Your Path to Practising Medicine in Germany

Planning a medical career in Germany starts with understanding the pathway ahead. This guide introduces the main stages, from preparing your documents and applying for recognition to obtaining your medical licence and pursuing a residency position. FIG helps you turn these stages into a personal plan, with clear guidance on what to prepare and what comes next.

Your preparation can begin before you receive your final diploma. Use this time to organise your academic records, review the documents you will need, and identify anything that may require confirmation from your university. FIG reviews your available documents and helps you prepare for the next stage, so you can move forward with a more organised file after graduation.

Learning German is an essential part of preparing for medical practice in Germany. Starting early allows you to develop your language skills while organising your recognition documents. Build a study plan that suits your current level and available time, with a focus on everyday communication before progressing to medical German. Your learning pace will depend on your starting point, consistency, and course intensity.

Choosing where to apply is an important part of planning your recognition journey. Before making a decision, consider your personal circumstances, career goals, and the requirements of the responsible authority. FIG helps you compare your options, understand the document checklist, and prepare your application for the selected federal state, giving you a clearer starting point for the process.

Approbation is your goal on the pathway to full medical licensure in Germany. The steps involved depend on your qualifications and the assessment of your application. This guide introduces key terms such as FSP, KP, and qualification equivalence, helping you understand how they relate to your journey. FIG supports you in understanding official correspondence, preparing requested documents, and planning your next steps.

Planning your move means coordinating your recognition progress, language preparation, and visa application. The right approach depends on your nationality, current situation, and purpose of stay. FIG helps you organise the relevant documents and understand how your relocation plans fit into your recognition journey, so you can prepare each stage with a clear overview of what still needs to be completed.

This roadmap brings the main stages of your medical career journey together in one overview. Some steps can be prepared in parallel, while others depend on documents, examination results, or decisions from the responsible authorities. FIG helps you adapt the roadmap to your own situation, keep track of your progress, and understand your next priorities throughout the process.

You do not have to navigate the recognition process alone. FIG provides personal guidance with reviewing your documents, preparing your application, following up with the responsible authorities, and responding to requests for additional information. With support seven days a week, you can ask questions and discuss your progress throughout your journey. Book a free consultation to discuss your qualifications, goals, and next steps.

The Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) assesses medical German communication skills at approximately C1 level. Unlike the Kenntnisprüfung (KP), it tests language rather than medical knowledge, though accurate medical terminology is essential.

The Exam Structure

The exam commonly consists of three parts of around 20 minutes each. Procedures may vary by medical chamber.

1. Doctor–Patient Conversation
Take a structured medical history, ask follow-up questions, and explain the next steps in clear, patient-friendly language.

2. Written Documentation
Summarise the consultation clearly and accurately, using correct grammar and medical terminology.

3. Doctor–Doctor Discussion
Present the case to a colleague and answer questions using professional medical language.

Preparation & FIG Support

Practise complete cases and switching between patient-friendly and professional language. FIG supports you with simulated consultations, documentation exercises, case presentations, and individual feedback.

Kenntnisprüfung (KP)

The Kenntnisprüfung (KP) assesses the medical knowledge and practical skills required to practise medicine in Germany. Unlike the FSP, it focuses on clinical competence rather than language skills.

The Exam Structure

The KP is an oral and practical examination conducted in German, lasting approximately 60–90 minutes per candidate. It includes a patient presentation and focuses on internal medicine and surgery, with additional topics such as emergency medicine, pharmacotherapy, diagnostic imaging, radiation protection, and medical law. 

Who May Not Need the KP?

Doctors whose medical training is officially recognised as equivalent to German medical training (Gleichwertigkeit) may obtain Approbation without taking the KP, provided all other requirements are met. The decision is based on an individual assessment of their qualifications—not simply the university’s name or reputation.

Doctors who complete their medical studies and required state examinations in Germany follow the German Approbation pathway and do not need the KP for recognition of a foreign qualification. 

Explore a wide range of medical specialties, paid clinical training, and a clear pathway towards becoming a specialist.

How Residency Works

Medical residency in Germany, known as Facharztweiterbildung, combines specialist training with salaried employment. As an Assistenzarzt, you gain clinical experience under authorised supervision at an approved hospital or training centre.

Applications are generally made directly to employers. Selection depends on your qualifications, German language proficiency, interview performance, and available positions.

Most specialties require five to six years of full-time training. After fulfilling the required training periods and competencies and passing the specialist examination, you receive recognition as a Facharzt.

Available Specialties

Germany offers numerous specialist training pathways, including:

• Internal Medicine: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Nephrology, and Haematology and Oncology.

• Surgery: General Surgery, Visceral Surgery, Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

• Other Specialties: Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, ENT, Urology, Anaesthesiology, Radiology, Neurology, Psychiatry, and General Practice.

Salary and Career Progression

Residents receive a monthly salary that increases with recognised medical experience. Under the TV-Ärzte/VKA agreement for municipal hospitals, monthly gross basic salaries effective from 1 June 2026 are approximately:

Year 1: €5,722 · Year 2: €6,046 · Year 3: €6,278
Year 4: €6,680 · Year 5: €7,158 · Year 6 onwards: €7,355

These figures apply to full-time employment, before taxes and social contributions, and exclude additional duty payments. Pay grades reflect recognised medical experience rather than residency year alone. Previous experience may affect your starting grade, and salaries vary by employer and collective agreement.

On-Call Duties and Additional Compensation

On-call duties are compensated according to the applicable employment agreement. This includes hospital-based on-call duty (Bereitschaftsdienst) and availability for call-outs (Rufbereitschaft).

Depending on the duty and contractual arrangements, compensation may include additional payments or time off. Supplements may also apply to night work, Sundays, and public holidays.