You have completed your training as a doctor, dentist, pharmacist or veterinary in the European Union (EU) and intend to carry out this profession in Berlin in the future?
Then you need a state licence for this activity, the Approbation. You can download the application for a licence to practice under the link Application for a licence to practice (Training in the European Union).
The list of documents to be submitted can be found under the following link Checklist for the granting of a licence to practice in respect of qualifications gained in an EU Member State. Documents that you do not have at the time of application can be submitted later, but if possible they should all be submitted together.
Please send the documents as officially certified copies by post. In Berlin, copies will be certified by the citizens’ offices or notaries.
Your personal appearance at the authority is not required for the processing of your application.
If your current place of residence is still outside of Germany, we recommend that you take advantage of the comprehensive advisory services offered by the Central Service Office for Professional Recognition (ZSBA). The ZSBA advises and supports you throughout the recognition process and can assist you in compiling the documents. The service is free of charge. You can reach the ZSBA at the e-mail address:recognition@arbeitsagentur.de
If you already live in Berlin and would like to have your foreign professional qualification recognised, you can also contact the Berlin advice hotline for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications.
The licence to practise can only be granted if you have the German language skills required for the professional activity. This must be proven in a specialist language test (C 1) before the competent professional chamber if the required language skills at this level are not proven beyond doubt by other suitable evidence (e.g. completion of the training to be recognised in German, completion of at least ten years of schooling at a German-speaking school, at least three years of vocational training in German). (Veterinarians do not need a specialised language test, B 2 is sufficient).