How to Become a Nurse in Austria in 2026: Training and Requirements
Written by
Azra Mehanic
Founder, Move to Austria
Reviewed by
Azra Mehanic
Editorial and source review · August 10, 2026
Compare Austria's three nursing careers, training lengths, admission, German, registration and the route for foreign qualifications.
Austria Has Three Regulated Nursing Careers
Start by choosing the legal profession, not a generic job label. Austria distinguishes Pflegeassistenz (PA), Pflegefachassistenz (PFA) and graduate nursing (DGKP). PA supports basic care and delegated measures; PFA has broader diagnostic and therapeutic competencies; DGKP carries responsibility for the nursing process and coordination. Each route has its own education, permitted duties, language evidence and professional registration, so one qualification cannot simply be advertised under another title.
Training Takes One, Two or Three Years
The standard PA education is one year and 1,600 theory-and-practice hours. PFA normally takes two years and 3,200 hours, with shortened progression possible for qualified PA professionals. Since 2024, new DGKP education is exclusively a bachelor programme at a university of applied sciences, normally six semesters or at least three years and 180 ECTS. Compare the responsibility you want, admission conditions and time to qualification rather than choosing only by course length.
Admission and German Depend on the Programme
PA generally requires successful completion of ninth grade or the compulsory-school examination, health suitability, trustworthiness, German and an admission process. PFA normally requires tenth grade or PA authorisation; official guidance lists German B2 for admission. Bachelor programmes require a university entrance qualification or relevant vocational route with possible additional examinations, plus programme-specific and health suitability. Individual schools may set application dates and stronger language evidence, so verify the chosen provider directly.
Foreign Qualifications Follow Recognition or Nostrification
If you are already qualified abroad, do not automatically restart Austrian training. EU, EEA and Swiss qualifications normally follow professional recognition; third-country education normally follows nostrification. The competent authority depends on profession: the federal recognition route covers eligible European qualifications, universities of applied sciences handle third-country DGKP nostrification, and provincial authorities handle PA and PFA nostrification. The official Nursing in Austria guide should decide the route before fees or translations are ordered.
Registration Is the Final Gate Before Work
Every PA, PFA and DGKP must enter the Health Professions Register before practising. Official register language levels are B1 for PA and PFA and B2 for DGKP. Registration does not replace immigration permission: third-country nationals may also need an eligible job offer and residence title, while EU citizens use free-movement residence rules. Build the plan backwards from a lawful start date—qualification, recognition if needed, language proof, offer, registration and immigration approval.
Helpful resources
Official sources
Requirements and fees can change. Verify your individual case with the responsible authority before applying.
- Overview of Austria's three nursing professions — Austrian Public Health Portal
- Graduate nursing education and B2 registration — Nursing in Austria
- Nursing assistant level 1 education and B1 — Nursing in Austria
- Nursing assistant level 2 education and language — Nursing in Austria
- Recognition of EU nursing qualifications — Nursing in Austria
- Nostrification of third-country qualifications — Nursing in Austria
