Apply for recognition as a specialist with professional qualifications from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.

You must submit the application for recognition of your specialist qualification in writing to the responsible district medical association in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Specialist qualifications acquired in an EU country are checked individually to determine whether and to what extent your foreign qualification corresponds to a German qualification for the profession of specialist or whether there are significant differences between the foreign and German qualifications. This review is based on various criteria, such as the content and duration of the training. Listed in DIRECTIVE 2005/36/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL. Your relevant professional experience can be taken into account as well as other professional qualifications.

Please contact the State Medical Association of Rhineland-Palatinate.

The recognition of your specialist qualification and the work as a specialist are only possible if you already have a valid license to practice medicine in Germany. This means that you must first have applied for your qualification as a doctor at the competent authority and received your licence to practise medicine. After that, you can apply for recognition of your specialist qualification.

You must prove your German language skills when granting your licence to practise medicine/professional licence. As a rule, your German language skills will not be checked again for the recognition of a specialist, unless there are doubts about your ability to speak the language.

• State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Welfare - Licenses and Professional Licenses

• Application for recognition of a specialist qualification, form is available from the District Medical Association
• Declaration of whether and to which State Medical Association an application for recognition has already been submitted
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• German Approbation
• Evidence of training acquired abroad (diplomas, specialist designations, confirmation of equivalence of continuing education in accordance with EU law)
• Translated and certified copy of the relevant study or examination regulations in force at the time of obtaining the qualification
• Proof of relevant professional experience (detailed certificates, bills of records) and other evidence of formal qualifications, if necessary to establish equivalence.
• Certificate of entitlement to practise in the country of training
• Declaration of Conformity according to Directive 2005/36/EC
• where applicable, a decision on the determination of equivalence

The documents must be submitted in the form of originals or certified copies in German or as a certified copy of a German translation. Translations must be carried out by interpreters or translators who are publicly appointed or sworn. Translations must be made from the original or from certified copies. This must be certified by the translator.

Fees are charged for recognition, please contact the competent authority.

For the procurement of necessary documents, additional costs may be incurred by other agencies.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

• Continuing Education Regulations of the State Medical Association of Rhineland-Palatinate
• Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications

Please note that even doctoral degrees obtained in an EU country may not automatically be held in Rhineland-Palatinate. In this case, it is always advisable to ask the relevant department of the Ministry of Science and Health (RLP) to ask for approval.

• Information on the EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications

The service centres of the network "Integration through Qualification" (IQ Network) will be happy to advise and accompany you before, during and after the recognition procedure.

• Network "Integration through Qualification (IQ)"

Within three months of the application being submitted, the responsible district medical association will inform you if any documents are missing.

06.09.2022