You can apply for recognition of your specialist qualification in Thuringia if you have a valid license to practice medicine/professional permit and are a member of the Thuringian Medical Association.

Procedure for specialist qualifications from EU/EEA/contracting states

If you have acquired your specialist qualification in the territory of the European Union (member state), the European Economic Area (EEA state) or in a state to which Germany and the European Union have granted a corresponding legal entitlement (contracting state) and it is listed in Annex V, point 5.1.2 of European Council Directive 2005/36/EC of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications or the Agreement on the EEA and Switzerland, it must be recognized automatically. Upon application, you will receive recognition of the designation provided for in the valid further training regulations. The recognition procedure is carried out without an individual assessment of equivalence.

If your specialist qualification is evidence of further training that you completed before the deadlines specified in Annex V, point 5.1.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC, your specialist qualification may be recognized if you have

• submit a certificate from the competent health authority of the state in which you obtained your qualification confirming that your training meets the minimum standards laid down in Article 35 of Directive 2005/36/EC, or
• submit a certificate from the competent health authority of the state in which you obtained your qualification confirming that you have worked permanently and legally as a specialist in the requested specialty for at least 3 years during the last 5 years before the certificate was issued.

If you have a specialist title that does not correspond to a title listed in Annex V, point 5.1.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC, this can be recognized. The prerequisite is the submission of a certificate from the competent authority of the EU/EEA or contracting state in which the further training was obtained. The certificate must confirm that your certificate of further training is equivalent to the certificate of further training whose title is listed in Annex V, point 5.1.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC (so-called certificate of conformity).

If you have a specialist qualification that is not covered by automatic recognition, you will receive recognition of your specialist qualification on application if the equivalence of the level of further training is given. The equivalence of the level of further training is not given if there are significant differences between your proven specialist qualification and the German further training and these cannot be compensated for by corresponding professional practice or by knowledge, skills and competences acquired through lifelong learning and formally recognized as valid. Significant differences exist

• if the duration of your proven specialist qualification is at least one year less than the duration of further training specified by the chamber in its further training regulations or
• if the specialist qualification you have provided evidence of lacks essential knowledge, experience and skills, the acquisition of which is a prerequisite for the specialist title applied for.

If significant differences are identified that cannot be compensated for by your professional practice or by knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through lifelong learning and formally recognized as valid for this purpose, you can take a so-called aptitude test to compensate for the deficits. The State Medical Association will inform you of the deficits identified in its decision. It will also inform you of the reasons why the deficits cannot be compensated for by your professional practice or by knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through lifelong learning. The State Medical Association will make you an offer to take part in an aptitude test. The date for the aptitude test will be chosen so that you have the opportunity to take it no later than 6 months after the decision of the State Medical Association to impose an aptitude test on you. The duration of the examination is at least 30 minutes. If you pass the examination, you will receive recognition of the specialist title provided for in the applicable further training regulations.

If you have obtained your specialist qualification in a third country and this has already been recognized in another EU/EEA/contracting state and the other EU/EEA/contracting state certifies that you have 3 years of professional practice in the specialist area applied for in the territory of the issuing EU/EEA/contracting state, you will receive recognition of the designation provided for in the valid further training regulations upon application.

Procedure for specialist qualifications from a non-EU/EEA/contracting state (third country)

If you have acquired your specialist qualifications in a third country, your qualification will be checked individually. The competent medical association will check the equivalence of your foreign specialist qualification with the German specialist qualification.

If your specialist qualification is equivalent to the German specialist qualification, you will receive recognition of the specialist title.

If significant differences are found that cannot be compensated for by professional practice or by knowledge, skills and competencies acquired through lifelong learning, you must supplement the qualification in the specialist area applied for. Only then can you take the required examination covering all the prescribed content of the relevant specialist training. Once you have passed the examination, you will receive recognition of the designation provided for in the applicable further training regulations.

Further information can be obtained from the relevant state medical association.

From January 18, 2016, the application procedure can also be completed electronically via the technical systems of the single point of contact.

• Single point of contact
• Central Office for Foreign Education
• Certificate evaluation for foreign university qualifications
• Recognition in Germany" portal