From abroad · Physicians

Approbation in Baden-Württemberg

The Approbation (German medical licence) is the unlimited permission to work as a physician in Germany. In Baden-Württemberg the competent body is the Landesprüfungsamt (state examinations office) at the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart (regional licensing authority).

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Two routes

Approbation or Berufserlaubnis

Approbation

Unlimited, valid nationwide, and a prerequisite for specialist training (Facharztweiterbildung). You need: an equivalent qualification (or a passed Kenntnisprüfung, the knowledge exam), language certificate B2 plus medical German C1, health fitness, and reliability (police clearance certificate, Certificate of Good Standing).

Berufserlaubnis (temporary professional permit)

Limited to a maximum of two years, only in employed positions under supervision, not a specialist training post. Useful as a bridge while you prepare for the knowledge exam. Extension only in exceptional cases.

Procedure

How it works

  1. Application to the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart with complete documents (see checklist). Incomplete applications extend the waiting time considerably.
  2. Equivalence check. EU/EEA/Switzerland: automatic recognition for listed qualifications, decision often within about two weeks of complete documents. Non-EU countries: comparison of the training; an expert opinion from the Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen (central office for foreign education) may be requested.
  3. Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge exam) in case of material differences: oral and practical, 60 to 90 minutes, focus on internal medicine and surgery, with a patient case. Preparation courses are offered by hospitals and private providers.
  4. Fachsprachprüfung (medical German language exam) at the Landesärztekammer Baden-Württemberg (State Medical Chamber, district chamber). Details on the Language & exams page.
  5. Decision. Approbation certificate, then registration with the medical chamber and start of work.
Duration with a non-EU qualification

The Regierungspräsidium does not state a deadline and points to high application numbers. Realistically plan for several months up to over a year from complete application to Approbation. Most frequent countries of origin in BW recently: Syria, Algeria, Hungary, Morocco.

Sources: information leaflet on Approbation/Berufserlaubnis of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Social Affairs; Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, Medicine Abroad; Landtag BW Drs. 17/8037. As of October 2026, without guarantee. Please check the current status at rp.baden-wuerttemberg.de.