Preparing for the Fachsprachprüfung – The Medical German Language Exam for Doctors and Pharmacists

Doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who obtained their degree outside Germany must pass the Fachsprachprüfung – a professional German language exam at the C1 level – before receiving their licence to practise (Approbation or Berufserlaubnis). A general B2 certificate is the minimum requirement to apply, but the chamber exam tests something different: whether you can work safely with patients and colleagues in German.

What the Exam Looks Like

The Fachsprachprüfung is organised by the relevant medical (or pharmaceutical) chamber of your federal state and lasts approximately 60 minutes, divided into three sections of around 20 minutes each:

• Patient consultation (Anamnese). An actor or examiner plays the patient; you take a medical history using clear, non-technical language and explain the next steps.
• Writing medical documentation. Based on the consultation, you write notes and a brief medical report, using professional terminology and standard abbreviations.
• Colleague handover (Arzt-Arzt-Gespräch). You present the case to a colleague or supervisor, answer questions, and propose diagnostic and treatment options.

The exam assesses your language skills, not your medical knowledge – but without a solid vocabulary and well-practised communication patterns, passing is unlikely. The exam fee ranges from €350 to €500 depending on the federal state. You can find the relevant chamber for your state in our credential recognition guide.

What You Learn in Preparation Classes

Our instructors, supported by doctors with hands-on experience working in Germany, prepare you through individual or small-group tuition lasting six to twelve weeks, depending on your starting level. In a creative and practical way, you will learn to:

• take a patient history and hold consultations with patients and their families, including difficult conversations;
• translate medical terms into plain language for patients, and vice versa;
• discuss responsibilities, patient cases, and shift handovers with colleagues;
• complete medical documentation, discharge letters, and referrals accurately;
• write prescriptions and medical orders;
• expand and refine the specialist vocabulary of your field.

Every session simulates a part of the real exam, so by the time you sit it you will have worked through dozens of practice "patients." Classes are held online, live with an instructor, and are scheduled around your working hours.

Who Needs to Take the Exam – and Who Does Not

• Doctors, dentists, and pharmacists: mandatory in all federal states.
• Nurses and medical technicians: a general B2 is sufficient in most states, but some require a specialist language exam (Fachsprachprüfung Pflege) or the telc B1·B2 Pflege certificate. Check the rules for your state in our recognition guide.
• Physiotherapists: typically a general B2, with a specialist assessment required in some states.

How to Get Started

Apply through the candidate form and let us know your profession, the federal state where you plan to work, and your current language level. For doctors and pharmacists we place, Fachsprachprüfung preparation is included in the programme – exam dates, pace, and costs are all agreed in advance.

Apply now and find out what the journey from diploma to Approbation looks like.