Applying for a license to practice medicine

If you have completed your medical training in Hesse or have passed the third section of the medical examination in Hesse and would now like to practise your medical profession in Germany, you will need a license to practice medicine. The license to practice medicine is issued upon application.

After completing your studies and specialist training, you can apply for a license to practice medicine. Once you have been granted a license to practice medicine, you are entitled to practice the medical profession in Germany independently and on your own responsibility.

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

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

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

• Application for license to practice medicine
• Brief curriculum vitae
• Birth certificate, for married persons also the marriage certificate
• Proof of identity
• Official certificate of good conduct, which must not have been issued more than one month prior to submission
• Declaration as to whether the applicant is the subject of pending criminal proceedings or a public prosecutor's investigation
• Medical certificate, which must not be older than one month, stating that the applicant is not medically unfit to exercise the profession

• The license to practice medicine 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 medical profession
  • is not unfit in health terms to practise the profession
  • has passed the medical examination within the scope of this Act after studying medicine at a scientific university for at least 5,500 hours and a duration of at least six years, of which at least eight and no more than twelve months must be spent on practical training in hospitals or suitable medical care facilities
  • 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"