All the Bureaucratic Steps Required to Obtain Approbation in Germany
Updated: Aug 21
A complete guide for Italian doctors and/or doctors who completed their medical degree in a European Union country and wish to work in Germany: documents, language certificates, and practical tips for obtaining Approbation.
Important: Procedures may vary depending on the federal state (Bundesland) where you intend to work. The information below is particularly useful as a general guide for applicants applying in Berlin. However, before starting the process, we always recommend checking the latest checklist issued by the competent authority. FIRST PHASE: PREPARING YOUR DOCUMENTS
Which documents should you prepare?
In general, doctors trained in Italy may be required to provide the following documents:
Medical degree/diploma;
Proof of authorization to practice medicine;
Proof of registration with the Italian Medical Association;
Certificate of Good Standing or, if you have not yet practiced medicine, where applicable, a certificate issued by the competent authority confirming that there are no professional sanctions or restrictions;
Certificates documenting examinations taken and university education;
Valid identity card or passport;
Birth certificate;
Where applicable, proof of a change of name;
Documents confirming completion of medical training;
Where applicable, certificates of conformity required under European law;
Italian criminal record certificate and corresponding documents from other countries in which you have lived;
Medical certificate confirming fitness to practice the profession;
Proof of your German language skills.
The official Berlin checklist also includes, among other things, a tabular and chronological CV, proof of identity, birth certificate, German criminal record certificate, criminal record certificates from the relevant countries, Certificate of Good Standing, medical certificate, proof of education and training, and language certificates.
Particularly important: Pay attention to validity periods
Some documents must not be too old when you submit your application.
In particular, in Berlin:
The Certificate of Good Standing must be no more than 3 months old.
The criminal record certificate / police clearance certificate must be no more than 3 months old.
The medical certificate must be no more than 3 months old.
The German B2 certificate must not be more than 3 years old.
The C1 Fachsprachentest must not be more than 3 years old.
SECOND PHASE: CERTIFIED TRANSLATION OF YOUR DOCUMENTS
One aspect that often causes confusion is understanding how Italian documents must be submitted.
Documents issued in Italian must be accompanied by the translations required by the competent authority.
RevolingoMed can support you with your translations
If you want to avoid uncertainty regarding the translation of your documents, RevolingoMed offers certified translations of the documents required for the Approbation procedure.
To receive an individual quotation, you can send your documents to:
RevolingoMed students and doctors preparing their Approbation with RevolingoMed can also benefit from a special discount on certified translations.
What about certified copies?
Copies requested by the competent authority generally need to be officially certified (amtlich beglaubigt).
In Berlin, for example, copies can be certified at a Bürgeramt or by a notary. Certifications issued by other institutions or by translators are generally not accepted as a substitute for official certification.
You should therefore not simply send all your original documents. What matters is following the specific submission requirements established by the competent authority handling your application.
THIRD PHASE: GERMAN B2 EXAMINATION
Alongside the preparation of your administrative documents, you should work intensively on your German language skills.
For Approbation, general German is only one part of the overall process: in addition to B2-level German, doctors must also demonstrate their knowledge of medical German.
In Berlin, the B2 certificate can, among others, be obtained through the Goethe-Institut, telc or TestDaF and must not be more than 3 years old.
The Fachsprachentest for doctors, on the other hand, is a C1-level examination organized by the competent Ärztekammer (Medical Chamber).
FOURTH PHASE: PREPARING FOR THE FACHSPRACHPRÜFUNG
Once you have reached B2 level, the specific part of the language preparation for doctors begins: the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP).
At this stage, it is no longer simply about "knowing German."
You need to be able to communicate professionally with patients and colleagues, take a medical history, describe symptoms, explain medical procedures, use medical terminology correctly, and present a clinical case in a structured manner.
For this reason, preparing for the FSP exclusively by studying general German is not sufficient.
How can I prepare for the Fachsprachprüfung?
The FSP is one of the most demanding language challenges for international doctors in Germany.
General German skills are not enough: you need a solid command of medical German at B2/C1 level.
With RevolingoMed, you can prepare specifically for the Fachsprachprüfung through:
👉 FSP group courses, a complete 1:1 FSP course, 1:1 exam simulations, and 6 months of access to the E-Learning platform and Google Classroom.
We can also support you with the administrative aspects of the process. We also recommend checking out our previous article on the documents required for Approbation, as well as our certified translation service.
You can send your documents to:
📩 info@revolingomed.com🌐 www.revolingomed.com📞 +49 157 8506 5019
FIFTH PHASE: APPLYING FOR APPROBATION
Once your documents have been fully prepared, you can submit your application to the competent authority in the federal state where you intend to practice medicine.
The competent authority therefore depends on where you want to work. Under the Bundesärzteordnung (Federal Medical Practitioners Act), the authority responsible for granting Approbation is generally the competent authority of the federal state in which the medical profession is to be practiced.
An example: Berlin
If you want to work in Berlin, the competent authority is the Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (LAGeSo).
The LAGeSo requires individuals who have completed their medical training in a European Union member state and wish to practice medicine in Berlin to apply for Approbation.
The documents can be submitted by post in the required form of officially certified copies. Personal attendance to submit the application is not mandatory.
The application includes, among other things:
Application form;
CV;
Personal documents;
Criminal record certificates / police clearance certificates;
Certificate of Good Standing;
Medical certificate;
Proof of medical education and training;
Language certificates;
Proof of passing the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP).
This article is intended for informational purposes only.
Procedures, requirements, forms, and documents to be submitted may change over time and may vary between federal states.
We therefore recommend always checking the most up-to-date information directly with the competent authority and/or the Ärztekammer (Medical Chamber) where you intend to take the Fachsprachprüfung.
Comments