To practice as a doctor in Germany, you need a state license, the "Approbation" (approval). Only with this license are you permitted to use the professional title and practice in that profession. The license is granted for an unlimited period and is valid throughout the Federal Republic of Germany.
You can also obtain a license to practice medicine in Germany even if you have a professional qualification from a third country. Third countries are all countries that are not part of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. To obtain a license, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
More Information
Publisher
Hamburg
Last update or date of publication
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
The responsible authority will inform you about which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally:
- Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
- Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
- CV
- Proof of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificates)
- Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
- Proof of your professional experience in your profession (e.g. employment references)
- Information on whether you have already applied for a license to practice medicine in Germany
- Proof that you are allowed to work in the profession in your country of training
- Proof that you would like to work in the profession in Germany (e.g. applications, application for an entry visa for employment, personal declaration)
You usually submit these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should submit the documents:
- Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin (maximum 3 months old)
- Medical certificate (maximum 3 months old)
- Language certificate
- Proof of general German language skills at level B2
- Proof of knowledge of technical language at level C1
The responsible authority will inform you which documents you must 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. These translations must be done by officially appointed or authorized translators.
Preconditions
- You want to work as a doctor in Germany.
- You have a comparable professional qualification from a third country.
- Their professional qualifications are equivalent.
- The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
- You are reliable for work and have no criminal record.
- You can work mentally and physically in the profession.
- You have German language skills at the required level. This is generally general language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and medical language skills at level C2.
Hints
The licensing process involves assessing the equivalence of your qualifications (recognition procedure). You can request a separate notification of the results of the assessment.
With a so-called professional permit, you can work for a limited period of time without a license. With a professional permit, you are allowed to work under the supervision of a licensed person. You may then only be allowed to perform activities in a specific field. The responsible authority can provide you with further information.
The responsible authority will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.
Additional costs may also arise (e.g. for translations or certifications). These costs vary from individual to individual.
Basis for legal action
§ 2 ff. Federal Medical Code
www.gesetze-im-internet.de/b_o/__2.html
§ 37 ff. Licensing regulations for doctors
www.gesetze-im-internet.de/_appro_2002/__37.html
Legal Remedies
Contradiction
Related Links
Procedure
- You submit your application to the responsible authority.
- The responsible authority will examine your application and request any missing documents or information from you.
- The responsible body will compare whether your professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification.
- If the competent authority identifies significant differences, you may be able to compensate for them.
- If you are unable to compensate for the essential differences, you can take a knowledge test.
- If your professional qualification is equivalent, or you have been able to compensate for any significant differences, or have successfully passed a knowledge test, and you meet the other requirements, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The responsible authority can confirm the result in writing.
- You will receive the approval.
Deadlines
No
Processing time
Individual case dependent