Short answer: a doctor who trained abroad needs a German state licence, the Approbation, to practise without restriction. The competent authority assesses whether the qualification matches German medical training. The word “Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung” describes that equivalence assessment. Do not confuse it with a separate exam. If the documents and the experience do not resolve substantial differences, a doctor may have to pass a Kenntnisprüfung.
Approbation and Berufserlaubnis are different
Approbation is the unrestricted state licence to practise medicine. It is valid throughout Germany. A Berufserlaubnis is a temporary, restricted authorisation. The competent state authority sets its scope and its availability.
The German Medical Association advises applicants to contact the relevant Approbationsbehörde directly for the equivalence assessment, possible knowledge test, documents and legal requirements.
Equivalence assessment and possible knowledge test
The authority compares the foreign medical qualification with German medical training. It reviews the documents, and it reviews professional experience where that applies. If it finds substantial differences and nothing else compensates for them, you may need a Kenntnisprüfung.
Two things set the exact procedure: the country where you obtained the qualification, and the federal state that handles the application. Use the federal Recognition Finder and select “Medical practitioner”. It returns the current authority and the state-specific checklist.
Language: general B2 plus medical language, usually C1-oriented
The federal Make it in Germany physician guidance states that all federal states require at least general German at B2. Applicants usually also have to pass a medical specialist-language exam oriented to C1.
That is more precise than the claim “doctors need general C1.” The general-language minimum and the level of the profession-specific exam are separate requirements. The responsible authority or the state medical chamber supplies the binding details.
Common document categories
The authority’s checklist decides the final list. Applications commonly involve:
- proof of identity;
- the medical degree and evidence of training content and duration;
- evidence of professional experience where relevant;
- evidence of personal reliability and medical fitness;
- proof of language competence; and
- certified translations or copies where requested.
Do not use this article as a substitute for the state-specific list returned by the Recognition Finder.
What soruLab does—and does not—offer
soruLab does not currently offer a doctor-specific Fachsprachprüfung product or a recognition service. The German Workbench gives general German reading and worksheet practice. Do not present it as medical licensing preparation.
Official sources
- Make it in Germany: physicians—Approbation and language requirements
- German Medical Association: medical practice in Germany with third-country qualifications
- Recognition in Germany: Recognition Finder
General information, not legal, immigration or licensing advice. The competent Approbationsbehörde is the binding source for an individual application.