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.
The 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.
Standard is B2 general German, plus most states require a nursing specialist-language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege).
Nurses trained outside the EU close the gaps with the Kenntnisprüfung Pflege (an oral and a practical part) or an adaptation course of several months. You choose one of the two.
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.
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These five are CEFR-aligned and accepted as a class. Which one counts is set by the institution you apply to. Study tests and exams for doctors and nurses are in the goal answers above.
| 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 |