International specialists with IHK recognition

International specialists as an answer to structural bottlenecks in the healthcare sector

Based on current analyses by the Federal Employment Agency, the Federal Statistical Office, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Medical Association.

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INTERNATIONAL SKILLED WORKERS WITH IHK RECOGNITION: SITUATION & FORECAST

The question is no longer whether there will be enough applicants. It's whether we can still fill them.

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Many clinics continue to operate even though key roles remain unfilled. As soon as a position is vacant, processes come under pressure. Teams make up for what is barely sustainable. Applicants arrive late - if at all - and often without complete documentation. Decisions take longer, processes lose speed.

At the same time, the situation is changing: staff requirements are growing, while the number of available employees is stagnating. Staff turnover is no longer an exception, but a daily occurrence. And every vacancy leads to subsequent problems - for patients, for the team and for the hospital.

International specialists could provide relief here. Many have many years of professional experience, have completed language training and have a recognized qualification according to German standards. However, this option often remains unused. There is a great deal of uncertainty about IHK recognition. What does it mean in everyday life? Is it reliable? Where does the effort begin - and where does the risk end?

While these questions remain unanswered, new gaps are emerging. What is missing are not solutions. What is missing is trust in the system that has long provided them.

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SECURING SUPPLY THROUGH INTEGRATION

The decisive factor is not the origin. It's whether someone can secure the supply.

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Care is not dependent on ideology. It depends on people who are available, qualified and ready to work. Specialists with IHK recognition fulfill these criteria - often more than others.

Where international specialists are well integrated, everyone benefits: the workload is distributed, absences due to illness are reduced and quality increases. What is needed is not a perfect environment - but clear onboarding, reliable communication and leadership that sets the direction.

What happens if you wait and see is well known: Wards are understaffed, shifts are rescheduled at short notice, patients are put off. The pressure on the remaining team increases - with all the consequences for satisfaction, quality and safety. A well thought-out process for international recruitment not only protects the business. It is a signal both internally and externally: this clinic is prepared to secure long-term care. In Thuringia, one in four hospital doctors already comes from abroad (source: WELT / Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, 2024).

In a market that will remain tense for years to come, we don't need quick answers - we need systems that work. Those who create a clear path to recognition and integration today will not only fill positions faster. But also more stable. IHK recognition provides the framework for this. It provides security. It makes it possible to recruit what would otherwise be lost. And it opens up access to skilled workers who want to stay - if you make it possible for them to get started.

It doesn't matter whether you start with 5 or 50 people. The decisive factor is that access exists - and is used. If you hesitate, you lose time. If you act, you gain leeway.

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IHK RECOGNITION: access to certified specialists

Recognition is not a bonus. It is proof that someone can deliver.

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IHK recognition follows a clear audit trail. It ensures that a foreign professional qualification corresponds to the German reference profession in terms of subject matter.

The examination is carried out by the IHK FOSA - centrally, standardized and legally binding. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) is an official body under public law that is responsible for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in Germany, among other things. Only those who pass this check receive full equivalence and are allowed to work without restriction.

For clinics, this means maximum security when it comes to qualifications. No uncertainty factor, but structured access to certified specialists. Recognition is documented, legally robust and can be implemented with adaptation qualifications on request.

These skilled workers not only bring their training with them. They bring professional experience, adaptability and - in many cases - a higher motivation to stay than other groups. More than 90 % of the recognized individuals remain in their jobs long-term and fill positions that would otherwise remain empty for months.

IHK recognition is not a signal for minimum standards. It is the entry into a structured profession at German level. Source: Federal Ministry of Education and Research

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WORKERHERO AT A GLANCE

• 650,000+ vetted professionals in the WorkerHero talent pool - ready for action
• An average of 6-8 qualified candidate proposals ("picks") by the
• successful recruitment
• No flood of applicants, but clean, verified profiles with a complete CV
• Multilingual platform, international recruitment included
• 150+ channels through which we specifically activate talent
• Clear processes & fast feedback - with a 48-hour decision path on request

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THE IHK RECOGNITION PROCESS

How IHK recognition works - compactly explained

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Anyone with a foreign professional qualification undergoes a standardized recognition procedure in Germany. The aim is to establish equivalence with a German reference occupation - in a comprehensible, legally secure and transparent manner. The following procedure shows how this recognition takes place step by step.

As shown in the process above, the skilled worker applies for recognition at the IHK FOSA. After examination and comparison with a German reference profession, they receive full, partial or no recognition, depending on the result. If recognition is successful, the profession can be practiced in Germany with legal certainty. The procedure usually takes 2-3 months and costs between €100 and €600. Language skills (e.g. B2 in nursing) are often required.