FAQ - Frequently asked questions

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How can I work in Baden-Württemberg with a foreign degree in human medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or psychotherapy?

How can I work in Baden-Württemberg with a foreign degree in human medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or psychotherapy? Have you completed your training abroad and would like to work permanently and without restriction in an academic healthcare profession in Germany? Then you will definitely need a special licence to practise - a licence to practise. You can apply for a licence to practise in Baden-Württemberg at the Stuttgart Regional Council. You can find the relevant application documents and information here.

When applying, a distinction is made as to whether you have completed your training in the EU, an EEA state or Switzerland or in another country (third country).

Training EU/EEA/Switzerland

As soon as you have submitted the complete application for a licence to practise to us, we will check whether the legal requirements have been met. These include, among other things

• a fully completed medical training programme
• health suitability
• absence of criminal record
• sufficient German language skills

Training in a third country

As soon as you have submitted the complete application for a licence to practise medicine, we will check whether the legal requirements have been met. Among other things, this includes checking

• the extent to which the foreign degree programme is equivalent to the German degree programme
• whether a medical training programme has been fully completed
• health suitability
• the absence of criminal offences
• whether the German language skills are sufficient

It is also possible to apply for a work permit. This only allows you to work on a temporary and restricted basis. The professional licence is issued for a maximum period of two years and only permits non-independent and non-managerial work under supervision. Further information and application documents can also be found here.

Flyer Academic healthcare professions from abroad (pdf, 82 KB)

Who is responsible for recognition?

The licence to practise medicine is issued by the Stuttgart Regional Council if you wish to work as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or psychotherapist in Baden-Württemberg. The Stuttgart Regional Council must be responsible at all times during the entire licensing procedure. You must provide evidence of this responsibility in the form of a so-called prima facie case.

What does credible evidence mean and how can you provide this evidence?

You must submit proof that you intend to work in a healthcare profession in Baden-Württemberg, e.g. as a doctor. We call this proof "prima facie evidence".

Only if we receive this proof from you we will be the responsible authority and can check the content of your documents.

I. You will need one of the following documents to apply for a licence to practise:

1. letter of interest from an employer
   A letter from a potential employer in Baden-Württemberg stating that they have a serious interest in employing you after you have been granted a licence to practise medicine.
   
   or
    
2.  personal circumstances
   Examples: Family reunification, spouse already works in Baden-Württemberg, has residence in Baden-Württemberg, children go to school/daycare in Baden-Württemberg, refugee ID card with residence in Baden-Württemberg, registration certificate in Baden-Württemberg
   
   or
    

3. You will receive a prima facie evidence (proof of advice/location note) after consultation and advice from BafA or the IQ network.
   The consultation can also take place online. Therefore advice is also possible while you are still abroad.

   Recognition counselling - IQ Network Baden-Württemberg (netzwerk-iq-bw.de)
   
   https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/vor-ort/zav/working-living-in-germany/zsba/anerkennungsverfahren

II. you need to apply for a professional licence:

To apply for a licence to practise, you need a specific job offer from an employer as proof.

Doctors must use Annex 3 on our website for this purpose.

For other healthcare professions, informal proof (e.g. specific job confirmation or employment contract) is sufficient.

Please note: Your application for a professional licence cannot be processed without this proof (job confirmation).

Please send us the required proof in the original by post.

How long does the processing take?

You will receive confirmation of receipt within one month. As soon as you have submitted all the documents in full, a decision can be made on the application. Applications are always processed in the order in which they are received.

We kindly ask for your understanding that longer processing times must be expected due to the large number of applications. To ensure that applications are processed as quickly as possible, please ensure that your application documents are complete.

What are the costs of the recognition procedure?

The costs of recognition are always individual. Below you will find a rough estimatation.

Usually costs of 450 euros are charged for the decision on the licence to practise (training in a third country). For the decision on the licence to practise (training EU/EEA/Switzerland), the costs are usually 300 euros.

Separate costs may be incurred for the preparation of an expert opinion to determine the reference qualification, the equivalence of the training and the authenticity of documents.

Separate fees are charged for taking the specialised language examinations and the aptitude and knowledge tests.

Can I submit an application in different federal states at the same time?

No, this is not possible. You may only submit one application for a licence to practise within Germany. If you wish to submit an application in another federal state, you must first withdraw the current application. You can find the corresponding forms for the respective profession here. The new authority must also be informed about previous licence to practise in other federal states.

I would like to withdraw my application, what should I do?

You can find the application to withdraw your licence to practise or professional licence on our website. Sign this application and send it to us by post. You will then receive a confirmation letter stating the fee. The cost of withdrawing the application will be determined individually depending on the administrative effort involved, but is usually around 200 euros.

The documents you have already submitted will remain with us. As soon as another authority (another federal state) requests the documents and the costs have been paid by you, we will send the documents to the other authority.

I am moving, what should I do?

Please always state your current address (postal address/email address). If you change your address, please report the new address directly to your responsible administrative department so that we can continue to contact you. Please also remember to always put your name on your front door and letterbox so that our notifications can be delivered.

Where can I get advice?

Due to the large number of applications, we are unfortunately unable to offer counselling. However, the following advice centres will be happy to help you:

Are you abroad and do not yet have a job offer or are not resident in Baden-Württemberg?

Then please contact the Central Service Centre for Professional Recognition (ZSBA).
recognition@arbeitsagentur.de.

Do you have questions about entry and employment in Baden-Württemberg?
Please contact the IQ Network Baden-Württemberg.

How do you have to send the application to the regional council?

• The application and all other documents must be sent by post.
• The application must be submitted in the original.
• Please send the documents without transparent film, loose-leaf binders or similar.
• The documents remain with the authority even after the procedure has ended.
• The equivalence check can only be carried out if all documents are submitted exactly as described below.

How must the documents be translated?

• The documents must be translated into German.
• The translation must be carried out by an appointed or sworn translator in Germany or a translator recognised by the German embassy in the country of study. (Translators can be found here: https://www.justiz-dolmetscher.de.)
• All pages must be translated.
• The translator must attach a copy of the original document (in the source language) to the translation and affix a translation stamp to the translation.
• The German translation and the stapled copy must then be officially notarised together.

Special features of notarisation for diplomas, certificates and professional licences

• A diploma, a certificate of completion of medical training or a professional licence must first be provided with a Hague Apostille or legalised by the German embassy in the country of training, if this is possible in your country of study.
• Only then will these documents be translated and legalised as described in point 2.
• The apostille must also be translated and legalised.

What is a qualified translation?

A qualified translation should fulfil the following requirements:

• The translator is publicly appointed and authorised for the language.
• The entire document including apostille / legalisation has been translated.
• It must be recognisable that the translator has attached a copy of the document submitted to him in the national language to the translation (for example by affixing a seal at the joints).

Can the documents also be translated abroad?

A translation made abroad can be equivalent to a qualified translation if the translation was made by a translator who is recognised or accepted by the German embassy in the country of training. If the latter is not the case, the applicant must submit a translation by a publicly appointed or sworn translator in Germany before a licence to practise or professional permit is issued.

What can I submit as proof of identity?

Only a passport and identity card count as proof of identity, not a birth certificate.

I cannot present a current ID card, what can I do?

If you do not have a current passport or ID card (recognised refugees), it is sufficient to present a German travel document.

What level of German do I need?

If you would like to work in an academic healthcare profession in Germany, you need sufficient knowledge of German. This is regulated by law.

You must provide proof of sufficient German language skills in the general language and in the specialised language (specifically for your profession). All German language skills must be verbal and written.

The aim is for you to be able to hold spontaneous and largely fluent conversations, especially with patients. You must also be able to understand and reproduce complex texts and specialised discussions on medical topics.

Proof of the following language skills is required to obtain a licence to practise medicine:

• General language skills at level B2
• Knowledge of the specialised language of medicine at level C1

For the granting of a licence to practise in the field of psychotherapy, proof of specialist language skills at level C2 are required.

Information on general language B2

The B2 language proficiency test must be taken at a recognised language institute with ALTE certification (full member) (e.g. Goethe Institute, TELC, ÖSD etc.).

The B2 language certificate must be submitted as an officially notarised copy (front and back please).

Information on specialised language C1

Who has to take a specialised language test?
If you are applying to us for a licence to practise medicine and

• do not have a degree from a German-speaking university or
• have not completed at least ten years of general education at a German-speaking school or
• have not completed at least three years of vocational training in German,

has to pass the specialised language examination.

Where can I take the specialised language test?

Depending on the profession, the specialised language examination in Baden-Württemberg is conducted by the State Chamber of Physicians, the State Chamber of Dentists, the State Chamber of Pharmacists or the State Chamber of Psychotherapists on behalf of the Stuttgart Regional Council.

You have the opportunity to prepare for your specialised language examination through various providers. You can find addresses and information on the Internet.

How do I register for the specialised language test?

We will register you for the specialised language test with the relevant chamber as soon as we have received all the necessary application documents. You can obtain information on how to make an appointment and on specific costs from the relevant chamber.

You can find information on the organisation and procedure of the specialist language test here:

For doctors:
Baden-Württemberg Medical Association: Specialised language examination

For dentists:
Baden-Württemberg Dental Association: Specialised language examination

For pharmacists:
Baden-Württemberg State Chamber of Pharmacists: Foreign educational qualifications

For psychotherapists:
Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Psychotherapists: Specialised language examination

How long does it take until I receive an appointment for the specialised language test?

Please contact the relevant chamber here. They will provide you with information on the allocation of appointments. The Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart is only responsible for registration. We therefore have no influence and no information on the dates for the examinations.

How much does the specialised language exam cost?

You can obtain the exact costs for the specialised language examination from the relevant chamber. As a rule, the fees are between around 250 and 450 euros.

Can I repeat the specialised language exam?

The tests can be repeated without any limits. Any repeat attempts in the event of failure are scheduled directly via the chambers. It is not necessary to re-register for the specialised language examination via the Stuttgart Regional Council.

How long is the specialised language test valid for?

As a rule, the specialised language examination is valid for 3 years. An activity within the scope of a professional licence extends the validity of the specialist language examination by the period during which the activity is actually carried out.

Will my specialist language examination from another federal state be recognised?
The specialist language examination from another federal state is generally accepted if it was issued by a recognised examination institute in another federal state (e.g. Medical Association / Dentists' Association / Pharmacists' Association / Chamber of Psychotherapists).

What is a professional licence?

Professional licences are usually applied for by persons who have completed their training in a third country. If you have completed your training in the EU, an EEA state or Switzerland, please apply directly for a licence to practise.

Please note:

Working within the framework of a professional licence may be helpful in preparing for the knowledge test.

If you have trained as a doctor, you will benefit most from the professional licence if you are working in the field of internal medicine or surgery.

What is the difference between a professional licence and a licence to practise?

Licence to practise
Are you planning to work permanently and without restrictions in Germany after completing your studies in human medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or psychotherapy abroad? Then you will need a special professional licence - the Approbation.

Professional licence
It is also possible to apply for a professional licence to work temporarily and with restrictions in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or psychotherapy. However, this is only valid for a period of 2 years and is restricted to non-independent and non-managerial work under the supervision or guidance of a licensed practitioner.

Can I work without restriction with a professional licence?

No, with a professional licence you cannot work in your profession without restriction. The professional licence is restricted to non-independent and non-managerial work under the supervision, guidance and responsibility of appropriately trained staff. This includes doctors, dentists, pharmacists and psychotherapists who have a licence to practise or are allowed to practise their profession without restrictions.

With a professional licence, you cannot undertake further training as a specialist doctor, as you do not yet have proof of equivalent training. It is therefore not possible to work as an assistant doctor, for example. A licence to practise is required for this.

The professional licence is valid for the federal state of Baden-Württemberg for a period of two years and is therefore limited in time. A shorter or longer period cannot be chosen when applying for a licence. An extension of the professional licence beyond two years is generally not provided for. With a professional licence, you can decide for yourself whether you want to work for the full two years or for a shorter period.

A change of employer within Baden-Württemberg does not have to be reported to the Stuttgart Regional Council.

Do I first have to apply for a professional licence and then a licence to practise?

No, if you want to work permanently in your profession in Germany, you will need a licence to practise. For this reason, you should always apply for a licence to practise.

However, you can also apply for a professional licence at the same time. This will allow you to work in your profession (with restrictions and for a limited period of time) even before your licence to practise is granted.

However, activities within the scope of the professional licence are not a prerequisite for obtaining a licence to practise.

Job confirmation
If you have submitted an application for a licence to practise, you will need a concrete confirmation of employment from an employer as proof (prima facie evidence).

Doctors must use Annex 3 on our website for this purpose:

For other healthcare professions, informal proof (e.g. specific job confirmation or employment contract) is sufficient.

When will I receive a professional licence?

Without a suitable job confirmation (form, pdf, 192 KB) we cannot examine your application for a professional licence.

Once we have received all the necessary documents including the application, we will review the application.

IMPORTANT: A professional licence will only be issued if you have successfully passed the specialist language examination (exception: in the field of psychotherapy).

The professional licence can then be issued after a successful examination.

We endeavour to process applications quickly, but ask kindly for your understanding that due to the large number of applications, processing times may be somewhat longer.

Do I need a professional licence for a work shadowing placement?

No, you do not need a professional licence for a work shadowing placement, as no medical activity may take place during a work shadowing placement.

How can I prove my equivalent training?

Medicine and dentistry:

You can prove your equivalent training either by means of an expert opinion or a knowledge test.

If you decide in favour of a knowledge test, there are various providers who can prepare you for the test. You can find addresses and information on the Internet.

You do not have to submit a curriculum if you choose not to take the expert reports.

Pharmacy:

Equivalent training in the field of pharmacy is always demonstrated by an expert opinion and - if deficits are identified in it - an additional knowledge test.

In general, the State Chamber of Pharmacists offers various courses to prepare for examinations, see www.lak-bw.de. 

What is the difference between a knowledge test and an expert opinion?

In the case of an expert opinion, an external expert body checks the equivalence of the training to a German training programme on the basis of the documents submitted.

In the case of a knowledge test, an on-site examination is used to determine whether the training is equivalent to German training.

The fees for an expert opinion (in the field of medicine) are usually considerably higher than the fees for a knowledge test.

Knowledge test for DOCTORS with training abroad

How do I apply to take the knowledge test?

As soon as you have submitted all the necessary documents to us, we will send you an application to take the knowledge test.

Please only submit this application for admission to the knowledge test to us when you feel that you are well prepared to take the knowledge test.

How long does it take until I receive an appointment for the knowledge test?

As soon as you have registered with us for the knowledge test, we will put you on our waiting list. Unfortunately, we cannot give you any specific information about the length of the waiting time, as waiting times cannot be predicted in advance and are also unpredictable.

Unfortunately it is for organisational reasons not possible to request appointments, even for certain months.

Please also note that there is no entitlement to a specific examination location.

When will I receive a summons to the examination date at the latest? 

Usually you will receive notification of the examination fee four to six weeks before the examination date. When you receive notification of the examination fee, you can therefore expect to receive an examination date within the next few weeks.

Please pay the fees (stating the reference number on the notification of costs) as soon as possible to avoid any delays.

The official summons to the examination will be sent to you by post no later than five calendar days before the examination date. This is regulated by law.

How much does an examination cost?

The cost of the exam is currently 800 euros.

In which subjects does the knowledge test take place?

The examination relates to the subjects of internal medicine and surgery.

The questions should also take the following aspects into account:

• Emergency medicine
• Clinical pharmacology/pharmacotherapy
• Imaging procedures
• Radiation protection
• Legal issues in the practice of medicine

What is the procedure for a knowledge test?

The knowledge test is taken in the form of a state examination before a state examination board in German. The examination board is appointed by the Stuttgart Regional Council. The knowledge test includes oral and practical parts and takes place on one day.

During the examination, patients are present who present various health concerns. The examination tasks and questions are based on this. The patients' health concerns are related to the examination subjects. They form the basis for examinations and the collection of medical histories of illnesses relevant to care.

Before the examination date, the examination board will assign you the relevant patients. You will then prepare a patient report containing the patient's medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan and an epicrisis of the case.

The oral examination also relates to the patients on site.

The examination also includes further interdisciplinary practical tasks focussing on the most important clinical pictures and health disorders for the medical profession. The examination also examines, on a case-by-case basis, whether the candidate has the knowledge and skills required to practise as a doctor, including the ability to conduct medical consultations.

When will I receive the result of the knowledge test and how often can it be repeated?

After the examination, you will be informed of the result orally by the examination board. You will then receive information from us by post about the examination result and the further procedure. The test results of the examination must first be received from the examination board, please be patient.

If you do not pass the knowledge test, it can be repeated a total of two times.

Can I postpone the appointment?

Generally it is not possible to postpone appointments.

What do I do if I am ill?

If you are ill on the day of the exam, we require a doctor's certificate as proof of illness without any delay.

The certificate must contain a precise diagnosis of the illness presented and should also state what specific effects the diagnosed illness has had or will have on your ability to take the examination on the day of the examination from a medical point of view. Only then can we decide whether you have an authorised withdrawal from the examination.

If you withdraw from the examination on the day of the examination due to illness, you must immediately submit the medical certificate as an e-mail attachment to the Stuttgart Regional Council and provide a telephone number where you can be contacted personally.

rps.kenntnispruefung@rps.bwl.de

You must subsequently send us the original certificate (Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Referat 95.2, Ruppmannstr. 21, 70565 Stuttgart).

If your address, telephone number or e-mail address changes, please inform the Stuttgart Regional Council immediately.

What should I do if I am pregnant?

Pregnancy is generally not a reason for not taking the exam. Only if you are on maternity leave on the day of the exam is it possible not to take the exam. In this case, please send us a medical certificate stating the expected date of birth.

If you would like to take the exam despite being on maternity leave, you can send us a certificate from a specialist in gynaecology stating that you can take the exam despite being on maternity leave.

Knowledge test for DENTISTS with training abroad

How do I apply to take the knowledge test?

On our website you will find the application form for the knowledge test, which you should complete, sign and send to us by post together with the application form and all other documents. As soon as all documents are complete and have been checked, we will register you for the knowledge test with the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Dentists and inform you of your registration.

How long does it take until I receive an appointment for the knowledge test?

As soon as we have registered you with the State Chamber of Dentists for the knowledge test, you will be placed on the waiting list.

Unfortunately, we cannot give you any specific information about the length of the waiting period. Please contact the relevant chamber directly if necessary.

When will I receive a summons to the examination date at the latest?

The State Chamber of Dentists will inform you of the examination date and send you a notification of the examination fee.

In addition, you will receive the official invitation to the examination from the regional council by post at least five calendar days before the examination date. This is regulated by law.

How much does an examination cost?

The costs for the individual parts of the examination (written, oral, practical) can be obtained directly from the Baden-Württemberg Dental Association.

In which subjects does the knowledge test take place?

You can find an information sheet on the contents of the knowledge test on the website of the Baden-Württemberg Dental Association under the following link:

Landeszahnärztekammer Baden-Württemberg: Recognition of foreign professional qualifications (lzk-bw.de)

What is the procedure for a knowledge test?

The knowledge test is taken in the form of a state examination before a state examination board in German. The knowledge test consists of three parts: written, oral and practical. You will be given a separate examination date for each part. You must first pass the previous part of the examination in order to be admitted to the next part.

When will I receive the result of the knowledge test and how often can it be repeated?

After the examination, you will be informed of the result by the State Chamber of Dentists. If you have passed all three parts of the knowledge test, you will receive information from us by e-mail about the further procedure. The test results of the examination must first be received from the examination board, please be patient.

If you have not passed one part of the knowledge test, you will be considered for a retake date by the State Chamber of Dentists. Each part of the examination can be repeated twice.

Can I postpone the appointment?

It is generally not possible to postpone appointments.

What do I do if I am ill?

If you are ill on the day of the exam, we require a doctor's certificate as proof of illness without any delay.

The certificate must contain a precise diagnosis of the illness presented and should also state what specific effects the diagnosed illness has had or will have on your ability to take the examination on the day of the examination from a medical point of view. Only then can we decide whether you have an authorised withdrawal from the examination.

If you withdraw from the examination on the day of the examination due to illness, you must inform your responsible clerk at the regional council and the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Dentists immediately by e-mail and attach the medical certificate to the e-mail.

You must then send us the original certificate by post (Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Referat 95.2, Ruppmannstr. 21, 70565 Stuttgart).

If your address, telephone number or e-mail address changes, please inform the Stuttgart Regional Council and the Baden-Württemberg Dental Association immediately.

What should I do if I am pregnant?

Pregnancy is generally not a reason for not taking the exam. Only if you are on maternity leave on the day of the exam is it possible not to take the exam. In this case, please send us a medical certificate stating the expected date of birth.

If you would like to take the exam despite being on maternity leave, you can send us a certificate from a specialist in gynaecology stating that you can take the exam despite being on maternity leave.

Knowledge test for PHARMACISTS with training abroad

How do I apply to take the knowledge test?

As soon as you have submitted all the necessary documents to us, we will check your application and commission an expert report from the State Chamber of Pharmacists.

You will then receive a notification from us (notification of deficit) together with an expert opinion from the State Chamber of Pharmacists. You can then register directly with the State Chamber of Pharmacists for the knowledge test.

How long does it take until I receive an appointment for the knowledge test?

You can arrange an appointment for the knowledge test with the State Chamber of Pharmacists. Examination days with knowledge tests are usually held about once a month.

Further information can be found on the website of the State Chamber of Pharmacists:
Landesapothekerkammer Baden-Württemberg: Foreign educational qualifications

When will I receive a summons to the examination date at the latest?

You arrange the examination date directly with the State Chamber of Pharmacists.

As a rule, you will receive an official invitation from the regional council about four weeks before the examination date and at the same time a notification of the examination fee. Please pay the fees (stating the payment reference) as soon as possible so that there are no delays.

How much does an examination cost?

The examination fee is currently 500 euros.

In which subjects does the knowledge test take place?

Three subjects are always tested in the knowledge test.

The examination covers the subjects Pharmaceutical Practice, Special Legal Areas for Pharmacists and one of the subjects in which significant differences between your training and the German training have been identified.

For more information on your examination subjects and the contents of the examination, please refer to the letter (notification of deficiency) from the Stuttgart Regional Council in which you were informed about the knowledge test to be taken. In the examination, you must demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills required to practise the profession of pharmacist.

What is the procedure for a knowledge test?

The knowledge test is an oral examination in German and lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes. It takes place at the State Chamber of Pharmacists.

When will I receive the result of the knowledge test and how often can it be repeated?

After the examination, you will be informed of the result directly orally by the examination board. You will then receive information from us about the next steps. The test results of the examination must first be received from the examination board, please be patient.

If you do not pass the knowledge test, it can be repeated a total of two times.

Can I postpone the appointment?

It is generally not possible to postpone appointments.

What do I do if I am ill at the date?

If you are ill on the day of the examination, the State Chamber of Pharmacists must be informed immediately. In addition, the Chamber requires a doctor's certificate as proof of illness. If you have any further questions, please contact the State Chamber of Pharmacists directly.

What should I do if I am pregnant?

Pregnancy is generally not a reason for not taking the exam. Only if you are on maternity leave on the day of the examination is it possible not to take the examination. In this case, please send us and the State Chamber of Pharmacists a medical certificate stating the expected date of birth.

If you would like to take part in the examination despite maternity leave, you can send us and the State Chamber of Pharmacists a certificate from a specialist in gynaecology stating that you can take part in the examination despite maternity leave.

Determination of equivalence via an expert opinion in the field of MEDICINE and DENTISTRY

Have you completed your training in a third country and decide to have the equivalence of your training determined by an expert opinion?

The costs for this currently amount to 1,773 euros. Only when we have received this amount and all the additional documents required have been submitted will we commission the assessment from the Assessment Centre for Healthcare Professions.

The following additional documents are required for an expert opinion:

• Individualised curriculum with itemised content in the original with German translation:
  
  The translation must be carried out by a publicly appointed or sworn translator in Germany. A legalisation or Hague Apostille is not required here.
   
• Other certificates of qualification, if these are required to establish equivalence:
  
  For example, evidence of professional experience including type and duration of medical activities, evidence of completed internships, etc.
   
• Evidence of the practical phase:
  
  For example internship, internship, residency, logbook / curriculum if applicable

In the case of DENTAL certificates, a distinction must be made between theory and practice when verifying the number of hours.

Note on the individualised curriculum:
An individualised curriculum (study book) is the curriculum/study book of the university. The curriculum provides information about the main content of the courses/subjects you have attended (see Section 3 (3) sentences 1 and 2 in conjunction with (2) and (6) no. 6 BÄO) and is therefore a mandatory requirement for the equivalence assessment. The curriculum must be accompanied by a confirmation from the university stating that this curriculum relates to the degree programme you have personally completed. The letter of confirmation from the university must be stapled to the curriculum and the stapling must be stamped or sealed by the university.

Please note that the submitted curriculum must also remain with the authority after the procedure has been completed.

Determination of equivalence via an expert opinion in the field of PHARMACY

Have you completed your training in a third country (non-EU/EEA/CH)?

Then you can submit an application to us together with documents such as your diploma, licence, professional licence, registrations, subject overviews and study book. After an initial check for completeness and plausibility, the documents will be forwarded to the State Chamber of Pharmacists so that they can issue an expert opinion on the equivalence of the training.

You will then receive the report from us together with a fee notice for 250 euros. The report will show you whether or which deficits have been identified. This will enable you to prepare specifically for the knowledge test.

What is a licence to practise?

Have you completed your training abroad and would like to work permanently and without restriction in an academic healthcare profession in Germany? Then you will need a special professional licence - a licence to practise. You can apply for a licence to practise in Baden-Württemberg at the Stuttgart Regional Council.

You can find the corresponding application documents and information here.

The following laws form the basis for granting a licence to practise for the various professions: Federal Medical Code (BÄO), Dentistry Act (ZHG), Federal Pharmacists' Code (BApO) and Psychotherapists' Act (PsychThG)

When will I receive my licence to practise?

The Stuttgart Regional Council issues a licence to practise for academic healthcare professions upon application.

Determination of equivalence

As soon as the application for a licence to practise has been fully submitted, we will check to what extent the foreign degree programme is equivalent to the German degree programme in the case of training completed in a third country on the basis of the statutory regulations.

Note on licence to practise psychotherapy: Equivalence is checked for all training completed abroad (including EU/EEA/CH).

Examination of further requirements

If the degree programme including the practical phase is classified as equivalent to the German degree programme, additional requirements are also checked. These include: a fully completed training programme in the relevant healthcare profession, health suitability, no criminal record and sufficient German language skills.

We ask kindly for your understanding that longer processing times must be expected due to the large number of applications received. To enable us to process the applications more quickly, please submit all application documents in full.

If all the necessary requirements are met, we can issue the licence to practise.

Use of an academic degree

The professional recognition certificates do not contain academic degrees.

Merkblatt zur Führung ausländischer Grade, Titel und Bezeichnungen (pdf, 1 MB)
Information Sheet on the Use of Foreign Degrees, Titles and Designations (pdf, 1 MB)