BECOMING A MEDICAL SPECIALIST IN GERMANY
Gaining specialisation in a certain area of medicine is an integral part of medical specialist training in Germany. Training programmes can take five to six years and are conducted at university medical centres or other facilities which are authorised to provide specialist training. The regulations are different in each German state. To be eligible, you must have excellent German skills are and have a medical license, the “Approbation”.
PROCEDURE
After successfully completing your studies in Medicine, you may continue studying to gain specialisation in an elective subject. The training programme takes five to six years to complete. There are 30 different areas of medicine in which you can specialize. During the programme you are required to complete a catalogue of fixed tasks. The training programme concludes with the medical specialist examination. Before start studying for medical specialty, it is necessary to fulfill a 6-month medical internship in a hospital. Medical specialist training programmes are not degree programmes and are not offered at German universities. During such a programme, you work as a doctor in full-time employment, e.g. at a doctor's practice, a university clinic or medical centre or other “institution authorised to provide medical treatment”. You are paid as an assistant physician. German language proficiency is a very important prerequisite, i.e. at least a B2 level as put forth in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You have to provide proof of your language ability. The B2 level is equivalent to the business language certificate “Deutsch für den Beruf” (ZDfB). The provisions for medical specialist training are not the same throughout Germany. The certification requirements are different in each state and are determined by 17 “State Medical Boards”. Your medical specialist training programme is subject to the rules of the state in which you live or work. If you wish to practice medicine in Germany, you will require a state medical license. This is called the “Certification to Provide Medical Treatment in Germany”, or “Approbation” for short.
The equivalency of your academic qualification will have to be assessed (knowledge assessment). If the medical board determines that your education is not equivalent to that provided in Germany, you will receive a temporary medical license, valid for a maximum of two years. During this period, you are required to take the equivalency assessment examination. If you pass the exam, you normally receive your German medical license.