us doctor working in germany

Last Updated on July 28, 2023

To get a university place in Germany to study medicine is very difficult, as well for foreigners as for German citizens. The reason is that university places in the field of medicine are very limited. Limitation is based on the numerus clausus (NC, Latin for „closed number“). Only students with the best grades in the university-entrance diploma which is in Germany called Abitur or foreigners with an equal degree from other countries have a chance to get one of the highly-demanded university places.

Secondary diplomas which are equivalent to the German Abitur and have been received inside the European Union will be usually also accredited in Germany. If you come from outside the European Union your degree is not automatically accredited and you have to apply for the Hochschulzugangsberechtigung. You can check yourself how your foreign degree is accredited in Germany using the anabin database. If your secondary diploma is valid in Germany you can apply directly to the universities using Uni-Assist which is the University Application Service for International Students.

The completion of your medical degree in Switzerland or in any member state of the European Union means that your medical license is automatically recognized in Germany and you are able to practice medicine once you have proved you have a certain knowledge of the German language.

To work as a Medical Practicioner (M/F) in Germany in a hospital or your own medical practice the following requirments have to be met:

  1. You need the official, state-issued accreditation, the so-called „approbation“. The approbation is an unrestricted occupational licence.
  2. You need the Certification in German language of level B2 and C1

Recognition is generally not required if you are resident in an EU state and only wish to provide services in Germany on a temporary or occasional basis. However, you must notify the authorities regarding this employment activity.

More information you can find here:

To apply for Approbation to work as medical doctor in Germany

Go to this page and hit the button next and enter the city where you want to work, then follow the procedure described on the next pages: Application process medical practitioner

Information about the German language degrees

The Goethe Institut offers German language courses which are accredited by all Authorities.

Information for qualified physicians coming from other countries ( non-EU /  non-EEA countries)

You have the opportunity to apply for a direct equivalence checking of your completed medical study abroad by the German Medical council in order to gain approval to work. In most cases however applications from non-EU /EEA countries do not meet the requirements to successfully pass the equivalence check.

Alternatively you can send your documentation to the “Landesprüfungsamt für Medizinische Heilberufe“ (LPA) of the federal state where you want to work which can then issue you with a temporary permit called „Berufserlaubnis“ to practice medicine in Germany for a period of up to two years.

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