Fast-track procedure for nursing assistants

The shortage of skilled labour is particularly acute in the care sector. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, there will be a shortage of 280,000 to 690,000 nursing staff in Germany by 2049. The accelerated recognition procedure for skilled workers from third countries (non-EU countries) currently only applies to skilled workers with at least two years of vocational training or higher qualifications. Nursing assistants have one year of education and are therefore not yet included in this procedure. This is now set to change in Bavaria from 1 January 2025, meaning that nursing assistants will also benefit from the accelerated recognition procedure.

The care shortage continues to progress. For this reason, the nursing staff quota of a minimum of 50 percent was eased a year ago. This quota specified how many nursing specialists a facility must have for a certain number of residents in need of care. For many facilities it was increasingly difficult to meet the quota of 50 per cent. Now they want to employ more assistants to relieve the pressure on the nursing specialists. Nursing assistants help with the basic care of residents and patients. This may include washing and dressing, administering medication, measuring blood sugar levels, etc. This is not only a relief to nursing specialists, but this may also improve the quality of care. Care homes are now able to hire more staff again and thus finally are able to react against the chronic understaffing. And this also leaves more time for the residents.  

This may sound like an easing of the situation at first glance. However, the question now is where these nursing assistants shall come from. And this is how the fast-track procedure for skilled workers may help now. From the beginning of next year, qualified people from third countries who are nursing assistants or have equivalent training can more quickyl be integrated into the German labour market. This is because the fast-track procedure only takes about two months.

However, people from third countries can also come to Germany to train as nursing assistants. Thus they can be integrated into the labour market after only one year of education. If only some qualifications are missing, trainings can be done here in Germany in order to meet the requirements . 

Please note that the fast-track procedure can only be initiated via employers. Nursing assistants may only go fot the fast-track recognition in Bavaria only from January 2025. It is up to now uncertain if other federal states will follow.

• This is how the fast-track procedure works
• Press release of the Bayerisches Landesamt für Pflege