into German.
You will find further information in this blog post.
Kind regards,
the Jobs & Spirit team
Hello. Can the employer retrieve “Defizitbescheid” instead of me? I am already in my home country, I can not get a visa without this document, unfortunately.
Hello, sorry for the late response. If you already applied for the Defizitbescheid and it was finished, you can send the “Regierungspräsidium” an email and ask, if the can send it to your employer. But sometimes a pdf is enough and it’s always possible to request the Defizitbescheid as a pdf via email as well. I hope this helps. If you need more help, you can contact us directly.
Hello,thank you for your great work. I would like to know how long it can take for me to get defizitbescheid after submission of all required documents.
Thanks in advance.
Hello,
thank you for contacting us.
Usually it should be up to 3 months, but you can never really know for sure, also depending on the situation in Germany.
People in some federal states in Germany wait more than half a year …
We hope this helps and good luck with your Defizitbescheid 🙂
How long does recognition process for Nurses takes place?
Hello, thank you for taking the time to read our blog and I hope that it was of some help to you. It depends on quite a few factors how long the recognition process for nurses takes. The short answer is: after you receive your “Defizitbescheid” and start working in Germany it should take somewhere between 6-12 months and in some cases it can be quicker (also depends whether you have a B1 or B2 level of German). If you are interested in more information on the topic, feel free to contact us directly.
Hi i would like do my forgein recognition in hessen.
If we saw correctly you already contated us, so you can ask us anything you need to know. Thank you for reaching out.
Hello, can I get a pdf copy of my deficitsbecheid, knowing that I am not the person who deposited the documents in your office, and I have given him a athorization to do so, as I have not been able to contact him for a long time and I doubt that he no longer wants to give me a copy of my deficitsbecheid, thank you very much
Hello, I am not sure I understand you fully, but will answer what I think I understood. Generally, if you are the one who has sent in the documents, you can ask for a pdf copy of your Defizitbescheid otherwise that is only possible if you have power of attorney. If you gave someone power of attorney to send in documents in your name, you can revoke the power of attorney and request your Defizitbescheid as a pdf or you can also simply request your Defizitbescheid. I hope that answers your question. Kind regards
Thank you for your understanding, I gave a power of attorney to someone and he submitted the documents to you, how can I prove that I am the owner of the Deficitsbecheid to get a pdf copy of it, thank you very much