Nursing Assistant (TCAE)
The fastest honest route into hospital work: two years of FP and you are on the ward, doing the hands-on care patients remember.
Save this career to see your personalized pathway in My Senda.
- Typical pay
- €17k–€26k
- Usual education
- FP Grado Medio (2 years)
- Outlook
- Always hiring; a common springboard into a nursing degree later.
A day in the life
Washing, feeding, mobilising and comforting patients, preparing materials, taking basic observations and supporting the nursing team.
Ways in
- Finish ESO
- FP Grado Medio in Nursing Care (Auxiliar de Enfermería)
- Work placement in a hospital or care home
- Later: bridge into FP Grado Superior or a Nursing degree
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Ciencias y Tecnología
Portugal
Ciências e Tecnologias
France
Bac général — spécialités
Germany
Oberstufe — Leistungskurse
Italy
Liceo scientifico
Netherlands
Profiel Natuur & Gezondheid
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
BSc Nursing
Clinical placements from year one leading to registration as a nurse.
The natural next step if you want more responsibility.
Helpful school subjects: Biology, Chemistry
Nursing Care (Grado Medio)
Two years and you are working on a ward — the shortest real route into hospital care in Spain.
Two years, then a ward job — or bridge into Nursing.
Helpful school subjects: Basic patient care, Hygiene and comfort, Sterilisation, Ward materials, Work placement
Places that hire for this
AKH Wien – MedUni Wien
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Amsterdam UMC
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP)
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Centrum Zdrowia Dziecka
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.
Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
CHUV Lausanne
Training and entry-level roles across clinical, nursing and technical teams.
Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.
Comunidad de Madrid
Hires across clinical teams, from placements to permanent posts.
Cruz Roja Española
Volunteering and TES training lead straight into paid emergency roles.