Approbation in Germany: the FSP → Kenntnisprüfung pathway for MBBS doctors
Most sites blur the German medical-licensing process into one vague step. It's actually three distinct hurdles, and understanding the order saves you a year.
The sequence
- Gleichwertigkeitsprüfung — an equivalence assessment of your MBBS, filed with your target state's Landesprüfungsamt.
- Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) — a medical German exam: history-taking, findings and documentation in German.
- Kenntnisprüfung — a medical knowledge exam most Indian graduates must pass to convert to full Approbation.
You can earn while you prepare
A Berufserlaubnis (§10 BÄO) is a temporary licence — valid up to two years — that lets you work under supervision while you prepare for the Kenntnisprüfung. Assistenzarzt (resident) roles pay €4,500–6,500 gross/month, with night and weekend premiums adding a further 15–25%.
The long pole: language and documents
C1 medical German is the step that takes longest — general German first, then medical terminology. In parallel, your MBBS degree, transcripts, internship and registration must be apostilled in India and sworn-translated into German. Start both early; the exams follow.
The payoff is real: Approbation is a full, unrestricted licence to practice independently anywhere in Germany, with funded Facharzt specialisation after.