Doctors with training from third countries, recognition of professional qualifications

Application

You submit an application for a license to practice medicine to the competent authority. The application must be submitted electronically. The original documents must be presented at a personal appointment.

The competent authority will then check whether your training corresponds to the German training and whether all other requirements have been met. Approval can only be granted if your training from a third country is equivalent to German training.

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification. The competent authority will check whether your professional qualification is equivalent. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still fulfill the other requirements and provide proof of your language skills. You will then be granted a license to practice medicine.

Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? You may be able to compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in the country in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.

However, it is possible that the essential differences cannot be compensated for by this knowledge. The competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the main differences with your professional experience.

The decision of the competent authority will also state the level of your training and the level required in Germany. You will then not be allowed to work as a doctor in Germany.

Knowledge test

If your professional qualification is not equivalent and you cannot compensate for the differences, you can take a knowledge test. The knowledge test is based on the final examination as a doctor in Germany. The knowledge test is an oral-practical examination.

If you pass the knowledge test and meet all other requirements, you will be licensed to practice medicine.

More information

Professional license

With a so-called professional license, you can work for a limited period of time without a license to practice medicine. With a professional license, you may work under the supervision of a person with a license to practice medicine. You may then only be allowed to carry out activities in a specific field of work. You must meet the following requirements for the professional license:

• Proof of your professional qualification
• Health suitability
• Personal aptitude
• German language skills: You must provide proof of language skills at level B2 and pass a specialist language test at level C1

You can apply for a professional license from the competent authority.

Notification of equivalence

During the licensing procedure, the equivalence of your training will be assessed (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate notification of the result of the examination.

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the laws mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellee Act. You can decide for yourself. The responsible office will advise you which procedure is right for you.

Legal remedy

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (for example, by lodging an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

• You will usually submit these documents at a later date. The relevant authority will let you know when you should submit the documents:
  
  • Proof of your medical fitness: a doctor’s certificate. The certificate must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.
  • Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate.
  • The requirement for submitting an application – and thus for taking the specialist language examination – is a language proficiency level of B2.
  • The requirement for the granting of a licence to practise medicine is a pass in the specialist language examination at C1 level.
• The relevant authority will inform you which documents you need to submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.
  

  If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of them. The translations must be carried out by translators who are officially appointed or authorised.

• The relevant authority will let you know which documents you need to submit. Important documents generally include:
  
  • Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
  • Marriage certificate (if your name has changed as a result of marriage)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Evidence of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional qualifications)
  • Evidence of the content and duration of your education (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
  • Evidence of your professional experience in your field (e.g. employment references)
  • Information on whether you have already applied for a licence to practise medicine in Germany
  • You must provide evidence that you are authorised to practise your profession in the country where you completed your training.
  • Do you not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? In that case, you must prove that you intend to work in that profession in Germany. Evidence may include: job applications, proof of your application for an entry visa for the purpose of employment, or a personal statement
  • Proof of your personal suitability: a criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application.

• Recognition of foreign professional qualifications - Doctor
  

The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may be incurred (e.g. for translations or notarizations). These costs vary from case to case.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

None.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents. This may prolong the procedure.

How long does it take to process

Depending on the individual case.

• § 2 ff. Bundesärzteordnung
• § 37 ff. Approbationsordnung für Ärzte
• Section 37 et seq. of the Regulations Governing the Licensing of Doctors
• § 2 et seq. of the Federal Medical Regulations

• Informationsseite der Senatorin für Gesundheit, Frauen und Verbraucherschutz in Bremen
• Informationsportal der Bundesregierung zur Anerkennung von ausländischen Bildungsabschlüssen
• Finanzielle Hilfen für das Anerkennungsverfahren
• Öffentlich bestellte Übersetzerinnen und Übersetzer in Deutschland
• Gemeinsamer Europäischer Referenzrahmen für Sprachen (GER)
• Verfahren nach dem Bundesvertriebenengesetz
• The German Government’s information portal on the recognition of foreign educational qualifications
• Sworn translators in Germany
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• Information page of the Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection in Bremen
• Financial assistance for the recognition procedure
• Procedures under the Federal Displaced Persons Act