Apply for recognition as a specialist with professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

Have you completed further training as a specialist abroad? Then you can apply for recognition as a specialist in Germany under certain conditions.

The profession of specialist is regulated in Germany. This means that you need a permit if you want to use the title "specialist" for your specialization in the selected federal state.

By training as a specialist, you have acquired a medical specialisation in addition to your qualification as a doctor abroad. To work as a doctor in Germany, you first need a license to practice medicine or a professional license. In order to be able to work as a specialist in Germany, you must also apply for recognition of your specialist training. This allows you to use the title "specialist" in your respective specialization.

Note: You may only use the designation for your specialization if there is a corresponding continuing education title in Germany.

The permission will be granted by the competent State Medical Association after examination of your documents and requirements.

• CV in tabular form with information on completed further training and professional experience
• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Proof of German license to practice medicine or professional license and proof of equivalent level of education
• Certificates of further training and certificates of professional practice
• written declaration as to whether you have already submitted an application for recognition to another medical association

You only need to submit the following documents if your professional qualification was completed before a certain date (deadline). The competent authority will inform you:

• Certificate
  or
• Proof that you have effectively and lawfully practised the profession continuously for at least 3 years during the 5 years preceding the issue of the certificate.

If your documents are not available in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised.

• You must already have a state professional license (approbation) valid in Germany as a doctor or a professional license.
• If your qualification is not automatically recognised, you must prove the equivalence of your professional qualification as a specialist.

• Contradiction
• Further information on how to lodge an objection can be found in your notification.
• Action before the Administrative Court

Before you submit the application, you must already have a license to practice medicine or a professional license in Germany.

You apply for recognition of your continuing education title as a specialist at the competent State Medical Association:

• First, submit your application and the required documents to the Medical Association of the federal state in which you would like to work.
• If necessary, you will be asked to submit missing documents.
• The automatic recognition procedure often applies. This means that your professional qualification will be recognised without an individual equivalence test.
• If you started your training before your country of training joined the EU/EEA, you must prove that your professional qualification meets the minimum standards of the EU ("certificate of conformity"). This is certified by the competent authority of your country of training. If your professional qualification does not meet the minimum standards, you must prove your professional experience. To do this, you must have worked in the profession in the country of origin for 3 years without interruption in the last 5 years prior to the application.
• If your professional qualification is not automatically recognised, your training will be reviewed individually. The competent authority will then check whether your professional qualification is equivalent. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
• If your specialist qualification is recognised, you can work in the profession in Germany. You will receive a notification.
   
  If significant differences are detected, the equivalence of your specialist qualification will not be certified:
• You will receive a justification.
• You can take an aptitude test to prove the lack of knowledge.
• If you successfully pass the aptitude test, you will receive the recognition. You may then use the title "specialist" for your specialization.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. file an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on the right of appeal at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

There is no deadline.