FAQ Health Professions | Recognition of foreign educational qualificationsAdaptation course

As soon as the application has been submitted to us in full, we will check the extent to which the foreign training is equivalent to the German training on the basis of the statutory regulations.

If there are significant differences between the training courses, you will receive a so-called deficiency notice. You then have the option of taking an aptitude or knowledge test or participating in an adaptation period. You can make this decision yourself.

You will find information on the scope and content of a possible adaptation period in the deficiency notice.

The adaptation period is an internship (practical training) with theoretical instruction. The theoretical instruction is the transfer of specialist knowledge alongside the practical work. If the institution in which the adaptation period is completed offers theoretical-practical instruction in your healthcare profession, you will take part in this training.

The aim of the adaptation period is for you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to practice the profession.

The scope of the adaptation period will be determined after reviewing your documents for each professional area in which there are significant differences to German training.

The adaptation period does not have to be completed full-time, but can be arranged individually in consultation with the practical training center. If the adaptation period is completed part-time, the duration of the adaptation period is extended accordingly.

The adaptation period concludes with an examination in the form of a final interview on the content.

A final interview must be held at the end of the adaptation period for each professional area in which a significant difference to German training has been identified. The contents of the adaptation period for the respective area and thus the knowledge are examined.

The final interview is conducted by two people:

• a specialist examiner and
• a teacher (or the person who supervised the applicant during the course)

If you are unable to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills for your profession in the final interview, the specialist examiners will decide on an appropriate extension of the adaptation period.

An extension of the adaptation period is only permitted once and is requested from the Stuttgart Regional Council by the institution where the adaptation period is completed.

A final interview will take place again after the extension. If you are still unable to provide proof of your knowledge here, you will have to repeat the entire adaptation period. The adaptation period may only be repeated once.

The adaptation course must be carried out at an institution that has a state training authorization for your profession. This includes, for example, hospitals (inpatient acute care), care facilities (inpatient long-term care) or care services (outpatient care).

You must find and contact the institution in which the adaptation period is completed yourself. There is no assignment by the Stuttgart Regional Council.

The content of the adaptation period must be adapted to the content of the German training. The institution where the adaptation period is completed is responsible for providing the required contents.