Medical Licensure in Germany: How to Get Your Professional Recognition
- Rüdiger Maria Müller
- Aug 4, 2025
- 3 min read
Step-by-step guidance for international doctors, dentists, and pharmacists
Germany is an attractive destination for many healthcare professionals from around the world. If you're a doctor, dentist, or pharmacist who wants to work in Germany, there's one essential requirement: the Approbation, or full medical license. But what exactly does the licensure process involve, and how can you best prepare?
What is the “Approbation”?
The Approbation is Germany’s official, permanent license to practice a regulated healthcare profession. Without it, you may be allowed to observe or intern—but you cannot independently treat patients or dispense medications.
Who needs to go through the process of the medical licensure in Germany?
The process of the medical licensure in Germany (Approbationsverfahren) applies mainly to:
Medical professionals from non-EU countries
EU citizens whose medical degree is not automatically recognized
Applicants whose education is not equivalent to a German degree
Each case is reviewed by the relevant licensing authority of the German federal state where you plan to work.
What are the requirements?
To obtain the Approbation in Germany, you’ll typically need:
A university degree in medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy
Proof of language proficiency (at least B2 general German, and C1 for medical terminology)
A health certificate and certificate of good conduct
If required: a medical knowledge assessment (Kenntnisprüfung)
Successful completion of the Medical Language Examination (Fachsprachprüfung)
What is the Fachsprachprüfung?
The Medical Language Examination is designed to assess whether you can safely and effectively communicate in clinical situations—in conversations with patients, in writing discharge summaries, or when speaking with colleagues. A C1 level in medical German is typically required to pass.
Is the knowledge assessment always necessary?
No. If your degree is deemed equivalent to a German one, the knowledge assessment (Kenntnisprüfung) is not required. But if there are significant differences in content or structure, you will need to demonstrate your medical knowledge through this examination. That is usually the case.
Overview: How the Approbation process works
Contact the responsible state authority (Approbationsbehörde)
Submit all required documents (transcripts, certificates, language proof, etc.)
Receive a degree equivalency review
If applicable, sit for the Kenntnisprüfung
Take and pass the Fachsprachprüfung
Receive your Approbation
Please note: The process can take several months. Early preparation is key.
How the brmi Academy can support you
Many international applicants find the bureaucratic requirements and unfamiliar terminology overwhelming. That’s where the brmi Academy for Healthcare Professions comes in.
We offer professional, tailored support throughout your recognition journey:
Intensive medical language courses (C1) for doctors, dentists, and pharmacists
Preparation courses for the Kenntnisprüfung
Advisory sessions on the recognition process
Individual coaching and exam simulations
Support with public funding options (e.g. BAMF or Jobcenter education vouchers)
Our instructors combine medical expertise, exam insight, and didactic experience to help you prepare with confidence.
Conclusion: Your path to medical recognition in Germany
The licensing process in Germany is challenging, but absolutely manageable with the right preparation and guidance. Whether you're just starting the process or facing the knowledge exam, you're not alone.
The team at the brmi Academy is here to support you every step of the way—with the language, the paperwork, and the preparation that truly makes a difference.
Let us help you turn your qualifications into a professional future in Germany. #ApprobationGermany, #GermanMedicalLicense #MedicalrecognitionGermany #KenntnisprüfungPreparation, #FachsprachprüfungMedizin, #ForeignDoctorsInGermany, #brmiAkademie
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