Approbation Apothekerin oder Apotheker aus Drittstaaten Erteilung

The profession of pharmacist is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a pharmacist in Germany without restrictions, you need a license. The license is the state authorization to practice the profession. This means that you cannot work independently as a pharmacist without a license.

You can also obtain a license to practice medicine in Germany if you have a professional qualification from a so-called third country. Third countries are all countries that are not part of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

In order to obtain approval, you must have your foreign professional qualifications recognized.

During the recognition process, the responsible body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks their equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the license.

In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must also fulfill other requirements for the permit to be granted.

If your professional qualification comes from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, different rules apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

The responsible authority will inform you about which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally:

• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or identity card)
• Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
• CV
• Evidence of your professional qualifications (e.g. certificates, professional certificates)
• Evidence of the content and duration of your training (e.g. Diploma Supplement, Transcript of Records)
• Evidence of your relevant professional experience as a pharmacist (e.g. employment references)
• Information on whether you have already applied for a license to practice medicine in Germany
• You must prove that you are allowed to work in the profession in your country of training.
• You do not yet live or work in the EU, EEA or Switzerland? Then you must prove that you want to work in Germany in this profession. Evidence can be: applications for a job, proof of your application for an entry visa for employment or a personal declaration
  

You usually hand in these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when you should hand in the documents.

• Proof of your personal suitability: Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must be no more than 3 months old when the application is submitted.
• Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The proof must be no more than 3 months old when you submit your application.
• Proof of your German language skills: language certificate.
  The prerequisite for approval is general German language skills at level B2. You can also submit the required language certificate during the approval process. You must also take a medical language test at level C1 during the approval process.

The competent authority will inform you which documents you must submit as a simple copy, a certified copy or the original.

If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are officially appointed or authorized.

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

• You submit an application for a license to practice as a pharmacist to the responsible authority. You can hand in the application with the documents to the responsible authority or send them by post. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can also send the application electronically. The responsible authority will inform you. The responsible authority will then check whether your training corresponds to the German training and whether all other requirements are met. The license can only be granted if your training from a third country is equivalent to the German training.
• The responsible body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification. The responsible body checks 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.
• If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements and prove your language skills. You will then be granted a license to practice as a pharmacist.
  • Are there significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences through your professional experience, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in 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 responsible body will tell you the essential differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional experience. The decision from the responsible body will also state what level of training you have and what level is required in Germany. You will then not be allowed to work as a pharmacist in Germany.
  • If your professional qualifications are 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 pharmacist in Germany. The knowledge test is an oral examination. If you pass the knowledge test and meet all other requirements, you will receive your license to practice as a pharmacist.

The licensing procedure involves checking the equivalence of your training (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate notice of the result of the examination.

With the so-called professional permit, you can work for a limited period of time without a license. With the professional permit, you can work under the supervision of a person with a license. You may then only be allowed to carry out activities in a certain field of work. You must meet the following requirements for the professional permit:

• Proof of your professional qualifications
• health aptitude
• Personal suitability
• Knowledge of German: You must demonstrate language skills at level B2 and take a specialist language test at level C1

You can apply for a professional license from the responsible authority.

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

• To work as a pharmacist in Germany you need a state license (approbation).
• With a license you can work as a pharmacist.
• You can also obtain a license to practice medicine in Germany if you have a professional qualification from a so-called third country. Third countries are all countries that are not part of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
• The equivalence of professional qualifications is an important prerequisite for the granting of approval.