Where German is needed at work
German is an official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. According to a 2025 survey by Germany's Federal Foreign Office, demand for German courses is growing where Germany is seen as a destination for work, vocational training or study, for example in Egypt, India, Kenya and Colombia.
| Field | Usual German level | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | B2 | authorities require B2 for recognition |
| Medicine | C1 | doctors pass a medical language exam |
| Trades and hospitality | usually at least B1 | the employer sets the level |
| Dual apprenticeship | B1 to B2 | training in a company and at vocational school |
| Opportunity Card | A1 German or B2 English | better German earns extra points |
The Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is a residence permit for job seekers in Germany. A dual apprenticeship combines training in a company with lessons at a vocational school, and companies usually expect B1 to B2, the third and fourth of the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
The EU Blue Card, a residence permit for highly qualified professionals, does not generally require German. Holders with B1 German can, however, get a permanent settlement permit after 21 months instead of 27.
Office German or specialist German
An office German course trains communication at work, meaning emails, calls, meetings and presentations. German business letters start with 'Sehr geehrte Frau' or 'Sehr geehrter Herr' and end with 'Mit freundlichen Grüßen'. At work you address customers and managers with the formal 'Sie' until they offer the informal 'du', a distinction English does not make.
A specialist course teaches the vocabulary and text types of one profession. In nursing these include handovers, care reports and conversations with patients and relatives. In medicine, conversations with patients and medical documentation are added.
- ✓Office German works in almost any job with customers, colleagues or authorities.
- ✓Specialist German prepares you directly for exams such as telc Deutsch B1/B2 Pflege.
- ✗Office German does not cover specialist vocabulary.
- ✗Specialist courses for rarer professions are hard to find and cost more.
The German level employers expect
The levels come from the CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2. The table shows guide values derived from the CEFR can-do statements, and your employer or recognition authority sets the binding requirement.
| Task in German | Usual minimum level |
|---|---|
| Answer standard enquiries by email | B1 |
| Handle customer calls on familiar topics | B1 to B2 |
| Take part in meetings | B2 |
| Negotiate and chair meetings | B2 to C1 |
| Write reports or specialist texts | C1 |
German job adverts rarely name a CEFR level and use words such as verhandlungssicher (business fluent) or fließend (fluent), which roughly correspond to B2 to C1.
Goethe-Instituts abroad count about 150 teaching units of 45 minutes from one level to the next. With six units a week, the step from B1 to B2 therefore takes about half a year.
5 work-related German exams
A certificate makes your German comparable for employers and recognition authorities. Many work-related exams cover two levels in one sitting, and the result shows which level you reached.
| Exam | Level | Target group |
|---|---|---|
| telc Deutsch B1-B2 Beruf | B1 or B2 | people in work |
| telc Deutsch B1/B2 Pflege | B1 or B2 | nurses and care staff |
| telc Deutsch B2/C1 Medizin Fachsprachprüfung | B2 or C1 | doctors |
| Deutsch-Test für den Beruf (DTB) | A2 to C1 | participants of job-related German courses |
| Goethe-Zertifikat B1 to C1 | one level each | work, visas, recognition |
For doctors, the authority of the German state or the medical chamber decides which medical language exam it accepts. Alongside telc and the Goethe-Institut, the Austrian German Language Diploma (ÖSD) tests from A1 to C2, and the ÖSD certificate B2 also serves as proof for nursing.
Ask the recognition authority or your employer in writing for the exact exam name before you register. A general exam does not replace every specialist exam.
5 things a work-related German course trains
A work-related German course starts with a needs analysis, a conversation or questionnaire about your tasks in German. It then trains five areas.
1 Emails and letters
You write enquiries and replies with the right greeting and closing formula.
2 Phone calls
You practise asking back, spelling names and arranging appointments.
3 Meetings
You state an opinion, disagree politely and sum up results.
4 Specialist vocabulary and text types
You work with texts from your job, such as care reports or technical descriptions.
5 Tone in the team
You practise when colleagues use 'du' and when 'Sie' applies.
If you still live abroad, start the course before you move and arrive with A2 or B1 instead of starting from zero. Some employers that recruit nurses and engineers abroad pay for German courses before the move.
A course with a needs analysis practises the situations from your working day.
Online courses fit around shift work, because recordings are available at any time.
A teacher for nursing German is easier to find online than locally.
Job-related courses, education vouchers and employers
Several routes lower the cost of German for work, most of them for people who already live in Germany.
- Job-related German courses from Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) build on the integration course, lead for example to B2 or C1 and are free for many participants. They often end with the Deutsch-Test für den Beruf.
- Job seekers in Germany can apply to the employment agency for an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) for an approved course.
- Employers in nursing, engineering and hospitality often pay for German courses for new staff.
Base a request to your employer on concrete tasks, such as handovers on the late shift or calls with customers. A goal with a CEFR level and a date, for example B2 before recognition, makes the benefit clear to your manager.
Frequently asked questions about online German courses for work
Which German exam suits nurses who want to work in Germany?
Nurses who want to work in Germany need a German exam at B2, such as the Goethe-Zertifikat B2, telc Deutsch B1/B2 Pflege or the ÖSD certificate B2. Authorities require B2 for recognition as a nurse. The responsible recognition authority confirms which exam it accepts.
What German level do doctors need to practise in Germany?
Doctors with a foreign degree usually pass a medical German language exam at C1 to practise in Germany. The authority of the German state or the medical chamber decides which exam counts. telc offers telc Deutsch B2/C1 Medizin Fachsprachprüfung for this purpose.
What is a BAMF job-related German course?
A BAMF job-related German course is a subsidised course for German at work that builds on the integration course. It leads for example to B2 or C1 and is free for many participants living in Germany. It often ends with the Deutsch-Test für den Beruf.
What German level do companies expect for a dual apprenticeship?
For a dual apprenticeship, companies usually expect German at B1 to B2, the third and fourth of six CEFR levels. At vocational school you follow specialist lessons in German. A work-related German course before the start trains specialist vocabulary and exam tasks.
Do I need German for the EU Blue Card in Germany?
The EU Blue Card in Germany does not generally require German. With German at B1, holders get a permanent settlement permit after 21 months instead of 27. German also makes daily life and promotion at work considerably easier.
What German level do employers expect for meetings?
For meetings in German, employers usually expect B2, the fourth of six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference. B1 is often enough for standard emails. Negotiating or writing specialist texts in German often requires C1.
Sources
The information is based on these sources. Check fees and dates with the provider before you register.