Key takeaways
  • A new law makes the knowledge test the standard route for health professionals from outside the EU from 1 November 2026.
  • It covers doctors, dentists, pharmacists and midwives.
  • If you take the test directly, you no longer need to submit translated and certified curricula.
  • You can still choose the document based equivalence check instead.

This is one of the most important changes of the year for doctors from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and other countries outside the EU. The process to get a German licence to practise has been simplified.

What changed

The law to speed up recognition of foreign qualifications in health professions makes the knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung) the standard case for applicants from outside the EU who do not expressly choose a document based equivalence check. It took effect on 1 November 2026 and covers doctors, dentists, pharmacists and midwives (zm-online, Federal Ministry of Health).

  • Applicants who go straight to the test no longer need to submit their university curricula, translated or certified.
  • The federal states can check language skills of non-EU applicants before the qualification is assessed.
  • For qualifications from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, the qualification is still assessed first, as EU law requires.

What it means for you

  1. German first. Usually B2 general German and a medical language exam at C1 level.
  2. Prepare for the test. It checks knowledge at the level of the German final medical exam.
  3. Contact the authority of your target state. Each federal state runs its own process.
  4. Talk to hospitals early. Many support doctors from abroad through the process.

Common questions

Do I still need to submit my curriculum?

Not if you go directly to the knowledge test. You still need your other documents.

Can I still choose the document check?

Yes, you can expressly choose the document based equivalence check.

Does this apply to nurses?

No, the change described here covers doctors, dentists, pharmacists and midwives.

Sources

Written by Swapnil (Samadhan Mule)

I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.