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for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications

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Your recognition procedure as Pharmacist (m/f)
in München, Bavaria

  • The profession of Pharmacist (m/f) is regulated in Germany.
  • Recognition is necessary in order to be able to work in the profession in Germany.

The competent authority

Regierung von Oberbayern

Your contact

Sachgebiet 55.3

Responsible for professional qualifications attained in a state of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland if the profession will be practised in the following administrative districts: Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern), Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern), Swabia (Schwaben) or Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz). Responsible for all Bavarian administrative districts if the professional qualification has been attained in another country (third country).

Quick-Info

This procedure is called: Issuing of Approbation (in German: Erteilung der Approbation).

Please note: Approbation is the unrestricted authorisation to practise a medical profession for which an academic qualification is required.

  • One month at the latest following receipt of your application by the competent authority: The competent authority will notify you of receipt of the documents. They will inform you if documents are missing. The procedure begins when the documents are complete.
  • After 4 months at the latest you will receive notice containing the result. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure.

Documents for my application

  • Application form from the competent authority

  • If there is no application form, then apply without a standard application form

  • Proof of identity (e.g. passport or personal identification)

  • Marriage certificate (if your name has changed through marriage)

  • Curriculum vitae

  • Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement)

  • Evidence of your professional experience in this profession (e.g. employment references)

  • Evidence of your other qualifications (e.g. continuing vocational training, seminars)

  • Intention to start work: You may have to prove that you want to work in Germany.

  • Information about an application for recognition already submitted. In this case state to which authority you applied.

  • You will be required to provide evidence that you are permitted to work in your country of training

In most cases these documents are submitted later. The competent authority will inform you as to when you should submit the documents.

  • Evidence of your personal aptitude: Certificate of good conduct from Germany and your country of origin (e.g. criminal record extract, certificate of good standing). The documents must be no more than three months old when the application is submitted.
  • Evidence of your medical fitness: doctor's certificate from Germany and from your country of origin. The documents must be no more than three months old when the application is submitted.
  • Evidence of your knowledge of German: language certificate
Regierung von Oberbayern

The competent authority will inform you as to which documents you must produce as originals or submit as copies. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must submit your documents in German. Sworn or authorised translators must prepare the translations.

My steps to recognition

You may also apply if you are not yet living in Germany.

  • You can send the application by post to the competent authority. Do not send originals.
  • You may be able to send the application via email. Ask your competent authority before you do. Later on in the recognition procedure, you may be required to submit original copies or certified copies of the documents.
  • You are sometimes able to apply online. Later on in the recognition procedure, you may be required to submit original copies or certified copies of the documents. Use the federal state internet portal for the online application. You will then leave our information page: To the internet portal of Bavaria.

The competent authority receives the application. After one month at the latest, it will confirm that the application has arrived. Once the competent authority has received all the documents from you, it processes your application.

The competent authority carries out an equivalence assessment: It compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification. As part of this, the competent authority takes into account your professional experience, other certificates and other qualifications.

The competent authority then checks other requirements. This includes, e.g. your personal aptitude, your medical fitness and your knowledge of German.

The procedure takes a maximum of 4 months. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure. At the end, the competent authority sends you a notice containing the result.

Following your application for recognition, the competent authority can register you for the specialist language examination. In most cases the respective federal state Chamber of Pharmacists is responsible for the specialist language examination.

Outcome: Recognition

Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent. You receive the approbation. You receive a certificate for this. You also meet all further requirements. Your professional qualification is recognised.

Professionally you have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Outcome: No recognition because the professional qualification is not equivalent.

There are substantial differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification. You are not able to compensate for these differences with your professional experience and other knowledge of the profession. Your professional qualification is therefore not equivalent to the German professional qualification. Your professional qualification is not recognised. You do not receive approbation.

In most cases you are able to complete a compensation measure. This allows you to compensate for the substantial differences.

Outcome: No recognition because you do not meet all the requirements.

Your professional qualification is equivalent. However, you do not meet all other requirements for the granting of approbation (licence to practise medicine). You may still need to provide evidence that you e.g. are personally apt or have knowledge of German. The competent authority will inform you of which evidence is missing.

You are able to take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. Details on this procedure can be found in the legal redress advice (German: Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) at the end of your notice. We recommend that you speak to a counselling centre first before challenging the decision or taking legal action.

Knowledge test as a compensation measure

If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can take a knowledge test. A knowledge test allows you to compensate for substantial differences. substantial differences are listed in your notice.

If you successfully complete the compensation measure, you receive a certificate. You submit this certificate to the competent authority. The competent authority checks the certificate and all other requirements (e.g. personal aptitude or medical fitness). If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. You receive the approbation. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Do you come from a third country? You are permitted to enter Germany for a compensation measure. Please seek advice if you have questions, or find out more about entry e.g. via the hotline Working and Living in Germany.

Counselling

If you do not meet all requirements, you can find out from the competent authority about the options available to you. Were you not able e.g. to provide evidence of your personal aptitude or your knowledge of German? The competent authority can help you with this.

My other options

Authorisation to practise a profession

Did you complete your professional qualification in the third country? If so, you are able to work for a limited period without approbation. For this, you are able to apply for the so-called authorisation to practise a profession. Authorisation to practise a profession permits you to work under the supervision of a person with approbation. You may then only be permitted to carry out activities in a specific area of work. You need to meet the following requirements for authorisation to practise a profession:

You can apply for authorisation to practise a profession. from the competent authority.

You may also be able to use the authorisation to practise a profession. to prepare for a compensation measure for recognition.

A professional qualification from the EU, EEA or Switzerland rarely provides you with authorisation to practise a profession.

As an Ethnic German Resettler, you can select between two procedures for vocational recognition:

  • You apply for the procedure described here.
  • You apply for the procedure under Section 10 of the Federal Expellees Act (German: “§10 Bundesvertriebenengesetz, BVFG”).

You can decide this. Your competent authority will advise you.

  • Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advice! You will find your counselling centre two steps in advance. In the navigation, click "Counselling offers".
  • Do you have questions regarding entry or residence? Please contact the hotline Working and Living in Germany.

Further information


last update on: 14.09.2023

The competent authority

Regierung von Oberbayern

Your contact

Sachgebiet 55.3

Responsible for professional qualifications attained in a state of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland if the profession will be practised in the following administrative districts: Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern), Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern), Swabia (Schwaben) or Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz). Responsible for all Bavarian administrative districts if the professional qualification has been attained in another country (third country).

Regierung von Oberbayern

Your contact

Sachgebiet 55.3

Responsible for professional qualifications attained in a state of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland if the profession will be practised in the following administrative districts: Upper Bavaria (Oberbayern), Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern), Swabia (Schwaben) or Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz). Responsible for all Bavarian administrative districts if the professional qualification has been attained in another country (third country).

Any questions or feedback?

Do you have a question about the recognition procedure? Or have you noticed any information that could be improved? We're happy to help.