Are you a medical professional from a non-EU country, thinking of becoming a General Practitioner in Germany? If you've already completed your medical education back home and are now under going your house surgeon training, this article is aimed to help you understand the way ahead.
In this article, we will guide you through the essential steps, and requirements to transform your relocation to Germany. From recognising your qualifications to the relocation checklist, this guide is drafted to simplify the complex process, making your transition as smooth as possible.
Who can become a GP (Hausarzt) in Germany?
Medicine is of course a regulated profession in Germany. However, it is not restricted to Germans. A person from any third country can become a doctor in Germany.
In short, If you hold a foreign professional qualification as a doctor from another country and want to work as a doctor in Germany, you have to get an official license called "approbation" from the government. This license allows you to work as a doctor without any restrictions. You need it if you want to work at a hospital or start your own medical practice.
When you have the approbation, you can check up on patients, gather information about their health, figure out what's wrong with them, recommend treatment options, and perform medical procedures and treatments when necessary.
Fields of work for Hausarzt in Germany
Doctors of medicine work, for example,
in surgeries and at clinics
at health centres and rehabilitation centres
in hospices
for elderly care and nursing services
in medical research and teaching
in the pharmaceutical industry
at health authorities, health insurance companies, and medical associations
If you have additional qualifications and specialisation in a specific medical field, you can also apply to have your specialised title recognized in Germany.
Recognition of your foreign medical qualification
Who needs recognition to work as a general practitioner in Germany?
As per anerkennung-in-deutschland - the official information portal of the German government for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, if your medical degree is not from Germany, even if you’ve acquired your degree from an EU state (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), you need to get your degree recognised in Germany before you can get the approbation.
Doctors from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, USA and the United Kingdom are also supposed to undergo the recognition process before they can practice medicine in Germany.
How to apply for the recognition of your medical degree in Germany?
If you have studied at an institute of higher education or a university in a third country, and you have successfully completed your course, and if you have obtained a state-certified qualification or a state-recognised qualification, then you can directly apply for the recognition.
Depending on the city you plan to work in Germany, you can apply for the recognition online. If the city you plan to work doesn’t have an online portal or option to apply online, you can try contacting the professional association of doctors in the city. Professional associations can provide you with information on the specific requirements for recognition and help you navigate the recognition process. Otherwise, you can seek for help in one of the counselling centers.
If your degree is not recognised or certified, you need to go through a personal counselling. There are pro counselling centers in India, Egypt, Algeria, Brazil, Colombia, and Tunisia. You can seek free counselling at a counselling center that suits your schedule. depending of your planned place of work in Germany, you’ll get the information on which counselling center to contact. You can get free advice about the procedure! The counselling center will support you with the recognition process. They will also help you gather the necessary documents and assist with your application. Afterward, you can submit your application to the relevant authority, which will check if your professional qualifications are equivalent.
People from other countries can reach out to Arbeiten und Leben in Deutschland and find the best way for you to recognise your medical degree in Germany.
German language proficiency to become a Hausarzt
To work as a doctor in Germany, you should have a good understanding of the German language, kind of like a B2 level. Additionally, in most cases, you'll have to pass a special language test at a higher C1 level. But, there are a few situations where you might not need to take this tough language test. The competent authority will let you know if you're one of those exceptions.
When you first apply, you don't have to hand in a language certificate right away. You can show your German skills a bit later in the process.
How to get Approbation (license) to practice medicine in Germany
You don't need to apply for Approbation separately. If the outcome of your recognition of qualifications is 'recognized,' it means that your professional qualification is equivalent to the German professional qualification. You will receive the Approbation, and a certificate will be issued to you. Additionally, you will have met all other requirements. With this recognition, you possess the same professional rights as someone with a German professional qualification.
If the outcome is that your qualification is only partially recognized, it means that it's not recognized at all because it doesn't match the German professional standards.
There are significant disparities between your professional qualification and what's required in Germany. Unfortunately, your professional experience and other knowledge in the field can't bridge these gaps. As a result, your qualifications are not seen as equivalent to the German standards, leading to non-recognition. You also won't receive the Approbation.
However, in many cases, you have the option to address these differences by undertaking a compensation measure, such as taking additional courses or extending your studies in related areas. This allows you to bridge the significant gaps and potentially achieve full recognition.
You receive no recognition. What can you do?
If your professional qualification isn't considered equivalent, you have the option to take a knowledge test as a compensation measure. This test helps you bridge the substantial differences, which you can find listed in your notice.
When you successfully complete the compensation measure, you will receive a certificate. You should then submit this certificate to the competent authority. They will review the certificate along with other requirements like your personal aptitude or medical fitness. If you meet all the criteria, your professional qualification will be recognized, and you will receive the Approbation. This means you'll have the same professional rights as someone with a German qualification.
If you're from a third country and need to come to Germany for a compensation measure, you are allowed to do so. If you have any questions or need more information on entry, you can seek advice, for example, through the hotline for Working and Living in Germany.
If you find that you don't meet all the requirements, you can inquire with the competent authority about other options available to you. For instance, if you couldn't provide evidence of your personal aptitude or your knowledge of the German language, the competent authority can assist you with this.
Cost and duration of Recognition in Germany
Getting the Approbation will cost you between 100 to 430 euros. If you need an equivalence assessment from the Central Assessment Agency for Healthcare Professions (GfG), that will be around 1,773 euros. Also, if you have to take a specialist language examination, it's about 420 euros. There might be other expenses like certification or compensation measures. You can find more details about financial support at this website: https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/en/financial-support.php
Within one month of receiving your application, the people in charge will let you know they got your documents. They'll also tell you if anything is missing. The actual process starts once they have all the necessary papers. You should get the results within four months at the latest. In some cases, the process might take longer if the people in charge need more time.
Finding a job as a general practitioner
Once you have all the required licenses and qualifications, you can start looking for your ideal job as a general practitioner in Germany. You have various options to find the perfect position, such as searching for job listings on the internet, getting help from medical job agencies, and reaching out to other doctors in the same field for advice and connections.
Online job boards like Jobboerse.de, Indeed.com, and LinkedIn are great places to start your search. These platforms list general practice openings across Germany, allowing you to filter by location, experience level, and other preferences.
Another option for online job search would be the arbeitsagentur - the official job portal from the German government. Today, it lists more than 15000 vacancies as doctors including general medicine, specialist doctors and doctors assistant, etc.
Networking with other general practitioners is crucial. Attend conferences, join online forums, and connect with doctors through professional organisations. These connections can open doors to job opportunities and provide valuable insights into the industry.
Additionally, if you come across a job opening on any hospital's website in the area where you want to work, you can contact them directly. Introduce yourself and express your interest in working in Germany.
Conclusion
Becoming a general doctor (Hausarzt) in Germany can be a satisfying career. If you prepare well, stay determined, and make connections, you can become a qualified general practitioner and find a good job in Germany's healthcare system. Embrace the challenges and opportunities, and enjoy helping patients in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications are required to become a General Practitioner (Hausarzt) in Germany?
To become a General Practitioner in Germany, you typically need to complete medical studies and obtain a medical degree from a recognized university or medical school. If you've completed your medical graduation in a third country, you can apply for recognition of your degree in Germany and work here as a doctor upon receiving the recognition and approbation.