Applying for a licence to practise medicine for a veterinarian from third countries
Description
In order to be able to work as a veterinarian in Germany without restrictions, you need the license to practice medicine. The license to practice medicine is the state approval for the profession. The license to practice medicine is necessary because the profession is regulated in Germany. This means that you are not allowed to work independently as a veterinarian without a license to practice medicine. The license to practice medicine will be granted to you by the competent authority if your veterinary training is equivalent to the German training. Equivalence is checked in the recognition procedure. You must meet further requirements for the granting of the license to practice medicine. Even with a professional qualification from a so-called third country, you can obtain the license to practice medicine in Germany. Third countries are all states that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. If your professional qualification comes from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply. You can also apply for the procedure from abroad. |
Application You submit an application for a licence to practise veterinary medicine with the competent authority. The competent authority will check whether your training corresponds to the German training and whether all other requirements are met. The license to practice medicine can only be granted if your training from a third country is equivalent to the German training. Equivalence assessment The competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a veterinarian. The competent authority will check 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 test If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognised. The authority can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to meet the other requirements and prove your language skills. Then you will be granted the license to practice veterinary medicine. If the competent body identifies significant differences, you can compensate for the differences with your professional experience and other knowledge and skills as a veterinarian. You must prove your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by the competent authority in your country of origin. This confirmation is generally sufficient. However, it may be that this knowledge is not sufficient. You will then not be able to compensate for the essential differences. Your foreign professional qualification will then not be recognised. The competent authority will tell you in writing the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional practice. The notification of the competent authority also states what level of your training has and what level is necessary in Germany. You are then not allowed to work as a veterinarian. However, the responsible office offers you to take a knowledge test. Knowledge test If your professional qualification is not equivalent and you cannot compensate for the differences, you can take a knowledge test. The knowledge test is based on the final examination as a veterinarian in Germany. If you pass the knowledge test, you will be granted the license to practice veterinary medicine. You must also meet the other requirements and prove your language skills. Remedy You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on the right of appeal at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision. |
Due to possible deviations of veterinary training in third countries from those in the Federal Republic of Germany, additional (knowledge) examinations must usually be taken in several, especially in legally relevant subjects. A concrete designation of the subjects takes place in the course of the application examination in individual cases.
Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science and Digitalization of the State of Saxony-Anhalt
The veterinary licensing authority in Saxony-Anhalt is the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Energy.
- You have a professional qualification as a veterinarian from a third country.
- You are medically suitable for work as a veterinarian.
- You are reliable and worthy to work as a veterinarian and have no criminal record.
- You have the necessary knowledge of German for the job. These are general language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
As an alternative to proof of German language skills, a specialist interview examination by the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Energy is possible.
The competent authority will inform you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are often:
The competent authority will inform you which documents you must submit in the original or as copies. If your documents are not available in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised. |
The procedure costs money. The competent authority will inform you about the costs. The costs often depend on the effort required for processing.
In addition, additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations or certifications). These costs vary from person to person.
The costs for the license to practice medicine are between 120 euros and 401 euros and for the temporary permit to practice the profession between 150 euros and 234 euros.
None.
Sometimes documents are still missing in the procedure. The competent authority will then inform you by when you must submit the documents. This may prolong the procedure.
The competent authority will confirm that your application and documents have been received after a maximum of one month. The competent authority will inform you if documents are missing.
If the documents are complete, the procedure takes a maximum of 4 months.
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All veterinarians who practice their profession in Saxony-Anhalt belong to the State Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of Saxony-Anhalt. Every member of the Chamber must register with the State Chamber of Veterinarians within one month of commencing professional activity.
Responsible for Saxony-Anhalt is the
Veterinary Association of Saxony-Anhalt
Walter-Hülse-Str. 9
06120 Halle (Saale)
Phone 0345 57 54 120
E-mail: poststelle@tk-lsa.de
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Energy of Saxony-Anhalt