NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

The mutual recognition of these degrees for the purpose of access to these professions is governed in the European
Community by Council directives. The directives involved are:
Physicians: Directive of 5 April 1993 (93/16/EEC);
Dentists: Directives of 25 July 1978 (78/686/EEC and 78/687/EEC) with later amendments;
Veterinary surgeons: Directives of 18 December 1978 (78/1026/EEC and 78/1027/EEC) with later amendments.
In the following the study requirements to be completed prior to the degree examination are described for the individual
degree programmes.
Passing the degree examination in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine does not immediately entitle the holder to work
as a physician, dentist or veterinary surgeon. The right to work in these professions is acquired through licensing
(Approbation) carried out by the responsible health authorities in the Länder. It is only after this (for the physician’s
completion of a period of practical training is required first) that the
professional designations Arzt (physician), Zahnarzt (dentist) or Tierarzt (veterinary surgeon) may be used.
The doctorate in medicine is not awarded on passing the State medical examination. Instead, a supplementary doctoral
procedure must be gone through at a university and a doctoral thesis written.
II.5.1. Medicine
Structure of studies, curricula, examinations
Medical training, uniformly regulated country-wide on the basis of federal regulations on the status of physicians
(Bundesärzteordnung) as well as the regulations governing the licensing of physicians (Approbationsordnung für Ärzte),
consists of:
at least six years of medical studies;
an 18-month period of practical training after medical studies (Arzt im Praktikum) initiated in October 1988, up until then
the training of physicians was completed on passing the medical degree examination;
first aid training;
a two-month period of nursing practicum;
a four-month period of external clerkship (Famulatur);
the following examinations:
(i) the preliminary examination in medicine (Ärztliche Vorprüfung); and
(ii) the degree examination in medicine (Ärztliche Prüfung), which has to be taken in three stages.
The abovementioned examinations are taken as follows:
the preliminary medical examination following two years of medical studies;
the first stage of the medical degree examination at the end of one year of medical studies after passing the preliminary
medical examination;
the second stage of the medical degree examination after passing the first stage of the medical degree examination and
three years of medical studies after passing the preliminary medical examintion; and
the third stage of the medical degree examination following one year of medical studies after passing the second stage of
the medical degree examination.
Medical studies are broken up into a two-year preclinical phase and a four-year clinical phase. The last year of medical studies
is the practical year.