New funding for tuition fees for people in the nostrification process for health and nursing professions
After expanding the promotion of German courses in the company and the expansion of professional recognition funding, the ÖIF integration service is taking a further step to support immigrants with training in nursing and health professions acquired abroad when starting a career in the health sector in Austria. With the new funding opportunity in the area of nostrification of health professions, qualifications acquired can be used more quickly in Austria.
Sonja Ziganek, overall manager of integration programs at the ÖIF
Vienna (OTS) – In view of the high demand for skilled workers, the integration service for skilled workers of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) is expanding the funding opportunities for the recognition of foreign degrees and qualifications in the health and care sector so that they can be used in Austria as quickly as possible: From now on, the integration service will refund Skilled workers Study contributions for immigrants in the nostrification process who have acquired training in the health and care sector abroad and now want to have this recognized in Austria. By the year 2050, there will be a shortage of around 200,000 nursing and care workers in Austria, according to the recently presented nursing staff demand forecast by Health Austria (GÖG). Reimbursement of tuition fees through the ÖIF Integration Service for skilled workers is possible in the following regulated health professions, which are included in the nationwide list of skilled worker shortages in 2024:
- Doctor (human medicine)
- Qualified health and nursing assistant
- Medical-technical services with tertiary educational qualifications, in particular: occupational therapist, speech therapist, biomedical analyst, radiology technologist, orthoptist, physiotherapist, dietician
- midwife
Sonja Ziganek, overall manager of integration programs at the ÖIF: “After expanding the promotion of German courses in the company and the expansion of professional recognition funding, the ÖIF integration service is taking a further step to support immigrants with training in nursing and health professions acquired abroad when starting a career in the health sector in Austria. With the new funding opportunity in the area of nostrification of health professions, qualifications acquired can be used more quickly in Austria.
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Which amounts can be refunded
As part of the nostrification of training in the health and care sector acquired abroad, immigrants often have to catch up on individual subjects at Austrian universities or technical colleges so that the foreign qualification meets the requirements set out in Austria. As part of the new funding program, tuition fees incurred by an Austrian university or an Austrian technical college in the current semester will be refunded. The tuition fee due in Austria in the amount of €363.36 per semester can be refunded; costs for issuing notices of recognition, assessments and translation costs for documents and certificates that are related to recognition or assessment can also be reimbursed as part of the recognition funding stand. If a language test must be completed by the Austrian Medical Association, the ÖIF can also reimburse these costs.
How to apply for funding
Foreign skilled workers can find out about funding opportunities at the ÖIF integration service for skilled workers and at all ÖIF integration centers and mobile advice centers throughout Austria and submit funding applications at studien contribution(at)integrationsfonds.at. With the recognition portal www.berufsanwissen.at, the ÖIF offers orientation and multilingual information on professional recognition in Austria.
New: ÖIF integration service for skilled workers
The ÖIF integration service for skilled workers began operations in autumn 2023 and offers integration services for skilled workers and companies. As a central contact point for skilled workers and their families as well as for companies, the office offers information, advice and events on pre-integration as well as on living and working in Austria and on ÖIF German learning offers. Reference is also made to existing regional and national offers throughout Austria. The integration service offers further training and German learning opportunities for companies to support foreign skilled workers in their integration. Given the high demand for skilled workers and skilled workers in Austria, the Integration Service for Skilled Workers has been supporting German courses directly in companies in sectors with a high demand for skilled workers since 2024. In addition, the integration service for skilled workers recently expanded the funding opportunities within the framework of professional recognition to Red-White-Red card holders and EU citizens and increased the maximum funding amount from €1,000 to €1,500.
Further information at www.integrationsfonds.at/nostrification.
Questions & Contact:
Austrian Integration Fund
+43 17 10 12 03 375
presse@integrationsfonds.at
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