Recently, the state of Bavaria has become one of the well-known German states regarding the recognition of doctors' and pharmacists' degrees due to the significant facilities it provides. It does not require a person to be inside Germany when starting the recognition procedures, nor does it require submitting a language certificate when sending the documents, making it a preferred state for many applicants.
Proving the possibility of degree equivalence in Germany is considered one of the most important proofs for doctors and pharmacists wishing to travel to Germany. This proof is considered one of the essential documents required by the German Embassy to obtain a visa to enter German territory. This document is known in the majority of German federal states as the Bescheid. In the state of Bavaria, doctors and pharmacists call it the deficiency notice (or deficit letter), and both are accepted by the German Embassy.
In this article, we will discuss how to obtain the deficiency letter in the state of Bavaria, reviewing the stages in detail, and discussing the pros and cons of this state.
Pros and cons of the state of Bavaria for doctors and pharmacists?
Recently, the foreign community in Bavaria has become larger than it was previously, so it can be said that the state has become more comfortable for the newcomer. Of course, it is not like the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in terms of the number of foreigners, but it has large communities in significant numbers. This matter helps the newcomer to adapt well to the new society without feeling too much alienation.
It is well known that the state is large, so traveling between the major cities in Bavaria is easy, taking several hours, which is considered a negative point when compared to a state with dense population concentration that is not widely distributed, such as North Rhine-Westphalia, where the majority of major cities cluster around the Ruhr River in what is known as the Ruhr area (Ruhr-Gebiet).
The cost of living is higher in Bavaria than in all other German states. Of course, this won't make a big difference for someone who has been working in Germany for a long time, but for a newcomer with a blocked bank account, this could pose a problem.
There is a major problem in Bavaria regarding finding a job under the temporary medical license (Berufserlaubnis) due to the significant facilitations implemented by the state to attract doctors and pharmacists. This problem is further complicated by the fact that Bavaria is one of the states where the validity of the temporary license begins immediately after passing the specialized medical language exam, which may mean that a person could lose months, perhaps a year, or the entire duration of the temporary license while searching for a job!
The facilities provided by Bavaria have affected not only job opportunities but also the waiting period for the final licensing exam (Approbation), which can sometimes reach up to a year and a half.
License recognition exams for physicians and pharmacists in the state of Bavaria
The state of Bavaria is the largest German state, which is why the administrative matters regarding the recognition of medical and pharmacy degrees are divided between two main centers: the first center is Oberbayern, which is responsible for the south of the state, while the second center is Unterfranken, which is responsible for the north of the state. In this article, we will not discuss the Unterfranken center, as it requires many complex requests for degree recognition and it is difficult to correspond with it from outside Germany. All our talk in this article will be about the Oberbayern center, as it has become well known to doctors and pharmacists in general due to the significant facilitations it has made in recent years.
The specialized medical language exam is held at a single center in Munich. The difficulty of the exam varies according to experiences, and it lacks a clear system regarding what is considered difficult or easy; there are periods when the exam is manageable and periods with high failure rates. As for the exam date, it has become longer than in previous periods due to the large number of applicants. Generally speaking, appointments are scheduled after about 3 to 6 months.
As for the Approbation exam, unlike the medical language exam, it is not held in a single center, but in several centers depending on the place of residence. The existence of multiple centers—where the exam is considered acceptable in some and difficult in others—constitutes a negative point, as it is known that applicants prepare for the exam in a specific way, and the presence of multiple centers opens the door to numerous variables. As for exam appointments, they have recently become lengthy due to the large number of arrivals to the state, as mentioned earlier, and may take up to a year and a half.
Pros of the Medical Language Exam in Bavaria
There are some positive aspects of the medical language exam in Bavaria, the most important of which we will mention:
- There are not a large number of cases to study for the exam, which is an important point, as in some other states there are about 70 cases to study.
- It can be argued that the Bavaria exam is now well-served by former applicants, especially after the large numbers of doctors and pharmacists who applied to the state. Therefore, a person can gain a good knowledge of the exam before taking it.
Disadvantages of the medical language exam in Bavaria
There are many negative points that make the Bayern exam not the best choice to resort to:
- Start of the temporary work permit period, also known asBerufserlaubnis in Peru Immediately, whether a job opportunity is secured or not, which may lead to the loss of a large part of the license duration while searching for a job.
- The waiting period required to retake the certificate equivalence exam in case of failure is one of the most prominent drawbacks, as this period reaches up to 6 months, which is a long period compared to the medical language exam in Düsseldorf, where the waiting period there usually does not exceed 3 months.
- Due to the simplification of procedures in the state of Bavaria, large numbers of foreign doctors arrived over the past year. This has led to a significant decrease in job opportunities for "Beruf" compared to the past. Opportunities still exist, but they have become more difficult at the present time. This may lead to the loss of a portion of the "Beruf" duration while searching for a suitable job.
FaMed Medical Language Exam
In general, the main medical language exam is the Medical Association exam. The state of Bavaria is characterized by having another medical language exam that is conducted in a private institute rather than the Medical Association, called FaMed, short for Fachsprachprüfung Medizin.
The advantages of this exam include that its dates are sooner and it can be easily booked depending on availability. The date can also be scheduled instantly via the institute's website. This exam is generally easier than the bar exam in the state of Bavaria. It is also well-serviced by previous applicants, and their past experiences can be utilized in preparing for the exam.
As for the disadvantages of this exam, it is only valid in five German federal states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. Therefore, it is not recognized in the remaining German states. Consequently, in the event of moving to another state before obtaining the Approbation that does not recognize the FaMed exam, the local medical language exam must be retaken in that state.
This is it The official link for the FaMed exam website. You can visit the website to view all important details, including exam conditions, registration methods, and available dates.
Pros of submitting paperwork in State of Bavaria
- The possibility of obtaining the Bescheid from outside Germany.
- Proof of German language proficiency is not required among the documents needed to obtain the Bescheid.
- Proof of connection to the state is not required among the requirements for the Beidladung. This greatly simplifies the procedures for obtaining the Beidladung compared to other German states.
- Speed in obtaining the Bescheid when the paperwork is complete.
Disadvantages of submitting papers in State of Bavaria
- the disadvantages of the medical language exam mentioned in the previous paragraph.
- As of the end of 2024, the state no longer recognizes professional experience from outside Germany. If you have previous years of specialist training or a previous specialist certificate from outside Germany, your years of experience can be credited if you obtain the Approbation through a direct certificate equivalency decision (Gleichwertigkeit), which is not possible if you take the Approbation exam.
- The waiting times for the Approbation exam have become some of the longest in Germany, where the waiting period can reach up to a year and a half.
- The validity period of the Bescheid requires traveling to Germany and completing the paperwork within a specified deadline. Otherwise, the file may be closed and a €100 fine imposed.
The current deadline ranges between 6 to 12 months from the date the Bescheid is issued. The duration varies depending on the employee, nationality, and country of graduation without a fixed rule. For Syrian university graduates, a deadline is always imposed to complete missing requirements within a specific timeframe. In any case, there are experiences of doctors and pharmacists who were able to extend the deadline without problems by corresponding with the responsible officer.
Steps to obtain the Bescheid from the state of Bavaria
After choosing the state of Bavaria, you must obtain the required documents for the state. Make sure to periodically check for updates to the required documents in this article, so you can consider it an up-to-date reference that accompanies you whenever you need to know a step or a phase. I would like to point out that submitting incomplete documents does not speed up the file processing procedure, so it is preferable for a person to initially obtain all the required documents and send them. Below, I will list the required documents and explain them in detail:
Required documents in the state of Bavaria
One of the advantages of choosing the state of Bavaria is that the credential evaluation center does not require a language certificate or proof of ties to the state. Therefore, a person can apply to the center while residing outside Germany once the translation and certification of the required documents from their home country are complete.
More important than issuing the documents is knowing the time required to issue them. Since some documents have an expiration period and others do not, it is illogical for a person to obtain the documents that have an expiration period right from the beginning. Therefore, what I recommend is that a person first obtain the documents that do not have an expiration period, and then, after finishing them, obtain the documents that do have an expiration period, as well as the documents not issued by the applicant's home country, as I will now explain. I will divide the documents into two main sections to make them easier to understand:
The documents that need translation
Templates and explanations for these papers can be found in the file and template library. From here.
University papers
- Transcript of Records and Statement of Hours
- Clinical Rotations Statement for the Sixth Year of Medical Students
- Graduation thesis Bescheinigung über Abschlussbrief
- Graduation certificate
- Medical license (sick leave certificate) Lizenzat Doktor im Humanmedizin
Medical records
Valid documents
I mentioned them in a separate list because it is preferable to issue them as late as possible in the final stage, in order to ensure their validity lasts for as long as possible. After obtaining them, there are several subsequent steps that include translation, certification by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then sending them to the certificate equivalency center. These procedures take a not-so-short amount of time, so good planning of the sequence is important. Once the documents reach the certificate equivalency center while they are still valid, you will not encounter any problems or issues in processing.
- Certificate of Good Conduct
- Certificate of Good Conduct (police clearance certificate) Führungszeugnis
- Birth certificate
- Name Change Document: This document is submitted in the event that a person changes their name.
Documents that do not need translation
There are templates and explanations for these papers in the files and templates library. From here.
Civil documents
Documents not issued by the applicant's country
These papers are not originally in Arabic, and therefore they do not need translation. Furthermore, they are not issued from the doctor's or pharmacist's country, and consequently they cannot be authenticated by the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In short, these documents are sent as they are after filling out the required data only, along with signing them and stating the date and place when necessary, without any additional procedures.
- Current chronological CVA full article explaining how to create a professional resume on the Europass website has been published. I will also soon publish a video on my YouTube channel explaining the content of the article in detail.
- Fill out the application form, also known as the Antrag.:
The steps were explained in detail in Paragraph for submitting the file for the first time to the credential evaluation center. I will explain its steps in detail in the video on my YouTube channel.
The documents you may need to translate
- For the State of Bavaria, a document falls into this category Course syllabus And it only concerns those who want to apply for the *glaishe*. This paper was explained in the files and forms library. It can be accessed from here.
Submitting the file for the first time to the Bavarian Center for the Recognition of Medical and Pharmaceutical Degrees
It is important to proceed in an organized manner when preparing the required documents to ensure saving time and to avoid the expiration of documents that have a validity period. In the beginning, I advise obtaining the papers that need translation, with the exception of the documents that have a specific validity period which we mentioned previously. After that, the papers that are not issued from the home country, and which were mentioned in the paragraph above, are prepared. In the final stage, the papers that have a specific validity are obtained to ensure they remain valid upon submission.
Afterwards, we translate the documents with a sworn translator. The documents that we translate are the ones we talked about in the section on documents that need translation. As for the rest of the documents, there is no need to translate them.
After that, the person scans the papers, and this can be done Via CamScanner. We fill out the intrag electronically and here we upload the scanned documents. The appropriate intrag can be downloaded from Files and Forms Library. I will explain the steps for filling out the Entraide in detail in the video on my YouTube channel.
After that, the applicant must print it, sign it, and write the date and place in the designated fields.
All required documents are then sent to a sworn translator in Germany via DHL. The sworn translator in Germany certifies the translation issued in the country of origin. Afterward, the translator in turn sends it to the Recognition Center for Physicians and Pharmacists in Bavaria at the following address:
Government of Upper Bavaria
Department 55.3 – Occupational Licensing Office
80534 Munich
Transferring the file from another federal state to the Bavarian Center for the Recognition of Medical and Pharmaceutical Qualifications
Even if your file is in another state, you can simply transfer the file to the state of Bavaria.
It initially requires withdrawing the file in the original federal state by filling out an Antrag Rücknahme to withdraw the file from the old state. After that, you will receive an invoice from the credential evaluation agency that must be paid.
Required documents for transferring the file to the Center for the Recognition of Medical and Pharmaceutical Degrees in Bavaria
After completing the payment of the file withdrawal fee from the previous state, the file transfer procedures are completed by following the same steps mentioned. above regarding sending the file for the first time, attaching the following two documents in addition to the previously requested papers:
- Unrestricted certificate from Germany Führungszeugnis der Belegart O: It is obtained from the Bürgeramt in the city where you reside. It is important to tell the employee that the type of this document is “O”. As for the address to which the document should be sent: Regierung von Oberbayern, Sachgebiet 55.3 – Berufszulassungsstelle, 80534 München
- Health certificate: This document has a validity period of 3 months. There is no specific form for it in the state of Bavaria. A person needs to obtain it from any family doctor or general practitioner in Germany. For residents of North Rhine-Westphalia, I recommend having it stamped by Dr. Maher Naassan in Bochumand he is one of the well-mannered and respected doctors who does not take any money from his colleagues in the medical profession.
After finishing preparing the documents and uploading them electronically on the intranet, you can send them to the following address:
Government of Upper Bavaria
Department 55.3 – Occupational Licensing Office
80534 Munich
Procedures of the Center for the Recognition of Qualifications for Doctors and Pharmacists in Bavaria
Get the Eingang Infoschreiben
The Yinangang It is the notification that your file has entered the credential recognition system. After uploading the documents electronically on the website, you immediately receive this receipt, and the recognition office calls it an "Infoschreiben" (information letter). The recognition office mentions in the email that the paper copy of the Infoschreiben will be sent by mail. You can view a template of the Infoschreiben in the file and template library. From here.
Getting Bishaid And the medical language exam invoice
During the period between 2-4 months, the first document arrives by mail from the credential recognition center, which serves as the Bescheid. It states the deficiencies you must complete in order to take the medical language exam within a specific timeframe. This paper is commonly known as the deficiency notice. What needs to be done initially is to submit this document to the German embassy in order to obtain a visa to enter German territory. After arriving in Germany, the deficiencies can be completed, and they will be discussed in Section on steps after arriving in Germany. You can view a sample of the shortage form in the files and forms library. From here.
As for the second document, it arrives via email as shown in the following image. The document is a 500-euro invoice for the specialized medical language exam, known as the Fachsprachprüfung invoice. This document is also presented during the German embassy interview along with the document deficiency notice. As for the rest of its procedures, they will be discussed in Medical English exam registration paragraph. To view the Al-Fakhr invoice template Click here.
Steps after arriving in Germany
Preparing the required documents for the medical language exam
First, regarding the document deficiency sheet, the documents mentioned in it must be completed in order to submit the specialized medical language exam. The first deficiencies are:
- Unrestricted certificate from Germany Führungszeugnis der Belegart O: It is obtained from the Bürgeramt in the city where you reside. It is important to tell the employee that the type of this document is “O”. As for the address to which the document should be sent: Regierung von Oberbayern, Sachgebiet 55.3 – Berufszulassungsstelle, 80534 München
- Health certificate: This document has a validity period of 3 months. There is no specific form for it in the state of Bavaria. A person needs to obtain it from any family doctor or general practitioner in Germany. For residents of North Rhine-Westphalia, I recommend having it stamped by Dr. Maher Naassan in Bochumand he is one of the well-mannered and respected doctors who does not take any money from his colleagues in the medical profession.
The second step is to take the German language B2 level exam. I previously shared my personal experience regarding the German embassy interview, where I booked the B2 exam instead of enrolling in a B2 course, and this was accepted by the German embassy and I obtained the German visa. You can benefit from my experience by booking the ibz package in the city of Dortmund.
Register for Language Courses at the IBZ Institute — Dortmund
I will explain in detail how to register for language courses at the IBZ Institute in Dortmund through the two packages it offers to residents both inside and outside Germany.
IBZ Institute visa package for Germany
The IBZ Institute helps you in the same way it helped me obtain my German visa, saving you time and money. The IBZ Institute offers a comprehensive package for levels B2 and C1. Here are the key benefits you’ll enjoy when you enroll at this institute:
- The person is registered directly for the B2 exam instead of enrolling in the long B2 course.
- Upon passing the B2 exam, the institute enrolls the student in the next available C1 course to prepare for the medical language exam.
This medical language course costs 1,450 euros and is funded by the Employment Agency at no cost to you. This helps you save time that you would otherwise spend on a part-time job, which would take away from the effort needed to prepare for the medical language exam. Given that this course lasts only 3 months, it is a suitable option compared to other, longer courses funded by the Employment Agency, which can last up to about 6 months. - The institute submits a funding application for the medical language exam on the individual's behalf, thereby saving the individual the 350-euro exam fee.
- The person receives a 300-euro voucher to purchase a tablet as part of the same package.
- The price of this package for residents outside Germany is approximately 880 euros; in practice, the package covers the B2 exam fee, which is about 200 euros. It also covers the €1,450 fee for the medical language course and the €350 medical language exam fee. In addition, the package includes a €300 tablet voucher. Therefore, it can be said that the person here is paying the fees for their own benefit, as they directly benefit from them, rather than paying fees for B2 and C1 courses at a language institute, which could amount to as much as 2,000 euros, followed by a 200-euro fee for the B2 exam and a 350-euro fee for the medical language exam.
You can register for this program, pay the fees from Germany, and secure housing near the course location that meets the German embassy’s requirements. For inquiries or to contact us, please use the following WhatsApp numbers:
IBZ Institute package for residents in Germany
Residents of Germany can also enroll at the IBZ Institute, and here we distinguish between two situations:
- If a person has not yet passed the B2 exam, they can take the B2 exam at the IBZ Institute itself or at another institute. Once the exam results are released, the person can enroll in a C1 course at the IBZ Institute to prepare for the medical language exam. In doing so, they will receive free coverage of the course fees (1,450 euros) and the medical language exam fees (350 euros), as well as a 300-euro voucher to purchase a tablet.
- If a person has passed the B2 exam, they can enroll directly in a C1 course at the IBZ Institute. The institute will then arrange for them to enroll in the next available C1 course. This person will receive free coverage of the course fees, totaling 1,450 euros, and the medical language exam fees, totaling 350 euros. In addition, the person receives a voucher worth 300 euros to purchase a tablet as part of the same package.
You can sign up for this package via the following WhatsApp numbers:
[ For more details on booking an IBZ course, you can read the article Course booking and proof of accommodation for the German embassy interview, as you can also watch the following video on my YouTube channel ]
Registration for the Occupational English Test
This is regarding the Al-Fakher invoice that was sent to you previously by email. The adjustment authority is suggesting available dates for you to choose the month that suits you. What the applicant needs to do:
- Pay the fees initially according to the transfer details he receives in the invoice, paying attention to the reason for the transfer.
- The person then prints the invoice sent to them and selects the month in which they wish to take the exam. Next, they sign in the designated space on the relevant page of the invoice, noting the location and date.
- Attach the CV Signed, with the location and date specified.
- Please send these documents to the following address: Government of Upper Bavaria, Department 55.3 – Professional Licensing Office, 80534 Munich.
Scheduling the exam
After paying the fees, an email is received from the credential evaluation center. In this email, the center mentions the exam date, and the person must then confirm the appointment. After that, the exam preparation process begins.
Medical language exam preparation
I will soon publish a file explaining how to prepare for the medical language exam in the state of Bavaria. I recently worked on the file for the state of North Rhine.
Steps after passing the medical language exam
Upon receiving professional license In the state of Bavaria, the license is valid throughout the entire state and is not limited only to the southern regions handled by the Oberbayern district center. Therefore, a doctor can work in any city or region within the state of Bavaria without geographical restrictions within the state.
One of the most prominent points to take into consideration is Validity Period of a Professional License It begins immediately after passing the specialized language examination, regardless of whether the applicant has secured a job offer or not. This results in a large portion of the license's validity period being consumed during the job search without practical utilization.
Steps to withdraw the file From the Center for the Equivalency of Medical and Pharmacy Degrees in Bavaria
To withdraw the certificate equivalence file from the State of Bavaria, the applicant must fill out a form. Withdrawal of application and mail it to the address of the Equivalency Center listed on the form. You can download the form from Files and Forms Library via the dedicated link.
Upon receiving the request to withdraw the file from the Equivalence Center, the center sends an email to the applicant that includes Invoice for File Retrieval Fees, in addition to the bank account details to which the fees must be transferred, specifying the transfer purpose (Verwendungszweck) that must be written when making the bank transfer.
After completing the payment, I recommend saving a screenshot as proof of the transfer. When selecting the new state to which the equivalency file will be sent, you must attach the following documents to the new application:
- File Retrieval Invoice.
- Proof of fee payment.
- The remaining papers and documents required for the equivalency center.
Based on experience, I usually recommend choosing Lower Saxony For those who wish to transfer their equivalency file after passing the specialized language exam but before passing the medical language exam, I recommend the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. I have published a comprehensive guide on how to equalize the degree there.
Applying for the final medical and pharmacy equivalency exam in Bavaria
Doctors and pharmacists can apply for the final credential evaluation exam in the state of Bayern, by filling out the exam application. It can be downloaded from the file and form library. Click here.
Conclusion
The state of Bavaria is one of the best German states for doctors and pharmacists wishing to have their degrees recognized, due to its flexible procedures, perhaps the most prominent of which is the ability to start the recognition process and file processing without requiring residency inside Germany or a specific German language level. Accordingly, it can be said that the initial application requirements for Bavaria are less complicated compared to some other states. Thanks to these advantages, Bavaria remains a preferred choice for many foreign doctors and pharmacists seeking to enter the German labor market.
