© dpa
Berlin is introducing a new specialised language test for nursing staff with professional qualifications from abroad.
It is intended to ensure that the necessary language skills are available to work competently and safely in the care sector in Germany, as the Senate Department for Health announced on Wednesday.
"With the introduction of the specialist language test for nursing B2, we are setting an important milestone for the quality assurance of recognition and integration processes for nurses with foreign professional qualifications," said Health Senator Ina Czyborra (SPD). "We want to ensure that all nurses, regardless of their country of origin, are able to fulfil the language requirements, especially in their day-to-day work."
According to the health administration, the examination is not mandatory, but in their opinion it facilitates integration into the labour market. This sets it apart from many other examination formats, which are also recognised by the recognition authority as proof of the required language skills until further notice. It covers language skills in areas that are particularly important for everyday care work, such as communicating with patients, people in need of care, relatives and colleagues or writing and understanding care reports.