Hamburg Medical Association

Single point of contact for professional recognition as a specialist physician or specialist physician: General information

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for contacting the Single Point of Contact.

The following requirements must be met for your further training to be recognized:

• They want to work as a specialist doctor in Germany.
• They have a medical license.
• Physician and completed specialist medical training qualification.
• Professional qualifications from abroad are considered equivalent. This is the case if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Documents required

• Application
• Proof of identity (e.g., identity card, passport, travel document)
• Professional license or permit, plus proof of equivalent level of training
• officially certified copy of the professional diploma, professional examination certificate or other professional training certificate to be recognized,
• written declaration stating whether recognition of the continuing education certificates has already been applied for or will be applied for at another medical association
• If the training certificate is not subject to automatic recognition, the following additional documents must be submitted:
• Officially certified evidence of further education and professional experience (further education certificates, diplomas, seminar certificates, project work, practical tasks)
• Certificates of conformity or proof of activity covering the last 5 years and/or additional evidence to verify equivalence

Submit foreign certificates together with certified translations from a state-certified translator.

If you have been issued a certificate of further training from an EU/EEA or contracting state for parts of the training that took place in third countries, please submit documents showing which activities in the third country were recognized by the competent authority of the issuing state and to what extent.

Please note

Deadlines

No

Procedure

• You submit the application and all required documents in the required form to the single point of contact.
• The single point of contact will forward your application to the relevant department.
• The responsible authority will check whether you meet all the requirements.
• The responsible authority will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification.
• If your qualifications are deemed equivalent, please submit proof of your health, language skills, and personal suitability.
• If your qualifications are not recognized as equivalent, you will complete an adaptation measure in the form of an aptitude test or an adaptation course. The responsible authority will provide you with more detailed information.

Processing time

You will receive confirmation of receipt within one month of submitting your application. After all required documents have been submitted, processing takes approximately three months. In cases where equivalence needs to be assessed, processing will be extended by one month.

Fees

For recognition of further training: 50.00 EUR


For the recognition procedure including verification of equivalence: EUR 150.00


If an aptitude test is required as a result of the equivalence assessment: EUR 250.00

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Sections 36 and 36a of the Hamburg Chamber Act for the Health Professions (HmbKGH)


https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-HKGHAV12P36


Hamburg Chamber Act for the Health Professions (HmbKGH)


https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-HKGHAV12IVZ


Continuing education regulations for physicians in Hamburg


https://aerztekammer-hamburg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/WBO_2020_final_02092020_Aenderungsatzung_01_07_2025.pdf