Doctor or pharmacist in Germany
The two exams on the way to the Approbation — and how to prepare for them

To work as a doctor or pharmacist in Germany with a degree from outside the EU you need the Approbation, the full licence, issued by the authority of the federal state in which you want to work. The authority checks whether your training is equivalent to the German one. If there are substantial differences, you prove your knowledge in the Kenntnisprüfung, an oral examination. Before that comes the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP), the exam in professional German. Responsibilities, fees and dates are set by each federal state; only the information of the authority and the chamber is binding.

Independent study offer by Adrina Software. Not affiliated with any authority, Ärztekammer or Apothekerkammer.

1. Fachsprachprüfung — professional German

• Based on the resolution of the 87th Conference of Health Ministers (2014): professional language at level C1, examined in most states by the Ärztekammer or Apothekerkammer.
• Three parts: a conversation with a patient (doctors: history taking; pharmacists: counselling at the counter), written documentation, and a conversation with a colleague.
• It tests listening and speaking in everyday professional situations — not medical knowledge.

2. Kenntnisprüfung — the knowledge examination

• Oral examination before a commission, required if the authority finds substantial differences in your training.
• For doctors the legal basis is § 3 (3) Bundesärzteordnung and § 37 Approbationsordnung für Ärzte; the focus is internal medicine and surgery.
• For pharmacists it covers pharmaceutical practice and the special areas of law relevant to pharmacies.

Both exams are in German

That is why our apps are in German: every answer is written the way you would say it in the exam. The store pages are translated — the content is not, on purpose.

Seven apps to prepare — in German

For doctors

• Kenntnisprüfung Arzt

  Germany's oral medical licensing exam: 2,200 answers to say aloud. Free trial

  App Store – Kenntnisprüfung ArztGoogle Play – Kenntnisprüfung Arzt

• Kenntnisprüfung Niedersachsen

  Oral medical licensing exam, Lower Saxony: 2,200 answers to say aloud

  App Store – Kenntnisprüfung NiedersachsenGoogle Play – Kenntnisprüfung Niedersachsen

• FSP Trainer: Fachsprachprüfung

  German medical language exam (FSP): 25 cases, history taking, presentation

  App Store – FSP Trainer: FachsprachprüfungGoogle Play – FSP Trainer: Fachsprachprüfung

• FSP Niedersachsen

  German medical language exam (FSP) in Hanover: 25 cases from exam reports

  App Store – FSP NiedersachsenGoogle Play – FSP Niedersachsen

• FSP Düsseldorf

  German medical language exam (FSP) in Düsseldorf: 25 cases, Nordrhein form

  App Store – FSP DüsseldorfGoogle Play – FSP Düsseldorf

For pharmacists

• Kenntnisprüfung Apotheker

  Germany's oral licensing exam for pharmacists: 2,200 answers, 29 prescriptions

  App Store – Kenntnisprüfung ApothekerGoogle Play – Kenntnisprüfung Apotheker

• FSP Apotheker

  German language exam for pharmacists (FSP): 30 medicine cases, AMK form

  App Store – FSP ApothekerGoogle Play – FSP Apotheker

Official sources

• Anerkennung in Deutschland — official portal on recognition of foreign qualifications
• § 37 Approbationsordnung für Ärzte (official text)
• Resolution of the 87th Conference of Health Ministers, 2014 (language requirements)
• Authorities and examination offices of all 16 federal states (in German)

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