Approbation: the German medical licence explained
What is Approbation?
Approbation is the state licence that allows a person to work in Germany as a physician on a permanent and independent basis. The competent state authority issues it on application, and in principle it is not time-limited. Dentists, pharmacists and psychotherapists also need an Approbation. This entry describes the medical Approbation.
Approbation differs from the Berufserlaubnis, a temporary permit. It is revocable and, as a rule, limited to a total of two years of medical practice; the law provides for exceptions in individual cases. It can be limited to certain activities and workplaces (section 10 of the Bundesärzteordnung). Degrees from EU or EEA states or Switzerland follow special rules. The competent authority decides in the individual case whether and for how long a Berufserlaubnis is possible.
Rules in Germany
The medical Approbation is regulated in Germany by the Bundesärzteordnung (BÄO, Federal Medical Code); training is governed by the Approbationsordnung für Ärzte. Under section 3 BÄO it requires, among other things, a completed medical degree, a passed medical examination and the German language skills needed for the profession.
Applicants who studied abroad go through an equivalence assessment: the authority compares their training with the German degree. If it finds substantial differences, a knowledge test is required. It is an oral and practical examination that includes a patient presentation. Degrees from EU and EEA states and Switzerland follow their own rules, which the authority applies case by case.
The required documents and the processing time differ between German states, so we do not state a nationwide deadline. Before applying, ask the competent authority which rules and documents apply in the individual case.
Why it matters for working in healthcare
In Germany, as a rule only a person with an Approbation or a Berufserlaubnis may work as a physician; the law provides for exceptions. Hospitals and practices ask for the licence certificate or the permit when they hire. Applicants abroad should state the status of their procedure in the cover letter: application filed, decision received or examination scheduled.
Practical example
A specialist with a degree from a non-EU country wants to work in a German hospital. She applies to the authority of the German state where she plans to work and submits proof of study with translations. The decision lists substantial differences from the German degree, so she takes the knowledge test. The Approbation is issued once she has passed and the other requirements are met. (The example is fictional.)
Official sources
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