How to verify a Care worker / Nurse CV — official standards
Care worker and nurse CVs are among the hardest to assess. The roles sit across two ISCO groups — 5321 (health care assistants) and 3221 (nursing associates) — and the same job title can mean very different training in different countries. Nursing is also a regulated profession, so a diploma alone tells you little without registration and language evidence.
The reference points are clear: Directive 2005/36/EC (as amended by 2013/55/EU) for recognition of professional qualifications, entry in the national register (for example a chamber of nursing), a language requirement that is typically B2, and for care workers in Slovenia the NPK Socialna oskrba. A rigorous check means reading each claim against those standards, asking for the document behind it, and confirming the document is current — not just present.
What a strong CV must contain
The CV should name the exact diploma or certificate, the issuing school and the year, so it can be assessed under Directive 2005/36/EC (+ 2013/55/EU). "Nursing background" or "trained in care" is not a qualification statement.
For nursing roles, ask for the entry in the national register (e.g. chamber of nursing) with the registration number and validity date. Registration is what allows practice in the host country, and it is separate from the diploma itself.
The language requirement is typically B2. The CV should state the level and the certificate behind it, since patient-facing tasks such as conveying medical routine information depend on it.
For care worker positions in Slovenia, check whether the candidate holds the NPK Socialna oskrba certificate. If they do, the certificate number and issue date belong on the CV.
Under the OSH framework directive 89/391/EEC employers must organise first aid, with national rules on certified first-aiders and refresh cycles. Ask for a first aid or BLS/CPR certificate following European Resuscitation Council guidelines, with the date of the last refresh.
Match claims against the ESCO profile for healthcare assistants: monitor basic patient signs, provide basic support to patients, deal with emergency care situations, work with nursing staff, apply health sciences, convey medical routine information. Each should be tied to a ward, care home or client setting, not listed as a keyword.
⚠️ Red flags to watch for
Questions to ask the candidate
- 01Which diploma or certificate qualifies you for this role — issuing institution, country and year — and do you have the original document available for assessment under Directive 2005/36/EC?
- 02Are you entered in a national register such as a chamber of nursing? Please give the registration number, the register and the validity date.
- 03What is your documented language level, and which certificate proves it? We work with a requirement of typically B2.
- 04For care work in Slovenia: do you hold the NPK Socialna oskrba certificate, and when was it issued?
- 05When did you last complete first aid or BLS/CPR training following European Resuscitation Council guidelines, and can you show the certificate with the date?
The official standards behind the score
WorkerProof checks every CV against this verified matrix.
Regulated profession: WorkerProof verifies documents (diploma, licence, registration) — it never promises recognition.
- Directive 2005/36/EC (+ 2013/55/EU)
- National register (e.g. chamber of nursing)
- Language requirement (typically B2)
- NPK Socialna oskrba (SI, care workers)
Frequently asked questions
How do I check whether a nurse's qualification is valid in my country?
Recognition of professional qualifications is governed by Directive 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU, and the decision is made by the host country's competent authority. The Commission's RegProf database shows which professions are regulated where. WorkerProof verifies the documents and claims on the CV — diploma, licence, registration — and never states that a qualification is recognised.
What language level should I require from an international nurse or care worker?
The language requirement for these roles is typically B2. Ask for the level to be stated on the CV together with the certificate behind it, because tasks such as conveying medical routine information and handover with nursing staff depend on it.
What is the difference between ISCO 5321 and ISCO 3221 on a CV?
ISCO 5321 covers health care assistants and ISCO 3221 covers nursing associates — different scope of practice and different documentation. If a CV mixes the two, ask the candidate to state which role was held with each employer.
Is a first aid certificate required for care staff?
The EU OSH framework directive 89/391/EEC obliges employers to organise first aid, and national rules define how many certified first-aiders a site needs and how often training is refreshed. BLS/CPR courses follow European Resuscitation Council guidelines, so check both the certificate and its date.
What does WorkerProof actually verify, and what does the free check cover?
WorkerProof checks a Care worker or Nurse CV against the standards matrix for the role — Directive 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU, national register entry, the typical B2 language requirement, NPK Socialna oskrba where relevant — plus the ESCO skills for healthcare assistants. Every CV is verified 3×. The first check is free, and the output is a documented assessment of claims, not a recognition decision.
Stop guessing. Verify.
Upload a CV and get a scored, 3×-verified report against these exact standards in minutes.
Analyze a CV free →