Career pathway
Explore DGKP, PFA and PA nursing routes in Austria. Learn about qualification recognition, German, registration and work permits before you apply.
These are different regulated professions. The Austrian authority—not an employer or a website—decides how a foreign qualification maps to them.
DGKP
For qualified nurses seeking the Austrian registered-nurse profession. Your education must follow the applicable recognition or nostrification route. B2 German is required for entry in the Health Care Professions Register.
Read the role guidePFA
Pflegefachassistenz is a separate regulated profession with a broader scope than PA. A foreign nursing qualification does not automatically grant the PFA title; the competent authority must assess the relevant route.
Read the role guidePA
Pflegeassistenz is also a regulated nursing profession. It is not the same as an unregulated caregiver role. Check the official qualification route before applying for PA jobs.
Read the role guideDGKP, PFA and PA have different scopes and qualification requirements. Start with the role you want to practise, not the job title in a recruitment ad.
EU/EEA/Swiss training generally follows recognition. Qualifications from other countries generally require nostrification; a specific EU/EEA/Swiss authorisation plus three years of lawful relevant practice there can change that route. Use the official guide for your case.
Check the language evidence for your role. For DGKP, the professional register specifies B2 German. Registration in the Health Care Professions Register is required before practising these nursing professions.
Professional recognition and immigration are separate. If you are not an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, check the residence-and-work route that fits your nationality, offer and circumstances; a job offer alone is not a licence to practise nursing.
Use these focused guides after you know which question you need to answer.
Official rules checked September 2026. This page is general information, not a decision on your qualification or immigration status.