# Nursing (Pflegefachmann / Pflegefachfrau) > Nursing (Pflegefachmann / Pflegefachfrau) Ausbildung guide: 3-year program, trainee pay €1,200 - €1,600/month, German B2 needed, and the Section 16a visa path for non-EU applicants. Nursing (Pflegefachmann / Pflegefachfrau) is a 3-year Ausbildung paying €1,200 - €1,600 a month during training, with B2 German as the practical requirement. 3 years, the best-paid Ausbildung: about €1,200 to €1,600 a month while training. ## What you will do - Patient care in hospitals, care homes, and home-care services - Wound care, medication, and treatment assistance - Documentation and care planning - Supporting doctors and coordinating with therapists ## Requirements A secondary school certificate (at least Hauptschulabschluss plus a 2-year assistant qualification, or Mittlere Reife). B2 German is the practical standard because the theory exams and patient communication are in German. Health fitness certificate and clean police record are standard. ## Why this trade is popular with international applicants Germany has a structural nursing shortage, which means faster visa processing for non-EU applicants, the highest trainee pay of any common Ausbildung, and near-guaranteed employment after graduation. Hospitals actively recruit abroad, so application support in English is more common here than in other trades. ## The visa path This trade qualifies for the Section 16a training residence permit (B1 German, signed training contract, up to 20h/week side work). Full walkthrough on the [Ausbildung hub](/ausbildung-in-germany/). ## Frequently asked questions ### How long is the Nursing (Pflegefachmann / Pflegefachfrau) Ausbildung? 3 years, split between company training and Berufsschule. ### What is the trainee pay? Typical range across employers. Public-sector tariff (TVAoeD Pflege, 2025): €1,416 in year 1, €1,477 in year 2, €1,578 in year 3. ### What German level is needed? Practical standard: B2. The visa requires B1 minimum for qualified training. ### Can non-EU citizens apply? Yes, via the Section 16a training residence permit with a signed contract and B1 German. --- Interactive version: https://toollantern.win/ausbildung/nursing-in-germany/