From a German Nursing Ausbildung to a US Nursing Licence: Princess Jay’s Journey
Can a nursing Ausbildung completed in Germany actually open doors outside Germany?
It is a question that comes up often, especially among international nurses considering Germany. There is also a persistent belief online that a German nursing qualification is only useful within Germany.
Princess Jay decided not to rely on what people were saying online. She researched the process herself, and today, she holds a US nursing licence.
But nursing was never part of her original plan.
Nursing Was Not the Career She Planned
Princess Jay is Liberian, and her journey to Germany had already taken her through several countries.
She completed her bachelor’s degree in Liberia, moved to Cyprus for a master’s programme, continued her studies in Turkey and eventually came to Germany for another master’s programme.
Growing up, her dream was to become a diplomat.
Then life changed.
While studying in Germany, Princess secured a full-time job and believed she had found the career she would stay in. When the pandemic came, she lost that job.
After completing her master’s, she found herself facing applications, rejections and uncertainty about what should come next.
Career coaching through the Jobcenter eventually presented her with two possible directions: system integration or nursing.
She tried a one-month nursing internship.
That was enough.
She knew she had found her path.
Starting an Ausbildung After a Master’s Degree
Choosing nursing meant starting a three-year Ausbildung — something Princess admits was mentally difficult.
On paper, it felt like she was going backwards.
She already had higher education qualifications, and now she was entering vocational training in a completely different field.
But she had an end goal.
The Ausbildung itself was far from easy. Princess was learning an entirely new profession while also learning medical German.
And the numbers from her class show just how demanding the journey was.
They started with 22 students.
Only 12 reached the final examination.
And eight graduated.
Princess was one of them.
Looking back, she says choosing nursing was one of the decisions that changed her life. In fact, if she could start again, she says she would choose nursing from the beginning.
But Can You Take a German Nursing Qualification to the US?
This became another turning point in Princess’s story.
She came across a German-trained nurse who had moved to California and was working in the United States.
At the same time, Princess was seeing completely different information online, with people claiming that moving from German nursing to the US was impossible.
Instead of choosing which side of the internet to believe, she went directly to the relevant authorities.
She called. She emailed. She asked about the practical hours, courses and documentation required.
After reviewing the requirements, she realised that her qualification could be evaluated.
She applied.
Her application went through.
The process required detailed documentation from her German nursing school, information about her nursing licence and a breakdown of the theoretical and practical training she had completed.
She also had to take the NCLEX, the licensing examination required for nurses in the United States.
Princess took her examination during a trip to the US and passed.
Today, she is licensed to practise nursing in the United States.
She also made an important point during our conversation: passing the NCLEX does not automatically mean someone can immediately work anywhere in America. Licensing requirements can vary by state, and additional requirements may apply depending on where a nurse wants to practise.
Her biggest advice is simple: research the requirements for your specific situation instead of relying entirely on information you see online.
What Germany Taught Her
Beyond nursing, there was another lesson from Princess’s journey that stood out.
Germany taught her persistence.
As she put it:
“You don’t give up on the first no. You have to push and knock. And if the door is not opening, open the window.”
That mindset describes much of her journey.
The career she originally planned did not work out.
She changed direction.
The Ausbildung felt like taking a step backwards.
She continued.
People said her German nursing qualification could not take her to the US.
She investigated it herself.
And another door opened.
Sometimes Starting Again Is the Way Forward
Princess’s story is a reminder that career progression does not always happen in a straight line.
A bachelor’s degree can lead to a master’s. A master’s can lead to an Ausbildung. And an Ausbildung can eventually create opportunities you never imagined when you started.
The qualification that once made Princess feel like she was moving backwards has now given her a career she says she would choose all over again.
Afrodites Space exists to document the lived experiences of Black women building careers, businesses and lives across Germany and Europe.
Princess’s journey is a reminder that changing direction does not erase everything you have already achieved. Sometimes the path that looks unconventional is exactly the one that takes you where you need to go.
If you are considering nursing Ausbildung in Germany, already working as a nurse and wondering about opportunities abroad, or simply facing a point in your career where you may need to start again, watch the full conversation with Princess Jay on Afrodites Space.
