Nursing assistant training in Austria: costs, procedure and career opportunities

Are you interested in becoming a nursing assistant in Austria? Then you've come to the right place! In this blog article, you can find out what nursing assistants do, how the training works and what career opportunities there are.

Group of doctors and nurses discussing medical topics at a conference.

Imagine you are the first person an elderly lady smiles warmly at again after a long time because you helped her freshen up and served her breakfast. You are the helping hand that supports a patient in getting up so that they can take their first steps after an operation. As a nursing assistant, you are often someone who makes the difference in the lives of people who urgently need your support.

What do nursing assistants do?

Care worker helps an elderly woman with her walker during a walk in the park

As a nursing assistant, you can work in hospitals, nursing homes or with outpatient care services, where you can support professionals such as qualified Health and Medical Nurses and nurses (DGKP), nursing assistants (PFA) or medical staff. But you can also work together with social workers and psychologists to ensure the psychological and social support of those in need of care. This collaboration ensures that patients receive comprehensive, high-quality care. The tasks are varied and include a range of important activities that are part of the daily care and support of patients:

Basic care:

Support with personal hygiene (washing, showering, bathing)

Assistance with dressing and undressing

Assistance with dental care and hair care

Mobilization

Help with getting up and going to bed

Assistance with walking exercises and movement

Repositioning bedridden patients to prevent pressure ulcers

Nutrition:

Assistance with food intake (feeding, giving drinks)

Preparation of meals

Liquid intake control

Hygiene and cleanliness:

Changing bedding and clothes

Cleaning and disinfecting care utensils

Support for incontinence care (Changing incontinence material)

Observation and Documentation:

Watching the Health status of patients and report any changes to the appropriate nursing staff

Documentation of care actions and special features

Social care:

Having conversations and offering emotional support

Promoting social Contacts and activities

Assistance with doctor's visits and visits to the authorities

Medical Assistance:

Support for simple medical tasks (e.g. measuring blood pressure)

Administering medicationas instructed by the nursing staff

How do I become a nursing assistant in Austria?

Elderly person being supported by a caregiver during weight training.

Imagine sitting in class learning about the basics of professional nursing while your instructor tells you stories of real nursing cases to bring the theory to life. In another course, you practice nursing techniques on dummies together with your fellow students and you laugh together when something doesn't go perfectly right away. During your training as a nursing assistant, you will immerse yourself in the various aspects of nursing. It provides a good foundation for your career in the care sector.

As a rule, training to become a nursing assistant takes one year and comprises 1600 hours of theory and practice. While the minimum age to start training is 17, you must be of legal age for the practical part of the training, i.e. at least 18 years old. Further requirements are:

successful completion of grade 9. school level or the compulsory school-leaving examination (exceptions are possible in individual cases)
health clearance (medical certificate)
clean criminal record (clean criminal record)
German language skills at least at B2 level
Access to the Austrian labor market (work-permit)

These courses are usually offered in adult education institutions or vocational schools for social care professions. The training is then completed with a final exam, after which you will also receive a certificate.

School education

If you are younger, you can also choose a vocational school, e.g. a school for health and social work.e.g. a school for health and nursing care. There, in addition to the usual school education, you will also receive training in nursing. In some schools, you can even combine a school-leaving certificate and nursing training if you attend a 5-year course.

This offers you the advantage that you will end up with both a general higher education entrance qualification and a professional qualification in the care sector. This opens up a wide range of career opportunities for you, be it directly in the care sector or in further studies at a university or university of applied sciences.

Vocational training

One popular way to become a nursing assistant is to train while working. There are evening or weekend courses offered by educational institutions or professional associations. They usually comprise around 20 hours per week and last a total of 1.5 to 2 years. The main advantage of part-time training to become a nursing assistant is that you can do it as part of an employment relationship or in conjunction with other training courses.

Recognition from abroad

Did you complete your training abroad or have you already gained experience in the care sector? Then you can have your qualifications recognized in Austria. This process differs depending on your country of origin and may require additional examinations or further training. You must prove the successful completion of training in an EU member state, an EEA member state or Switzerland with a diploma, examination certificate or other proof of qualification. Alternatively, you can also submit a diploma from a third country if this entitles you to work as a care assistant in an EU member state, an EEA member state or Switzerland. You must prove that you have worked legally and in a corresponding field of work in this country for at least three years.

Contents of the training

Imagine entering the training room and sitting down at your seat full of anticipation. You know that the coming year will be challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. During the first theory session, you will learn how to provide first aid and support people in need.

In the practical sessions, you will work side by side with experienced nursing staff who will show you how to mobilize patients and help them with their daily lives. You will quickly realize that you are not only learning technical skills, but also empathy and compassion. You will learn the basics of healthcare and nursing, first aid, pharmacology, somatology and pathology, hygiene and infection theory, mobilization and rehabilitation as well as nutrition.

In the internships, you can then put your theoretical knowledge into practice and further expand your skills. They are the highlight of your training - you look after patients, talk to them and realize how much your support is appreciated.

Doctors examine organs on a table for further medical tests

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Nora's tip: After training, graduates often receive valuable career advice that provides information on career prospects and job opportunities. Many organizations, such as WIFI, AMS and Caritas, offer job placement tools, links to current vacancies and partnerships to make it easier to enter the job market.

The cost of education

The cost of nursing assistant training in Austria can vary depending on which educational institution you choose and whether additional fees apply. Here are some important factors that can influence the costs:

Public schools and institutions: The cost of education is usually lower at public vocational schools, as these schools are state-funded. In many cases, the training itself and the associated teaching materials are free of charge or only involve small fees.
Private educational institutions: At private educational institutions and academies, you usually have to dig much deeper into your pockets. Depending on the school and training program, the costs can range from 1,000 to 4,000 euros. You should therefore make sure you find out about the fees and compare them with other training options.
Additional costs: In addition to the training costs, additional expenses may be incurred, for example for special textbooks, school materials, work clothing and possibly travel costs to the internship locations. Depending on the educational institution, examination fees may also be incurred

Inform yourself about the options in your area before deciding on a school, institute or other educational institution.

Miniature figures on stacks of coins of different heights as a symbol for differences in income

Funding and scholarships

In Austria, there are a variety of financial support offers for prospective nursing assistants. These are intended to make it easier to enter the nursing profession and to enable training for people who would like to reorient themselves professionally. The most important funding opportunities include:

Nursing education funding in Austria

AMS (Public Employment Service). AMS (Public Employment Service)

Funding	Description	Application
Nursing scholarship	1,600 euros per month for career changers who want to enter the nursing profession. This grant helps to overcome the financial hurdles involved in retraining or further training in the care sector.
Education accounts and state subsidies	Subsidies for training costs and travel expenses incurred during training or further education. These grants vary depending on the federal state and can also cover learning materials or examination fees	Land offices or education centers
AMS funding	Support for unemployed or job-seeking people who are undergoing training or further education. These subsidies are intended to facilitate professional integration and improve the chances of finding a new job.

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Tip: If you are interested in training as a care assistant, you should contact the relevant AMS office, the Social Ministry Service or directly from the training institution to find out about possible support.

After training: How to find a job as a nursing assistant

As mentioned at the beginning, nursing assistants are in high demand in Austria. The job prospects are therefore excellent and the chances of finding employment are good. To give you an idea of what this could look like, we have brought you Alisa's story:

Recruiter holds a magnifying glass over a CV and checks the details.

Example: How Alisa found her dream job as a nursing assistant

Alisa has successfully completed her training as a nursing assistant and is now faced with the question of how she can find the right job. First, she browsed through online job portals and searched regional newspapers. There she came across lots of job advertisements for care facilities and homes. But Alisa wanted to work in private care. That's how she came across noracares, a care platform that brings carers and families together directly.

She creates a profile on the platform and can immediately search for and get to know people in need of care. In the application, Alisa can see at a glance which people need support and what requirements they have. The special feature: In contrast to traditional care facilities or agencies, Alisa has the opportunity to decide for herself who she wants to work for - and it's very straightforward.

Thanks to noracares, Alisa has found a job that exactly matches her expectations. She now works in an environment that gives her more freedom and at the same time ensures that she looks after people she really wants to support.

How to find your job

Like Alisa, you too can shape your future career in nursing. Create your profile on noracares today, find people in need of care who need your support and decide for yourself who you would like to work for. Register now and get started!

Graphic of Nurse Nora with a stethoscope around her neck and the text 'Nora's Conclusion' on a green banner. Closing remark or summary in the healthcare sector.

Start your journey as a nursing assistant in Austria - A career with purpose and a future

Training to become a nursing assistant opens the doors to a fulfilling and future-proof career in the healthcare sector. Whether in hospitals, nursing homes or private care - the opportunities are diverse and offer not only professional security, but also the chance to have a positive impact on people's lives in difficult times.

With the right training, which includes both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, you will be well prepared for the challenges of this important profession. The Nursing is a growing field, and nursing assistants are urgently needed in Austria. Whether you are just starting out in the profession or already have experience in another field - nursing assistance offers you many development opportunities.

If you are still unsure about how to take the first step, it is important to know that many education providers offer various funding opportunities and financial support to help you get started. Free advice and scholarships can help you find your way to this fulfilling career.

Take the next step into your future and start your nursing assistant training. Find out now, your career is waiting - a job with heart and a clear perspective!