MBBS in Abroad
Pursuing a career in Germany
Pursuing a career in Germany after completing an MD (medical degree) in Georgia (country, not U.S. state) is a viable path, but it comes with several challenges and requirements. Here’s a clear breakdown of your prospects and steps involved:
✅ Prospects:
Germany has a high demand for doctors, especially in rural areas, and offers good salaries, job security, and advanced training opportunities. However, your degree and qualifications must be recognized, and you must meet language and regulatory requirements.
📌 Key Steps to Work as a Doctor in Germany:
1. Degree Recognition (Approbation Process)
- You need to apply for Approbation — the German medical license.
- The authorities will evaluate whether your Georgian MD is equivalent to German medical education.
- If fully equivalent, you can proceed to licensing.
- If not fully equivalent, you may need to pass a knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung).
2. Language Requirements
- You must demonstrate proficiency in German, typically up to:
- B2 level general German.
- C1 level medical German (Fachsprachprüfung).
- This is essential for working with patients and colleagues.
3. Medical Licensing Exams
- If your degree is not deemed equivalent, you’ll need to pass:
- Fachsprachprüfung – medical language proficiency test.
- Kenntnisprüfung – medical knowledge test.
4.Temporary License (Berufserlaubnis)
• While waiting for full Approbation, you may apply for a temporary medical license, allowing you to work under supervision.
📍 Documents Required:
- Medical diploma and transcripts.
- Proof of clinical rotations/internships.
- Curriculum/syllabus of your MD program.
- Language certificates (B2/C1).
- Passport and CV.
- Police clearance and health certificate.
💬 Language Tip:
Most Approbation authorities in Germany require documents and communication in German. Some federal states have more streamlined processes or more lenient equivalency standards than others.
🛠 Useful Resources:
- Anerkennung in Deutschland – official site for degree recognition.
- State medical councils (e.g., Landesprüfungsamt) for each Bundesland.
⚖️ Summary – Pros and Cons
Pros Cons
- High demand for doctors Bureaucratic process
- Excellent pay and working conditions Requires high-level German
- Opportunities to specialize Possible additional exams
- EU-wide medical mobility (once licensed) May take 1–2 years to complete the process
If you’re serious about this path, I recommend:
- Start learning German ASAP.
- Begin collecting and translating your academic documents.
- Consider reaching out to doctors from Georgia already working in Germany (e.g., Facebook groups, forums).
- You may also consider enrolling in preparation courses in Germany for the licensing exams.
Germany does not have a list of automatically recognized non-EU medical universities. Instead, every non-EU medical degree — including those from Georgia — must go through an individual recognition process to determine equivalency with German medical training.
🎓 What This Means:
Even if you study at a "popular" or "accredited" university in Georgia, like:
- Tbilisi State Medical University
- University of Georgia
- European University
- David Tvildiani Medical University
You’ll still need to apply for degree recognition ("Approbation") in Germany and possibly pass:
- Fachsprachprüfung (C1 medical German exam)
- Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge exam), if your degree is not considered equivalent