Completing your medical degree in English (in Germany or elsewhere) is already a huge accomplishment, but there are still a few steps you need to take before you can become a licensed doctor in Germany. This concise guide will tell you everything you need to know about the pathway to becoming a doctor in Germany after getting your degree in English.
Table of Contents
- 1 What is Approbation and how can International Graduates Get it?
- 2 How Do I Find a Residency (Facharztweiterbildung) with an English-taught degree?
- 3 What Are the Medical Specialisation Weiterbildungsordnung Requirements (Continuing Education Regulations)?
- 4 Do Non-EU Doctors Need a German Blue Card?
- 5 What salary can foreign doctors expect in Germany in 2026?
What is Approbation and how can International Graduates Get it?
Approbation is Germany's full medical licence, the legal authorisation to practise medicine independently. For graduates of English-taught programmes accredited under the German Approbationsordnung für Ärzte (ÄAppO), the process follows the same framework as for German-taught graduates.
You'll need to submit your degree and transcripts to the relevant State Medical Authority (Landesärztekammer or Landesbehörde), demonstrate sufficient German language skills at the B2 or C1 level, and pass a Knowledge Test (Kenntnisprüfung) if your degree is from outside the EU/EEA.
Graduates from accredited medical programmes in Germany in English actually get a much smoother recognition pathway than those who have graduated abroad. Perfect examples here are studying medicine at the German campuses of the University of Targu Mures, Hamburg Campus or the European University of Cyprus, Frankfurt Campus.
Want to learn more about these 2 medical schools? Sign up for a free consultation with our academic advisors who can walk you through your options and to see if you qualify to study here. Just pick a time and a date that suits you and you will be all set up.
How Do I Find a Residency (Facharztweiterbildung) with an English-taught degree?
Medical specialisation in Germany, known as Facharztweiterbildung, takes place in accredited hospitals and clinics. It typically takes 5 to 6 years in most fields, but, naturally, varies by speciality.
To find a residency, you can use Bundesärztekammer, or regional Ärztekammern (Hamburg, Frankfurt), and hospital career portals, if you have a specific one you would like to work at.
Most residency programmes require working-level German (B2 minimum), so you can communicate freely with your patients.
If you’ve studied in Germany, even in English, you’ll have great advantages over candidates who’ve graduated abroad. You will be familiar with the healthcare system, you’ll have existing clinical contacts, and you will have already-developing German language skills.
Want to learn more about studying medicine abroad in English?
Sign up for our next webinar using the form below and come ask your questions live. You can also feel free to catch up on past editions through the Medlink Students YouTube channel.
What Are the Medical Specialisation Weiterbildungsordnung Requirements (Continuing Education Regulations)?
Each German state has its own Weiterbildungsordnung (WBO), the regulatory framework governing specialist training. It specifies required rotations, procedures, and competencies for each speciality. Your training hospital must be accredited to provide the relevant Weiterbildung, and your supervising physician (Weiterbildungsbefugter) must hold full specialist status.
The requirements are mostly standardised nationally, but state-level variations exist, so it's worth checking the Ärztekammer of the state where you plan to train.
You can check the WBO for Hamburg here and the Frankfurt WBO here. Please note that both websites are in German.
Do Non-EU Doctors Need a German Blue Card?
Yes, if you're a non-EU national, the German Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU) is typically the most practical residence and work permit route for qualified doctors. It requires a recognised university degree and a job offer meeting Germany's minimum salary threshold for regulated professions.
Given the chronic shortage of doctors in Germany, especially in rural hospitals, many employers actively support the Blue Card application process.
Worried you don’t have the grades to study in Germany? Read our blog on Studying in Germany with Low Grades
What salary can foreign doctors expect in Germany in 2026?
As of 2026, junior doctors (Assistenzärzte) in Germany typically earn between €55,000 and €70,000 gross per year, depending on the state, hospital type, and collective agreement (Tarifvertrag). Specialists earn significantly more. Foreign doctors are covered by the same Tarifverträge as German colleagues, meaning pay is transparent and regulated.
