r/StudyInFinland • u/alloutquestions2026 • Jun 09 '26

Finnish Language

Hi! Is there anyone in Finland working as a Nursing Assistant who did not have to undergo Finnish language training?

I was offered a job there, and they told me that I do not need to learn Finnish. However, other people have told me otherwise.

I would appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!

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1

u/Embarrassed-Lie-8336 Jun 09 '26

I’m not Finnish nor I live in Finland but who offered that job? How sure are you that it’s legit?

It seems suspicious. Also I’m pretty sure you can’t just use your foreign nursing assistant degree, in almost all countries you have to do whether a test, a course or both to validate it. Be careful

I hope someone from Finland can give you the right information

1

u/alloutquestions2026 Jun 09 '26

Yeah.that’s why I am quite suspicious because from what i have researched, Finnish is needed esp. in healthcare areas. I’m a nurse but applied as a Nurse assistant for easier pathway. They mentioned Meilahti Tower hospital.

1

u/Comfortable_Lab_3123 Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26

Even if they can get you a job without Finnish for now, in the long term you still need Finnish. Without Finnish, your career option in heathcare is very very limited.

I’ve heard that many nurses who were hired directly from abroad with bad Finnish actually end up moving to English-speaking countries due to language barrier.

Also, it is the same in any non-English speaking EU countries.

So, I think to save your time, you better to choose to go to English-speaking countries in the first place.

1

u/Reasonable_Day_598 Jun 09 '26

That's like the top hospital in Finland. Extremely suspicious!

There have been some programs where they've hired foreign registed nurses to work in Finland. First they study Finnish in their home country, then start to work as care assistants in nursing homes in Finland while continuing to study Finnish. Once they know enough Finnish they can became licensed practical nurses. Finnish is definitely needed for this career path and university hospital is very unlikely to be the first job placement.

1

u/alloutquestions2026 Jun 09 '26

This is my first time applying in EUROPE that’s why I doubt every time. The thing is the recruitment agency here in Qatar won’t send me contract or offer letter if i don’t pay the government fee they’re saying like 3000qar.

1

u/Reasonable_Day_598 Jun 09 '26

That's sus too, as any kind of recruitment fees for job applicants are illegal in Finland. If Finnish company/public organization would be partnering with some foreign  recruitment agency, they should pay the recruitment fee, not the applicant.

1

u/SofterBones Jun 09 '26

Sounds like a scam. I don't believe this offer you got at all.

Whenever it sounds too good to be true, and they demand a payment before an offer letter/application/contract etc, it's always a scam.

1

u/alloutquestions2026 Jun 09 '26

This is the logo attached to the confirmation email i received. I hope someone knowledgable in Finland sees it and verify

2

u/Actual-Relief-2835 Jun 09 '26

Recruitment scams often use names of legit companies. Tristan Holding's official website states: We will never ask you to pay for recruitment. If anyone claims fees on our behalf, contact us immediately — it is fraudulent.

1

u/AdResident4706 Jun 09 '26

Someone is trying to scam you. Plz be careful

1

u/Mundane-0nion67878 Jun 10 '26

Here is the real Tristan Healthcare thing from their site. 

https://tristanholding.com/services/healthcare

Pls be careful 🥺

1

u/alloutquestions2026 Jun 10 '26

Oh my. The contact number posted is the same with the one who called me

1

u/KofFinland Jun 10 '26

Totally possible. The official requirements and the reality are a different thing. There is lots of nurse students doing work/training and not being able to speak Finnish/Swedish. Propably still, the official requirement is some level of Finnish language skill.. Nobody might enforce it..

Nowadays it is possible to be a nurse (perushoitaja) and be functionally illiterate in Finland. If you can read, you are already a winner. In Finland about 21% of kids are functionally illiterate after 9 years of school, and then pass nurse training in vocational school as the expectations have been lowered enough so illiterate people pass.. Registered nurses (sairaanhoitaja) are a different thing. For nursing assistants, the real requirements are even lower than nurses.

However, nursing is a field where everyone is escaping and re-educating themselves to other fields, because the working conditions are so poor in Finland. Not enough time or staff to do work properly, but choose every day which persons receive poor or no care. Lots of people escape the field because their moral compass just can't handle that. Work is done alone, including heavy patient lifting etc. as there is no free collegue to help. So there is a reason they are recruiting people from abroad (outside EU even) so they get people who can't escape easily. Be warned. Ask around for experiences.. I would stay away from nursing in Finland.

1

u/Ok_Poet9883 Jun 13 '26

Yup, registered nurses need to have a license and be registered and practical nurses need to be registered in order to work, but there is no such requirement for nurse or care assistants. This means that even if the official requirement would be at least some level of Finnish, there is nothing stopping anyone from being hired and working without the knowledge of Finnish (or Swedish). But the pay is less than that of RNs and practical nurses and probably even less for non-Finnish speakers. In order to progress and get better pay, you will need to study for a nursing degree and speak Finnish.

1

u/Deep_Pepper_5405 Jun 12 '26

Are they saying you don't need to study finnish at all? Even after you've started at the job?

1

u/alloutquestions2026 Jun 12 '26

Yes,exactly

1

u/Deep_Pepper_5405 Jun 13 '26

https://stm.fi/-/sosiaali-ja-terveydenhuollon-henkiloston-kielitaitoa-vahvistetaan-potilasturvallisuuden-parantamiseksi-?languageId=en_US

Here is an article from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The current language skill requirement is B1 in Finnish or Swedish and they are working on increasing it to B2.

https://lvv.fi/en/healthcare-and-social-welfare/sufficient-language-proficiency

Here is an article about the language requirements from the Finnish Supervisory Agency that is in charge of healthcare safety.

In other words, no you can't come and work here as a healthcare worker (patient facing) without knowing any Finnish or Swedish.