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Approbation pharmacist from third countries Issuance
Service Description
The profession of pharmacist is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to be able to work as a pharmacist in Germany without restriction, you need an Approbation (license to practice). Approbation is the state authorization to practice the profession. This means that you are not allowed to work independently as a pharmacist without an Approbation.
You can also obtain the Approbation in Germany with a professional qualification from a so-called third country. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
In order to obtain the license to practice medicine, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
In the recognition procedure, the competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the license to practice medicine.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must fulfill other requirements for the issuance of the license. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.
If your professional qualification originates from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.
You can also submit the application for the procedure from abroad.
Process flow
Application
You submit an application for licensure as a pharmacist to the competent office. You can hand in the application with the documents at the competent office or send it by mail. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can send the application electronically. The competent body will inform you. The competent office will then check whether your education corresponds to the German education and whether all other requirements are met. Approbation can only be granted if your training from a third country is equivalent to German training.
Examination of equivalence
The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification. The competent body checks whether your professional qualification is equivalent. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
Possible results of the examination
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to fulfill the other requirements and prove your language skills. Then you will be granted your license to practice as a pharmacist.
Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences through your professional practice, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You have to prove the professional practice. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority of the state in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.
However, it may be that the essential differences cannot be compensated by this knowledge. The competent authority will tell you the essential differences and why you cannot make up the essential differences through your work experience.
The decision of the competent body will also state the level of your education and the level required in Germany. You are then not allowed to work as a pharmacist in Germany.
Knowledge examination
If your professional qualification is not equivalent and you cannot compensate for the differences, you can take a knowledge examination. The knowledge examination is based on the final examination as a pharmacist in Germany. The knowledge examination is an oral examination.
If you pass the knowledge examination and fulfill all other requirements, you will receive your license to practice as a pharmacist.
Who should I contact?
Please contact the Thuringian State Administration Office.
Requirements
- You have a professional qualification as a pharmacist from a third country.
- You want to work as a pharmacist in Germany.
- Personal suitability: You are reliable to work as a pharmacist and have no criminal record.
- Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work as a pharmacist.
- You have German language skills at the required level. This is usually general language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and medical language skills at level C1.
Which documents are required?
The responsible office will inform you about which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally:
- Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
- Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
- Proof of the content and duration of your education (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
- Evidence of your relevant professional experience as a pharmacist (e.g. references)
- Information as to whether you have already applied for a license to practice pharmacy in Germany
- You must provide evidence You are allowed to work in the profession in your country of training.
- You do not yet live or work in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland? Then you must prove: You want to work in Germany in the profession. Evidence can be: Applications for a job, proof of your application for an entry visa for gainful employment or personal declaration.
You usually hand in these documents later. The competent office will inform you when to hand in the documents.
- Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
- Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
- Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate.
General German language skills at level B2 are a prerequisite for licensure. You can also submit the required language certificate later during the Approbation procedure. In addition, you must take a medical language test at level C1 during the Approbation procedure.
The competent office will inform you which documents you have to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or as an original.
If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorized.
What are the fees?
The procedure is subject to a fee. The competent office will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.
The costs for the approval range from 320.00 to 590.00 euros.
Additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations, certifications and any expert opinions). These costs vary individually.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
None.
Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents. The procedure may be prolonged as a result.
Processing duration
Processing Time: 4 MonthsThe competent office will confirm that your application and documents have arrived after a maximum of one month. The competent office will inform you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the procedure takes a maximum of 4 months.
What else should I know?
Professional permit
With the so-called professional permit you can work for a limited period of time without a license to practice medicine. With the professional permit you are allowed to work under the supervision of a person with a license. You may then only be allowed to carry out activities in a specific area of work. You must meet the following requirements for the professional permit:
- Proof of your professional qualification
- Health suitability
- Personal suitability
- German language skills: You must provide proof of language skills at the B2 level and pass a professional language test at the C1 level.
You can apply for the professional license at the competent office.
Letter of equivalence
In the approval procedure, the equivalence of your training is examined (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate notification for the result of the examination.
Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can choose to go through the recognition procedure according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide this yourself. The competent office will advise you which procedure suits you.
Author
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.
Technically approved by
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Federal Ministry of Health
Professionally released on
07.12.2021
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6PLus)
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