Doctor — Bremen
Choose your profession and the federal state where you want to work — you get the exact recognition procedure and competent authority. Data from official German sources.
Competent authority
Die Senatorin für Gesundheit, Frauen und Verbraucherschutz
Procedure steps
1. Submit application to the competent authority (online, by post or in person).
2. Confirmation of receipt within max 1 month.
3. Equivalence assessment of the foreign qualification.
4. Check of personal requirements — reliability, health, language.
5. Decision within a maximum of 4 months.
6. Compensation measure if not equivalent: for third countries, the Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge test).
7. After a successful measure — Approbation.
Language requirements
general B2 + Fachsprachprüfung C1 (usually)
Fees
Approbation €100–850 + Fachsprachprüfung approx. €400–600 (depends on the federal state)
Duration
up to 4 months
Approbation (full licence)
The Approbation is an unrestricted licence to practise independently — the same rights as domestic colleagues. It is granted once the qualification is recognised as equivalent (possibly after passing the Kenntnisprüfung).
Berufserlaubnis (temporary licence)
The Berufserlaubnis is a temporary/restricted permit: work under supervision of a person with Approbation, in a defined area. It can also serve to prepare a compensation measure before full Approbation.
Required documents
- Completed application form
- Proof of identity (passport / ID card)
- Proof of name change (if applicable)
- CV
- Proof of professional qualification (diplomas)
- Proof of content and duration of training (diploma supplement / transcript)
- Proof of work experience
- Proof that you are allowed to practise the profession in your country of training
- Proof of intention to work in Germany
- Later (the competent authority tells you when): certificate of good conduct from your home country (some authorities also require one from Germany), medical fitness certificate (both max 3 months old), language certificate
All documents must be translated into German by sworn/authorised translators.
Information is taken from official German sources and checked regularly. Only the competent authority of the federal state can give a legally binding answer in your specific case. WHR guides you through the entire procedure.
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