Applying for a license to practice as a dentist

If you have completed your dental training in Hessen or have passed the dental examination/third section of the dental examination in Hessen and would like to practise the dental profession in Germany, you will need a license to practice. This is issued on application.

After successfully completing your studies in dentistry, you can apply for a license to practice as a dentist. Once you have been granted a license to practice as a dentist, you are entitled to practice the dental profession in Germany independently and on your own responsibility.

Dentistry graduates from Hessian universities apply to the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) for a license to practice dentistry. Once the requirements have been met, the HLfGP issues the license to practice in the form of a certificate.

The licensing regulations for dentists list in detail which documents and information must be enclosed with the application.

The Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) has been responsible since 01.01.2023.

Please contact the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP)

• Application for license to practice medicine
• Brief curriculum vitae
• Proof of identity
• Official certificate of good conduct
• Declaration as to whether criminal proceedings or a public prosecutor's investigation are pending against the applicant
• Medical certificate stating that the applicant is not medically unfit to practise the profession

• The license to practice as a dentist is granted upon application if the applicant:
  • has not been guilty of any conduct which shows that he/she is unworthy or unreliable to practise the dental profession
  • is not unfit in health terms to practise the profession
  • has passed the dental examination within the scope of this Act after studying dentistry at an academic institution for at least 5,000 hours and for a period of at least five years
  • has the knowledge of the German language required for practicing the profession

Objection & legal action (Administrative Procedure Act)

• The application for licensure must be submitted online:
• A confirmation of receipt will be sent by e-mail immediately after submitting the online application.
• If you need to submit additional documents, these should be submitted to the HLfGP within one month of submitting your application
• The certificate can only be sent to you personally by post.
• If you are absent for a longer period of time, it is therefore recommended that you nominate an authorized recipient.

Due to the time limit for individual documents to be submitted, it is advisable to submit the application at the earliest 2 weeks before the last examination date.

Once all the necessary documents have been submitted, the license can be issued within a few days (usually 1 to max. 2 weeks).

• Fixed costs: Administration fee EUR 180.00";
• Expenses (postage costs etc.): "EUR 6.25"