Pharmacist (m/f)

www.recognition-in-germany.de

Competent authority in charge of

recognition procedure
Bezirksregierung Dsseldorf
Cecilienallee 2
40474 Dsseldorf
Phone: (0211) 475-0
Fax: (0211) 475-2671
E-mail: poststelle@bezreg-duesseldorf.nrw.de
http://www.brd.nrw.de

Professional Recognition

DO I NEED TO HAVE MY PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS RECOGNIZED?

If you wish to work as a pharmacist in Germany without any restrictions, you need a state licence, a so-called
Approbation.
You can apply for an Approbation in Germany even if you have completed your training abroad. The competent
authorities will assess the equivalence of your qualifications with the corresponding German qualifications in a
licensing procedure. You can only be granted an Approbation if your training is recognized as equivalent.
If you only wish to work as a pharmacist in Germany for a limited period of time, you can apply for a temporary
permit to work as a pharmacist, which is usually issued for two years. This presupposes that you can prove that
you have completed training as a pharmacist. The temporary permit does not represent a recognition of the
professional qualifications that you have gained abroad. You may also apply for an Approbation if you are in
possession of a temporary permit. Further information can be obtained from the competent authorities.

Information on the procedure

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE?

You may apply for a state licence to work as a pharmacist (Approbation) in Germany if you have qualified as a
pharmacist.
The competent authorities decide on whether to recognize the qualifications that you have gained abroad in
the Approbation procedure.
You may apply for an Approbation irrespective of your nationality, the origin of your qualifications and your
residence status.
As a rule, the procedure is subject to a charge. The competent authorities can provide information on the
costs involved.

HOW DOES THE RECOGNITION PROCEDURE WORK?

Procedure for qualifications gained in the EU/EEA/Switzerland

Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training

Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.

The procedure for the automatic recognition of qualifications in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC usually
applies if you gained your qualifications in a Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area or
Switzerland. Your qualifications are recognized without an individual equivalency review. As a rule, qualifications
acquired before the accession of the state in which they were gained to the European Union are automatically
recognized if the applicant submits a certificate from the responsible health authorities in that state confirming that
qualifications gained before EU accession meet the minimum training conditions stipulated under Directive
2005/36/EC. An Approbation is granted if the applicant also satisfies the other requirements (personal integrity,
physical fitness, adequate command of German).

Procedure for EU qualifications that cannot be recognized automatically and for qualifications from
non-EU/EEA states
The competent authorities assess whether the qualifications which you have gained abroad are equivalent to
the German qualifications.
Your qualifications are recognized as being equivalent if there are no substantial differences between your
foreign qualifications and the German qualifications.
Apart from training, the competent authorities also consider the professional experience that you have gained
at home or abroad. Significant differences in qualifications can only be offset by relevant professional
experience.

WHAT RESULTS ARE POSSIBLE?

You will be granted an Approbation if the authorities establish the equivalence of your qualifications and you
satisfy the other requirements for gaining an Approbation (inter alia adequate command of German).
Should there be significant differences between your qualifications and the German qualifications, you will
have the opportunity to take a test to prove the equivalence of your knowledge.
You will be granted an Approbation if you pass this test.

Further information can be obtained from the competent authorities.

WILL THE RESULTS OF PROCEDURES UNDER THE OLD LAW BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT?
If the equivalence of your professional qualifications has already been determined by a previous procedure to
grant or extend a permit to work as a pharmacist, these findings are also to be taken into account when
applying for an Approbation.
You do not have to repeat a test which you have already passed. Applicants who have failed a test in a
procedure to grant a permit to work as a pharmacist may nevertheless apply for an Approbation. Applicants
may also resit the test.

WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION?

Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
Brief CV
Certified copy of qualifications and if necessary further certificates of competence.
Tabular overview of training courses and of prior work experience, if appropriate
Certificates regarding relevant professional experience
Certificate stating entitlement to work as a pharmacist in your country of origin and documents proving that
you intend to practice the profession in Germany (does not apply to qualifications gained in the
EU/EEA/Switzerland).
Medical certificate confirming physical fitness to practice the profession (issued within the last month)
Official certificate of good conduct (issued within the last month)
Statement of whether criminal proceedings are pending.

Should these documents not be in German, they must be accompanied by certified translations. You may present
simple copies of your documents in cases where certified copies are not specifically required.
The competent authorities will provide further details.

Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training

Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.

If you are a late repatriate (on the basis of Section 10 Federal Expellees Act), ask the competent authorities
about any peculiarities in the procedure which may affect you.

Legal Basis

Federal Pharmacists Ordinance

Licensing Regulations for Pharmacists

Counselling Services
Obtain personal advice at an IQ Counselling Centre. Information on how to find a Counselling Centre in Germany is
available here.
The telephone hotline provided by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is open from 9 am to 3 pm
Monday to Friday and can be contacted on: +49 30 1815-1111.
Further advisory services are available here.

Occupational profile
Fields of work

Pharmacists mainly work at dispensing chemists (including at hospitals), in retail outlets selling medical articles, in
development and research laboratories within the pharmaceutical industry, for companies operating in the chemical
industry or for universities and technical academies. They may also be employed at health authorities, professional
chemists organisations or professional associations in the pharmaceutical industry or at health insurance
companies.

Professional experience

Pharmacists are responsible for the dispensing, storage, development, manufacture and testing of medicines.

Publisher: Federal Institue for Vocational Education and Training

Funded through the "Integration Through Qualification - IQ" programme with funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Employment Agency.