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The path to professional recognition as a doctor m/f/d in Germany

You are a doctor m/f/d, live abroad and would like to work or specialize in Germany? As a qualified specialist, you have numerous options. Our professional and experienced recruiting team at MOG Ärztevermittlung will be happy to support you!

Qualified foreign doctors with very good German language skills C1 are in demand in Germany, because nationwide, especially in rural areas, there is a shortage of specialists. Regardless of whether they have just completed their medical studies or have already been working as a doctor for some time, it is extremely desirable for foreign doctors to emigrate to Germany.

Especially in the specialties of internal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, gynecology & obstetrics, pediatrics and adolescent medicine and neurology, physicians in training m/f/d - assistant physicians m/f/d - are sought. In the fields of geriatrics, psychiatry and psychosomatics, ENT, urology and radiology, experienced foreign specialists are in great demand.

The chances on the German job market for physicians m/f/d from all over the world are good if you meet the following requirements:

Completed medical studies from abroad

1. Medical studies from an EU / EEA country or Switzerland

Medical studies completed in the EU are automatically recognized in Germany upon application, provided that the qualification is listed in the European Professional Recognition Directives (2005/36/EC, Annex V No. 5.1.1), the minimum criteria of the Directive have been met and the training was started after the specified cut-off date. Since the EU has concluded corresponding agreements with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, medical training completed in these countries is equivalent to degrees from EU countries. Provided that all other requirements (German language skills, health suitability, exemption from punishment, etc.) are met, the applicant m/f/d will receive the license to practice medicine.

2. Medical studies outside an EU / EEA country or Switzerland

A medical degree completed outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland is first subjected to an equivalence test in Germany by the competent licensing authority. If the competent authority determines 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, and if all other requirements are met (knowledge of German, no criminal offenses, health suitability, etc.), it issues the license to practice medicine.

If the competent authority is of the opinion that there are significant differences between the medical training of the country of training and the medical training in Germany, it may insist on the taking of a knowledge examination if the differences in training cannot be compensated for by relevant professional experience or other recognized knowledge and skills. The professional experience, knowledge and skills may have been acquired worldwide.

In rare cases, the licensing authority may classify the medical training/medical studies as not equivalent and, due to serious deviations, no knowledge examination is offered to prove an equivalent level of knowledge. In these cases (approx. 1% of applications), it is not possible to practice medicine in Germany.

The equivalence assessment and the evaluation of professional experience and other recognized knowledge and skills is a case-by-case assessment by the competent authority. The statutory time limit for the equivalence examination is a maximum of four months after receipt of all required documents by the competent licensing authority. Unfortunately, this deadline is often exceeded.

German language certificate B2 as a prerequisite for applying for the license to practice medicine / professional license

A second basic requirement that every foreign physician m/f/d wishing to work in Germany must fulfill is proof of adequate German language skills. Most federal states require at least a B2 language certificate from the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in order to apply for an Approbation / Professional Permit.

Specialized language exam C1 for medicine or proof of required German language skills in the medical field

Doctors who come to Germany from abroad and want to work in their profession here must prove that they have the necessary knowledge of the German language in the medical field when applying for their license to practice medicine / professional permit. This should not be a problem for physicians who are native speakers of German or who have already gained professional experience in German-speaking countries (Austria, Switzerland) and have provided appropriate proof there. Doctors from non-German-speaking countries must take the Fachsprachprüfung C1 for medicine. Registration for the Fachsprachprüfung Medizin C1 with medical associations / licensing authorities is only possible after the license to practice medicine / professional license has been applied for. The fees for the specialist language examinations C1 vary between the individual providers. They currently range from € 300 for the specialized language exam to € 490 for the berami Academy specialized language exam.

Frequently asked questions about licensure (FAQ)

You need advice about the recognition as a doctor m/f/d in Germany and the job search?

Since the requirements for professional recognition of medical training vary from state to state, the recruiting experts m/f/d of MOG Ärztevermittlung are happy to assist you with our expertise throughout the entire process!

Register now free of charge in our MedicalTalentNetwork. We will get to know you better and talk to you personally about your job search opportunities as a physician m/f/d in Germany.: