Recognize medical specialists with professional qualifications from third countries

You must submit the application for recognition of your specialist qualification in writing to the relevant Rhineland-Palatinate District Medical Association.

Specialist qualifications that were completed in a third country will be reviewed individually to determine whether and to what extent your foreign qualification corresponds to a German qualification for the profession of specialist or whether there are significant differences between the foreign and German qualifications. This check is based on various criteria, such as the content and duration of the training. Your relevant professional experience can be taken into account as well as other professional qualifications. For academic qualifications, you can apply for an assessment by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).

Please contact the Rhineland-Palatinate Medical Association.

Recognition of your specialist qualification and work as a specialist is only possible if you already have a valid license to practice medicine in Germany. This means that you must first have applied to the relevant authority for your qualification as a doctor and received your license to practice. You can then apply for recognition of your specialist qualification.

You must provide proof of your German language skills when your license to practice medicine is issued. As a rule, your German language skills will not be tested again for recognition as a specialist doctor.

• State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care - Licenses and professional permits

• Application for recognition of a specialist qualification, form available from the district medical association
• Declaration as to whether an application for recognition has already been submitted and to which regional medical association
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• German license to practice medicine
• Training certificates obtained abroad (diplomas, specialist doctor designations)
• Translated and certified copy of the relevant study or examination regulations that were in force at the time the qualification was acquired
• Proof of relevant professional experience (detailed certificates, service specifications) and other proof of qualifications, insofar as these are required to establish equivalence.
• Certificate of authorization to practice the profession in the country of training
• If applicable, declaration of conformity in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC
• If applicable, notification of the determination of equivalence

The documents must be submitted in the form of originals or certified copies in German or as a certified copy of a German translation. The translations must be prepared by interpreters or translators who are publicly appointed or sworn. The translations must be made from the original or from the certified copies. This must be certified by the translator

Fees are charged for recognition. Please contact the responsible office.

Additional costs may be incurred for obtaining the necessary documents from other offices.

No deadlines need to be observed.

• Further training regulations of the Rhineland-Palatinate Medical Association

• anabin - Database for the evaluation of foreign educational certificates on the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education
• Information on certificate evaluation for foreign higher education qualifications on the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education

The service centers of the "Integration through Qualification" network (IQ network) will be happy to advise and support you before, during and after the recognition procedure.

• Integration through Qualification (IQ)" network

Within three months of submitting the application, the competent district medical association will inform you if any documents are missing.

06.09.2022