Licence to practise as a veterinarian in the case of professional qualification from EU/EEA/Switzerland

Application
You submit an application for a licence to practise as a veterinarian to the competent authority. The competent authority will then check whether your training corresponds to the German training and whether all other requirements are met.

Automatic recognition
As a rule, the automatic recognition procedure applies if you started your vocational training after the EU/EEA accession of your training country. This means that if you also meet all other requirements, your professional qualification will be recognised without an individual equivalence test.
 

Certificate
Vocational training that you started before the EU/EEA accession of your country of training or that does not correspond to the legal designations can also be automatically recognised. To do this, you must provide a certificate that your professional qualification meets the minimum standards of the EU ("Certificate of Conformity"). If your vocational training does not meet the minimum standards, you must prove your professional experience. You must have worked as a veterinarian in the country of origin for 3 consecutive years in the last 5 years before submitting your application. This must be confirmed by the competent authority of your country of training.
 

Examination of equivalence
If the requirements for automatic recognition are not met, your training will be reviewed individually. The competent authority compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification. 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 a license to practice veterinary medicine.

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 veterinary knowledge or skills. You must prove that you have professional experience. 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 for by this knowledge. The competent authority will tell you the main differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional practice. The decision of the competent authority also states the level of your training and the level required in Germany.
 

Suitability test
If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can take a compensatory measure. The aptitude test refers to the essential differences in your professional qualification. On the basis of the equivalence test, the competent authority decides which sections of the examination you have to take.
If you pass the aptitude test and meet all other requirements, you will receive a license to practice veterinary medicine.

• You have a professional qualification as a veterinarian from the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
• You want to work as a veterinarian in Germany.
• Personal suitability: You are reliable for working as a veterinarian and have no criminal record.
• Health suitability: You can work mentally and physically as a veterinarian.
• You have German language skills at the required language level. As a rule, these are language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and medical language skills at level C1.

• Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, professional certificate)
• Proof of content and duration of your education (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a veterinarian (e.g. job references)
• Declaration that you have not yet applied for a license to practice medicine in Germany
   

You only need to submit the following document if your professional qualification was completed before a certain date (cut-off date). The competent authority will inform you:

• Certificate of conformity: Certificate from your country of training that your training meets the minimum standards of the EU.
• If there is no certificate of conformity: certificate that you have worked continuously and lawfully in the profession for at least 3 years in the last 5 years before applying.
   

You usually hand in these documents later:

• Proof of your personal suitability: extract from the criminal record or official certificate of good conduct. The proof must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.
• Proof of your health fitness: Medical certificate. The proof must be no more than 3 months old at the time of application.
   

You must submit the documents in the form of copies. In certain cases, the competent authority may require certified copies of the documents.
If your documents are not available in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. Translations must be carried out by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised.

The costs generally 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.

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. file an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision. You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. file an objection). The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

Freedom to provide services

Would you like to offer services only sometimes and for a short time in Germany? Then most of the time you don't need the state permit. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be established in another state of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You will need to prove your professional qualification.
• You must notify the competent authority of your activity in writing.

The competent authority will inform you.
 

Notice of equivalence

In the licensing procedure, the equivalence of your training can also be checked. You can apply for a separate notification for the result of the examination.
 

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. The competent authority will advise you on which procedure is right for you.

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training

26.01.2023

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.