Germany Healthcare Professional Recruitment Procedures, Required Conditions and Application Procedures
In 2020 and 2021, due to the conditions created by the Covid-19 pandemic, employment gaps in the health sector emerged in most European countries. Among non-EU citizens, doctors and nurses were the priority employment group for Germany.
What are the Requirements for Recruiting Healthcare Personnel in Germany?
The conditions that must be met for the recruitment of healthcare personnel in Germany are listed below.
- Professional qualification : The professional qualification must be equivalent to the qualifications required for healthcare personnel in Germany. During the application, the equivalence of the professional qualification for Germany is assessed by the authorities. If the required conditions cannot be met with the documents showing equivalence during the application for healthcare personnel in Germany, healthcare personnel candidates take an assessment exam or are included in an adaptation process to prove that they have the required level of knowledge. The professional equivalence application must be made to the competent authority in the German state where the candidate intends to practice his/her profession, and if the application is successful, the certificate of competence received is valid throughout Germany.
- Sufficient knowledge of German : Within the scope of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, it is required to have a B1 or B2 level of German proficiency. The required language level varies depending on the state in which the application is made.
- Health certificate : A health certificate must be obtained from a German doctor stating that there is no physical or mental impediment to working in the health field.
- Personal suitability and reliability : The person who will work as a healthcare professional in Germany must have a criminal record from his/her own country or a German certificate of reliability.
What is the Diploma Level Required to Work as a Healthcare Personnel Recruitment in Germany?
People who want to work as healthcare personnel in Germany must have a bachelor’s or postgraduate education.
What is the Salary of Healthcare Workers in Germany?
In Germany, the average salary for a newly graduated doctor is 3,000 Euros, while the salary for a general practitioner is between 2,800 Euros and 3,000 Euros, and the salary for a specialist is between 4,200 Euros and 4,700 Euros. In Germany, the salary for nurses varies between 2,000 and 2,300 Euros, the salary for pharmacists is between 2,000 and 4,000 Euros, and the salary for dentists is between 2,800 and 3,200 Euros.
In Germany, healthcare personnel salaries are similar to most European countries. In France, doctors’ salaries range from 4,000 to 8,000 euros, nurses’ salaries range from 2,500 to 5,000 euros, and dentists’ salaries range from 4,000 to 8,000 euros. In Belgium, the lowest doctor’s salary is 5,370 euros, while the average nurse’s salary is 3,500 euros. In the Netherlands, specialist doctors’ salaries range from 5,830 to 10,830 euros, nurses’ salaries range from 1,980 to 2,880 euros, and dentists’ salaries range from 3,250 to 5,185 euros.
What is the Health System Like in Germany?
Germany’s health system follows a policy that strives to keep people’s living standards high and does not victimize any segment of the population. Germany is among the leading countries in the world with its large-scale investments in the health sector and the quality of public health services.
In Germany, health care expenses are covered by social insurance, and everyone registered with the state health insurance system has free access to health care. Although private health insurance is very common throughout Germany, those who are not registered with the state health insurance system can benefit from health care through private insurance.
In Germany, where the number of private hospitals is low, healthcare services are generally received from public hospitals and health centres. Unless there is a serious or urgent situation, people go to health centres for treatment.
Working conditions in the German healthcare sector vary depending on the staff’s area of expertise. Within the German healthcare system, a law proposal has been made that healthcare personnel can work a maximum of 48 hours a week, and working hours have been rearranged accordingly. Health sector employees in Germany have an advantageous position in their social lives by working shorter hours and receiving higher salaries.
Where Should Applications Be Made for Healthcare Worker Recruitment in Germany?
In order to apply for a healthcare professional position in Germany, professional equivalence must first be obtained, then a job interview must be held with a healthcare institution in Germany and an official employment contract must be signed. Individuals who have signed an employment contract to become healthcare professionals in Germany must apply for a work visa at the German Consulate.
Being a doctor in Germany has become a preferred career goal by foreign healthcare professionals due to the social life opportunities, working hours, salary levels and quality of life offered in Germany.