German level for doctors: B2, C1 Fachsprache, which comes first
Redaktion · 7 October 2026 · 3 min read
In short
Doctors in Germany need two levels: general German at B2, shown with a certificate, and medical German oriented at C1, shown in the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP). The health ministers of all states agreed this in 2014. B2 comes first: without it you cannot register for the FSP. B2 alone is not enough for the Approbation or for a temporary permit.
The two levels
| General German | Medical German | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | B2 (CEFR) | oriented at C1, in a work context |
| Proof | B2 certificate from a recognised provider | Fachsprachprüfung at the medical chamber (or the state's chosen body) |
| When | before you register for the FSP | before the Approbation, and in practice before the Berufserlaubnis |
| Typical providers | Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD, TestDaF (list varies by state) | the state medical chamber; in some states also telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin |
The Brandenburg chamber quotes the rule this way: doctors must have medical language skills in a work-specific context oriented at C1, on the proven basis of B2. The legal anchor is § 3(1) no. 5 of the Federal Medical Code: the German needed to practise.
Is B2 enough?
No. The Lower Saxony licensing office (NiZzA) asks for a B2 certificate and a passed FSP, even for the temporary Berufserlaubnis, and states that without B2 you cannot register for the FSP. The Marburger Bund adds that the B2 certificate is an entry ticket, not a replacement for the FSP. As an exception it names one case: medical training completed in German.
Which certificate counts as B2?
Most states accept B2 certificates from providers such as the Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD and TestDaF; Berlin, for example, names telc, Goethe and TestDaF. Check your state's list before you book, because the accepted providers differ.
The order that works
- General B2 certificate, for example telc Deutsch B2 or Goethe B2.
- Apply to your state's licensing authority and register for the FSP; in several states the authority registers you.
- Pass the FSP: cost and format in all 17 chambers.
- Optional: a Berufserlaubnis for up to two years: Berufserlaubnis vs Approbation.
- Kenntnisprüfung or equivalence check, then the Approbation.
From 1 November 2026 the states may check language before the medical exam; see Kenntnisprüfung 2026 for foreign doctors.
Frequently asked questions
Is B2 German enough to work as a doctor in Germany?
No. You also need the Fachsprachprüfung, which is oriented at C1 medical German. B2 is the condition to register for it.
Do doctors need a general C1 certificate?
The rule from 2014 asks for general B2 plus medical German oriented at C1. The C1 part is tested in the FSP, not with a general C1 certificate.
Which B2 certificates are accepted for the Approbation?
Usually Goethe-Institut, telc, ÖSD and TestDaF, but the list varies by state. Berlin, for example, names telc, Goethe and TestDaF.
Is anyone exempt from the language exam?
The Marburger Bund names medical training completed in German as an exception. Ask your licensing authority for anything else.
Sources
- Landesärztekammer Brandenburg: Fachsprachtests (quoting the 87th Health Ministers' Conference, 2014), checked 7 October 2026
- Marburger Bund: German language requirements for foreign doctors (February 2026), checked 7 October 2026
- NiZzA Lower Saxony: checklist Berufserlaubnis (PDF, January 2024), checked 7 October 2026
- Bundesärzteordnung § 3, checked 7 October 2026
- telc: Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin Fachsprachprüfung, checked 7 October 2026
