Germany has outlined four key conditions that doctors trained outside the country must satisfy before they are permitted to practise medicine within its borders. According to Germany's official Make It in Germany portal, any doctor who completed their medical education abroad must first obtain an Approbation, which is the country's official and unrestricted licence to practise medicine. Without it, a foreign-trained doctor cannot work as an on-duty physician and treat patients in Germany.
Obtaining the Approbation Licence
To secure the Approbation, a foreign doctor's training must be assessed and found equivalent to the standard German medical education programme. The authority responsible for this assessment varies by location, as each of Germany's federal states has its own medical licensing body. The German Medical Association and a tool known as the Recognition Finder both provide lists of the relevant authorities.
Proving Physical Fitness and Good Conduct
Beyond academic equivalence, applicants must also submit proof of physical fitness, which can be a medical certificate obtained either in their home country or in Germany. Personal suitability must also be demonstrated through a certificate of good conduct from the applicant's home country or a German certificate of conduct known as a Führungszeugnis.
Language Proficiency Requirements
Language proficiency is another key hurdle. All federal states in Germany require a minimum general language level of B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. However, most states go further, also requiring a specialised medical language test set at C1 level. Information on the specific language requirements for each federal state is published by the Marburger Bund, the association representing employed doctors in Germany.
The requirements reflect Germany's position as one of the top destinations for internationally trained medical professionals, given the country's ongoing demand for doctors across its healthcare system.
