B1 can be enough for nursing training in Germany, but B2 is the safer target.

B1 can be enough for nursing training in Germany. We still recommend B2 before you start, because everything is new at once and misunderstanding patients has consequences. Rules differ by state and they change, so use the official pages for guidance and confirm the level with your school or employer.

State rules

The official Make it in Germany page on nursing training says clearly that, depending on the federal state, you need German at level B1 or B2 for nursing training. The local nursing school or employer still decides what it accepts.

In practice, the school or employer decides

The official BERUFENET profile for nursing training explains the usual entry routes and how selection works. Applicants are usually selected through a written application and an interview, and sometimes there is also a written entrance test.

The training visa normally requires B1

For the training visa under Section 16a of the Residence Act, you need a specific training place in Germany. The official visa page for vocational training says you normally need German at B1 if the training institution has not yet tested your language skills or if you have not yet completed a preparatory German course. Your living costs also have to be covered. As of 2026, an allowance of at least €1,048 gross or €822 net per month usually counts as enough to cover your living costs. If it is lower, you can make up the difference with a blocked account or a declaration of commitment.

Under the public-sector collective agreement, nursing trainees start at €1,491 gross per month in year 1, so this is above the visa threshold. Other employers can pay differently.

If you do not have a training place yet

If you do not have a training place yet, there is a visa to look for one under Section 17 (1) of the Residence Act. For that visa, you need B1 German, a school-leaving certificate that gives access to higher education, and you must be under 35.

Do not mix this up with professional recognition. If you are already a qualified nurse from abroad, you need at least B2 German for recognition. We recommend finishing B2 before you arrive, so the language exam is not one more thing to deal with when everything else is new.

The training is long and mostly practical

Nursing training takes three years full time, or up to five years part time, and it ends with a state examination. Most of the training takes place in practice: in hospitals, care facilities, or outpatient services rather than in the classroom at a nursing school. So B1 is not only about admission. It has to carry you through daily work and school over a long period.

The first two years are general nursing training. Before the third year, you can specialize in long-term care or pediatric nursing, or stay on the generalist track and earn the qualification of Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann. The generalist qualification is recognized throughout the EU.

Other requirements and pay

Besides German, you usually need:

• a school certificate that meets the access rules
• a medical certificate confirming that you are physically and mentally fit to work as a nurse
• proof of a clean criminal record
• proof of measles protection for the practical training

The training allowance is required by law, and the training is free of charge for trainees. Under the public-sector collective agreement, gross monthly pay is €1,491 in year 1, €1,552 in year 2, and €1,653 in year 3. Social security contributions are deducted from that pay. Income tax usually is not deducted, because the allowance is likely below the basic tax-free amount.

Why we recommend B2

Our advice is simple: aim for B2. With B1, everything is new at once: the country, the workplace, the language, and the daily routines. Patients and colleagues notice when you only understand part of what they say, and that can be uncomfortable for everyone involved. In nursing, misunderstanding a patient can have real consequences. With B2, you can put more of your energy into the training itself instead of into the language.

Do not stop once you have the certificate. Keep learning for a life in Germany, not for a certificate. That is what convinces the best employers and gets you the position you actually want, not just a position.

Our German course for nursing training focuses on the language used on the ward. You follow Linh from Vietnam into the general nursing training, from the application and arrival to the first ward placement, and you listen and speak along with short story-based lessons. If you are moving on to B2, we also offer a German B2 course. The official nursing page also names IMED-KOMM and the free IQ app „Ein Tag Deutsch in der Pflege“ as learning resources.

If you need a shorter route, nursing assistant training is another option. This route is regulated by state law. It usually takes one to two years, usually asks for German at B1 to B2, and usually needs a lower secondary certificate. It is school-based, so trainees generally are not entitled to pay, and some schools charge fees. After completing nursing assistant training, you can apply to shorten the full nursing training by one third. If you are comparing healthcare training routes, you can also read our guide to dental assistant (ZFA) training in Germany.

If you are deciding how far to take German before you apply, check these points:

• find out which state your school is in and what level it asks for
• aim for B2 before you start, even if B1 is allowed
• keep learning past B2 during the training
• prepare for the words you hear on the ward from day one