Exam requirements guide
Which German certificate do I need to work in Germany?
Your job type determines your level. Here's what each work route requires, sourced from official federal portals.
Last verified April 2026. Salary thresholds, points values, and language rules are reproduced from official federal portals (Make it in Germany, GMK, BAMF) and linked beneath each section. Rules and figures change year to year, so always confirm with the linked official source before making a visa or employment decision.
Level required · None at entry
EU Blue Card
- Language at entry
- None
- Salary (2026)
- €50,700 · €45,934.20 for shortage occupations or recent graduates
- To settlement
- 21–27 months · 21 mo with B1, 27 mo with A1
The EU Blue Card is for university-degree holders (or equivalent tertiary qualifications) with a concrete job offer at or above the federal salary threshold. German is not required to apply; it only speeds up the route to permanent residence later.
Source: Make it in Germany, EU Blue Card.
Level required · A2–B1
Skilled Worker Visa
- Recognition partnership
- A2
- Vocational training visa
- B1
- IT specialists
- No formal requirement · Separate pathway under the 2024 reform
The Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz covers both academic and vocational qualifications. The 2024 reform introduced recognition partnerships (enter first, finish recognition in Germany), a 6-month skills-analysis permit, and the Opportunity Card. Settlement permit now possible after 3 years for skilled workers with recognized qualifications.
Level required · A1 or B2 English
Opportunity Card
- Entry threshold
- A1 DE or B2 EN · CEFR
- Minimum points
- 6 · across the federal criteria
- Max duration
- 1 → 2 years · part-time work allowed up to 20h/week
The Chancenkarte launched in June 2024 and lets you enter Germany to look for qualified employment. Either route in: as a fully recognized skilled worker, or by scoring at least 6 points on the federal points system. Job-trial work (up to 2 weeks per employer) is allowed during the search.
| Partial equivalence of qualification | 4 pts |
| Qualification in shortage occupation | 1 pt |
| Experience: 2+ yrs in last 5 | 2 pts |
| Experience: 5+ yrs in last 7 | 3 pts |
| German A2 | 1 pt |
| German B1 | 2 pts |
| German B2 or higher | 3 pts |
| English C1 or native (bonus) | 1 pt |
| Age 35 or younger | 2 pts |
| Age 35–40 | 1 pt |
| Legal residence in Germany 6+ months (last 5 yrs) | 1 pt |
| Spouse meets Opportunity Card criteria | 1 pt |
Source: Make it in Germany, Opportunity Card.
Level required · B2 or C1
Professional Recognition
- Nurses, midwives, therapists
- B2 specialist · Fachsprachenprüfung per GMK 92 (2019)
- Doctors, dentists, pharmacists
- C1 specialist · Fachsprachprüfung per GMK 87 (2014); B2 general as prerequisite
- Psychotherapists
- C2 specialist · Per GMK 87 (2014)
Regulated professions (reglementierte Berufe) require formal recognition before you can practice. Examples named by the federal portal include nurses, doctors, teachers, and lawyers. Use the Recognition Finder to check your profession; anabin for qualification equivalence.
Two separate language-test regimes apply. The Fachsprachenprüfung for allied health professions (Pflege, Hebammen, Therapieberufe, etc.) was standardized by the 92nd Gesundheitsministerkonferenz in 2019: B2 specialist German in a 60-minute test across 3 parts of 20 minutes each. The Fachsprachprüfung for academic healthcare (Approbation for doctors, dentists, pharmacists) still follows the 87th Conference key-points paper from 2014: C1 specialist German, 80 minutes written plus 60 minutes oral in 3 parts. Each state medical chamber or competent authority sets its own dates and fees. For accepted certificates, exam formats, and step-by-step details per role, see the profession-specific requirements guide covering nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, teaching, and engineering.
Sources: Make it in Germany, Nursing, GMK 92 TOP 8.6 (2019), GMK 87 TOP 7.3 (2014).
At a glance
Exam comparison
Acceptance varies by employer and licensing authority. Always confirm with the specific decision-maker.
Scroll horizontally to compare all columns →
| Exam | Purpose | CEFR | Format | Where accepted | Retakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goethe-Zertifikat B1 | General-purpose B1 proof | B1 | Paper + digital | Skilled-worker visa, settlement-permit acceleration on the Blue Card, Opportunity Card points | Anytime |
| Goethe-Zertifikat B2 | Professional B2 proof | B2 | Paper + digital | Regulated professions (nursing typical), Opportunity Card top language tier | Anytime |
| telc Deutsch B1·B2 Beruf | Work-context German | B1 / B2 | Paper | Skilled-worker visa, vocational training, technical roles | Anytime |
| ÖSD Zertifikat B1 / B2 | DACH-wide recognition | B1 / B2 | Paper | Austrian authorities and many German employers | Anytime |
| telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin | Medical German (Approbation path) | B2–C1 | Written + oral | Accepted by several state medical chambers as the Fachsprachprüfung | Anytime |
Continue the guide
Other chapters
Official sources
Trusted references
For visa specifics, contact the German embassy or consulate in your country of residence. For Austria or Switzerland, use migration.gv.at or sem.admin.ch respectively.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about working in Germany and the German you need.
Do I need German to apply for an EU Blue Card?
EU Blue Card or Skilled Worker Visa: which fits me?
Can I move to Germany without any German knowledge?
What German level do nurses and doctors need?
Does English count anywhere in these pathways?
Explore further
Where to go next
How requirements differ by country
Germany
All four pathways above apply. Salary thresholds and shortage-occupation lists are set at federal level; recognition decisions are made by the individual state authority.
Austria
Austria runs its own Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte points system, not the German Blue Card or Chancenkarte. See country-specific details for pathway breakdowns.
Switzerland
Switzerland is not in the EU; EU Blue Card rules do not apply. Work-permit rules differ for EU/EFTA vs third-country nationals. See country-specific details for official sources.
Requirements by profession
Nursing, medicine, teaching, engineering and more.
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