Nursing Profession Act

Basic data
Title:	Law on Nursing Professions
Short title:	Nursing Profession Act
Abbreviation:	PflBG
Type:	Federal law
Scope:	Federal Republic of Germany
Legal matter:	Special administrative law , labor law
References :	2124-25
Issued on:	July 17, 2017 ; ( BGBl. I p. 2581 )
Entry into force on:	predominantly January 1, 2020
Last change by:	Art. 9 G of 19 May 2020 ; ( Federal Law Gazette I p. 1018, 1033 )
Effective date of the ; last change:	January 1, 2020 ; (Art. 18 G of May 19, 2020)
GESTA :	M040
Weblink:	Text of the law
	Please note the note on the applicable legal version.

In the German Nursing Professions Act , the three previous training courses in care for the elderly , healthcare and nursing as well as healthcare and children's nursing are to be merged into a future uniform training occupation. It will essentially replace the two previous laws from 2020: the Elderly Care Act of 2000, in force since 2003, and the new version of the Nursing Act from 2003.

Goals, content

Generalist nursing training are called some model projects of different form and training duration for the further development of nursing training / professions, which are to gradually merge the three previously separate training courses in health and nursing, child nursing and geriatric care in a single, also three-year, vocational training course. For the time being, however, the degrees can also be obtained separately in the previous professional areas.

In July 2017, following an agreement within the governing coalition, a legislative procedure was concluded that was called a draft law for the reform of the nursing professions (Pflegeberufereformgesetz - PflBRefG) by the federal government that submitted the bill ; with the draft of March 9, 2016. It comprises 68 paragraphs.

The main contents relate to the admission requirements that will apply from 2020 (usually secondary school leaving certificate), duration (three years or part-time up to five years), principles of nationwide uniform financing, the curriculum still to be developed (for the generalist phase (year 1 and 2) and the specialization phase in the third year of training). A future evaluation should provide the decision-making basis for maintaining or abolishing the professions of child nursing and care for the elderly after 2026. Entry into academic training for nurses (teaching and management level) is also mentioned. Further details on the content of the training are regulated in the Nursing Professions Training and Examination Ordinance - PflAPrV .

Names of professions

According to the law on the care professions (nursing professions Act) the name comes from 2023 nurse or househusband next to the professions in the elderly and pediatric care. The state permit entitles the holder to use the respective professional title - in addition to the nursing staff, there are also qualifications as health and pediatric nurses and geriatric nurses.

Transitional provisions, shell law

In addition to the Nursing Professions Act , the Nursing Professions Reform Act was promptly enacted as a shell law, which adapts previous provisions in other laws etc. Article 1 there relates to the above-mentioned Nursing Act.