All foreign doctors who want to work as doctors in Germany must have their medical diploma (medical training) recognized by the responsible state authority. In some federal states there is only one licensing authority, other federal states have several licensing authorities in the different regions. The authority in whose catchment area the doctor wants to work is responsible.

The state medical associations are responsible for the recognition of specialist diplomas. The state medical association in whose catchment area the doctor wants to work is responsible for recognizing the specialist diploma.

No, The doctor must therefore decide in which region he wants to work before submitting the application.

The legally stipulated period for the recognition of professional qualifications, which are to be recognized automatically, is a maximum of three months after receipt of all required documents by the competent licensing authority.

Since the EU has concluded corresponding contracts with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, medical training completed in these countries is equivalent to degrees from the EU countries.

If all other requirements (knowledge of German, suitability for health, impunity, etc.) are met, the applicant receives the Approbation.

Doctor's degrees obtained outside of the European Economic Area and Switzerland are first subjected to an equivalency test in Germany by the competent licensing authority.The competent authority determine that the foreign diploma is equivalent or that differences in training can be compensated for by relevant professional experience or other recognized knowledge and skills (lifelong learning) and all other requirements (knowledge of German, no criminal offenses, health suitability, etc.) the license is granted.

If the competent authority takes the view that there are significant differences between the medical training in the country of training and the medical training in Germany, it can insist on taking a Kenntnissprüfung , provided the differences in the training are not due to relevant professional experience or other recognized knowledge and skills can be balanced. Work experience, knowledge and skills may have been acquired worldwide.

In rare cases it can happen that the medical license authority does not classify the medical training as equivalent and because of serious deviations no Kenntnissprüfung is offered to prove an equivalent level of knowledge. In these cases, medical work in Germany is not possible.

The equivalency test and the assessment of work experience and other recognized knowledge and skills are a case-by-case test by the competent authority. The legally stipulated period for the equivalence test is a maximum of six months after receipt of all necessary documents by the competent licensing authority. Unfortunately, this period is often exceeded.

Yes, all doctors working in Germany must be members of the responsible state medical association. This applies both to doctors during further training and to specialists.

In the municipal hospitals, doctors currently receive a gross monthly salary between € 4,812.45 (1st year) and € 6,200.44 (6th year). The gross monthly salaries for specialists are between € 6,355.71 (1st year) and € 7,848.64 (from the 13th year). These salaries are based on a 40-hour week. Additional services and overtime are paid extra.

If you are employed as an employed doctor or as a specialist in an outpatient setting (practice, medical care center, etc.), these collective agreements do not apply directly, but should be used as a basis when negotiating remuneration and other working conditions.

Hospitation is the Observer-ship in Hospital, where doctors will be allowed observing the patient they are not allowed to handle any patient but will get acquainted with the working condition in a German hospital.

In some hospital, if you've got work experience and you'll show your potential to senior’s doctor then maybe you'll get an opportunity to handle some patient, but this is not legal in Germany. German health care system is extremely strong toward patient safety, in order that they don't allow any intern to handle any patient.

It is for three months to six months and accommodation can be provided by hospital during Hospitation.

Hospitation isn't compulsory for specialization or Medical PG in Germany, but it'll surely help tons to find out practically about the German medical system.

Disadvantages of Hospitation in Germany:

1. You will not be paid by any hospital for hospitation.
2. If you go especially for hospitation from India or any other country to Germany, it will definitely involve time and expenditure which is not helpful for your future endeavors to practice as Healthcare professional in Germany.
3. Visa acquired on the bases of hospitation is not converted for the actual national visa.
4. For national visa to pursue Post graduation in Germany, one has to travel back to India and reapply with different category to start their journey as a Medical/Dental professional in Germany.

As of April 1, 2012, a Berufserlaubnis will only be issued for a maximum of 2 years. Granting or extension beyond this period is only possible in special cases or for reasons of medical care for the population. For reasons of medical care, it is only permitted if an equivalent level of knowledge is proven. In this case, the Berufserlaubnis is limited to the respective specialist area.

A job guarantee or proof of residence in Germany is not a prerequisite for being able to apply for a Approbation or Berufserlaubnis. The declaration by the applicant to start a medical activity in the catchment area of ​​the authority is sufficient.

In most federal states, the same language requirements are attached to the issue of the Berufserlaubnis to the approval .

The fees for the Fachsprachprüfung exams vary between providers. They are currently between € 300 for the specialist language examination of the State Medical Association of North Rhine and € 530 for the technical language examination of the State Medical Association of Bremen.

Since the fees can change at any time, it is strongly recommended to inquire about the current status with the responsible provider. Please also note that you cannot choose the provider freely, but must meet the language requirements of the relevant licensing authority.

The Berufserlaubnis is granted to doctors who have identified significant differences in medical training compared to German medical training or who have not yet determined that medical training is equivalent.

The European Directive 2013/55 / ​​EU had to be implemented by the member states by January 18, 2016. According to this guideline, admission to specialist training requires a completed medical training that includes at least 5 years and 5,500 hours of theoretical and practical training and has been recognized as valid . According to the legal opinion, an equivalent level of knowledge of training in Germany must first be proven and only then can further training begin, otherwise the EU Directive 2013/55 / ​​EU would not be implemented correctly.

Information about the implementation of the directive in the individual federal states and any transitional regulations can be obtained from the respective state medical associations.

Fachsprachenprüfung is exam which needs to take by every International doctor who wants to do practice as a doctor in Germany and also aims to start their medical specialization in Germany.

Fachsprachenprüfung is normally exam to test doctor’s medical German Terminology knowledge. After successfully passing FSP exam a doctor gets temporarily license to work in Germany also known as Berufserlaubnis.

The doctor who has completed a B2/C1 level of the German language and have a valid medical degree/ defizitbescheid then he/she can take this exam. This exam is taken by the respective state of Germany where the doctor wants to practice after completion of all formalities.

This exam is including practical and viva module consists of three different steps. Duration of exam will be 60 Min. The whole exam will be in German language only.

Three steps of the exam are as below:

1 Doctor-Patient conversation (20 min)

In this part of the exam, the doctor needs to communicate with the patient and need to understand the patient carefully and try to diagnose the patient.

2 Documentation (20 min)

In this part of the exam, the doctor needs to write history and other details and prepare a document for the same.

3 Doctor-Doctor communication (Viva) (20 min)

In this part of the exam, the doctor needs to represent all details and documents to examiner and examiner will take viva of doctor.

Note: It is written exam module the Medical knowledge will not be tested during this exam but non-technically Medical knowledge will be a part of the exam so do not be confused and prepare yourself for exam accordingly.

This exam is a part of the way to get Approbation (Permanent License). Once the doctor decides particular German state where they want to practice then they need to submit all required documents to state medical council for Temporary (Berufserlaubnis) or Permanent License (Approbation). After verification of all documents, authorities will provide exam date for FSP exam.

Berufserlaubnis is a temporary license to practice as a doctor in Germany. After passing the FSP exam, the doctor can start work as an assistant doctor in Germany for temporary period of up to 2 years. Because Berufserlaubnis can be extended up to two years only and between this time doctors need to pass Kenntnisprüfung exam to get permanent license called as Approbation.

The period served as a professional during this period is not considered as a part of Medical Specialization.

To get Berufserlaubnis in Germany features a different process as per German states. It is depended on the shortage of medical doctors in that particular state. Nowadays, most of the state require job offer letter to use for Berufserlaubnis therein particular German state. Some state allows the doctor to use for Berufserlaubnis after B2 level of German thanks to a shortage of doctor but most of the state require FSP exam.

So, if you want to get Berufserlaubnis then most preferable is to contact Eurizone International Academy GmbH . and ask us current requirements and also keep visiting our website and YouTube channel time to time for latest updates.

Berufserlaubnis has nothing to do with it. Gutachten process will decide only for approbation.

The Kenntnissprüfung (knowledge test) relates to the content of the German course. The foreign doctor has to prove that he has the same knowledge that is required by local graduates from medical universities. The focus of the examination has been on the subjects of internal medicine and surgery. The questions should also take the following aspects into account: emergency medicine, clinical pharmacology / pharmacotherapy, imaging procedures, radiation protection, legal questions relating to medical practice. In addition, the competent authority can determine a subject or a cross-sectional area as relevant for the exam in advance of the examination, in which it has identified significant differences between medical training in Germany and the training of the applicant

The Kenntnissprüfung is an oral-practical test with patient presentation and takes between 60 and 90 minutes. It can be repeated a maximum of two times. The applicant must be offered an appointment for the knowledge test within six months of the decision. Unfortunately, this period is often exceeded.

The Kenntnissprüfung (knowledge test) relates to the content of the German course. The foreign doctor has to prove that he has the same knowledge that is required by local graduates from medical universities. The focus of the examination has been on the subjects of internal medicine and surgery. The questions should also take the following aspects into account: emergency medicine, clinical pharmacology / pharmacotherapy, imaging procedures, radiation protection, legal questions relating to medical practice. In addition, the competent authority can determine a subject or a cross-sectional area as relevant for the exam in advance of the examination, in which it has identified significant differences between medical training in Germany and the training of the applicant

Since the so-called Recognition Act came into force on April 1, 2012, citizenship has no longer play a role in the Approbation process.

Since the Recognition Act came into force, the Berufserlaubnis has been issued primarily to prepare for the Kenntnissprüfung, however working with a work permit is not a prerequisite for being admitted to the Kenntnissprüfung.

There is no guarantee that the Kenntnissprüfung will be successfully passed if you have previously worked in Germany with a Berufserlaubnis. An additional good theoretical preparation for this exam is therefore highly recommended.

The fees for the Kenntnissprüfung vary between the individual federal states. They range from € 350 in Schleswig-Holstein to € 1,100 in Hesse or Rhineland-Palatinate.

Since the fees can change at any time, it is strongly recommended that you inquire with the responsible authority about the current examination fees.

Overview of costs for the knowledge test (as of October 2019)

• Baden-Württemberg: € 800
• Bavaria: € 520
• Berlin: € 450
• Brandenburg: € 799
• Bremen: € 730
• Hamburg: € 750
• Hesse: € 1,100
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: € 500
• Lower Saxony: € 800
• North Rhine-Westphalia: € 605
• Rhineland-Palatinate: € 1,100
• Saarland: € 500
• Saxony: € 500
• Saxony-Anhalt: € 771
• Schleswig-Holstein: € 350
• Thuringia: € 450

A basic requirement that every foreign doctor who wants to work in Germany has to meet is proof of adequate knowledge of German at C1 level of CEFR. The doctor must contact the authority in whose catchment area he wants to start his work. The competent authority decides which certificates / evidence it recognizes.

With the aim of harmonizing the requirements, the Health Ministers' Conference (GMK) agreed in June 2014 on key points for the required knowledge of German. Among other things, it was agreed that foreign doctors must have at least the general language level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(GER). In addition, a special technical language test (Fachsprachprüfung) must be taken, which should be based on level C1 of the CEFR.