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PHARMACIST (M/F)
GERMAN: APOTHEKER/IN

Competent authority in charge of recognition procedure

Regierung von Unterfranken
Peterplatz 9
97013 Würzburg

Phone: (0931) 380-00

Fax: (0931) 380-2222
E-mail: poststelle@reg-ufr.bayern.de
www.regierung.unterfranken.bayern.de

The District Government of Lower Franconia will grant the approbation if the professional qualification has been attained in an EU
Member State, an EEA signatory state or in Switzerland and if the profession will be practised in Upper, Middle or Lower
Franconia.

Regierung von Oberbayern

Maximilianstraße 39 Contact Person
80538 München Sachgebiet 55.3

Phone: +49 89 2176 0 Phone: +49 89 2176 2634

Fax: +49 89 2176 2914 E-mail: approbation.erlaubnis@reg-ob.bayern.de
E-mail: poststelle@reg-ob.bayern.de
http://www.regierung.oberbayern.bayern.de

The District Government of Upper Bavaria will grant the approbation if the professional qualification has been attained in an EU
Member State, an EEA signatory state or in Switzerland and if the profession will be practised in the administrative districts of
Upper or Lower Bavaria, Swabia or Upper Palatinate.

The District Government of Upper Bavaria will be responsible for all Bavarian administrative districts if the professional
qualification has been attained in a country that is not an EU Member State, an EEA signatory state or Switzerland.

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?

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 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

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.

An appeal against the decision of the competent authority is permitted. This means you can take legal action against the decision
in order to have this decision reviewed. Details regarding this are to be found in the appeal instruction at the end of your
assessment notification. However, it is recommended that you clarify disputed issues with the competent authority before
submitting the appeal.

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.

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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.

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL CARD

If you are an EU/EEA citizen or completed your training in an EU/EEA state, you may apply for a European Professional Card. The
professional card is an electronic certificate which simplifies the recognition procedure. However, it is still necessary to apply for
authorisation to practice a profession in Germany. Further details are available here.

WHAT DOES THE PROCEDURE COST?

The procedure costs vary and depend on the individual case and the legal provisions in the respective Land. The relevant
approbation authority determines the exact costs on an individual basis and will inform you about this.

Further costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations, certification or compensation measures). Cost may differ on an
individual basis.

You may also receive financial assistance. Further information is available here.

DO I NEED KNOWLEGE OF GERMAN?

You must have sufficient knowledge of German in order to receive approbation/authorisation to practise. You must be proficient in
both German colloquial language as well as specialist medical language. In general, proof of proficiency at language level B2
under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is required. In most cases you must also take additional or
alternative examinations in which you demonstrate your knowledge of the specialist medical language. This examination is based
on language level C1. The relevant approbation authority will provide you with the Details.

Application

You can apply for recognition directly to the competent authority. Seek advice from an IQ counselling centre before making the
application. Counselling services near you are available here.

The application can also be sent to the single point of contact. They will help you and forward your application to the competent
authority which carries out the recognition procedure. Further information is available here .

You can normally also submit your application electronically. However, in this case evidence and other documents can only be
sent if these have been issued or recognised in a member state of the European Union or of the European Economic Area.

Legal Basis
Federal Pharmacists Ordinance
Licensing Regulations for Pharmacists

Special Note

Ethnic German Resettler

If you are an ethnic German resettler you may pursue a recognition procedure in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act as
previously or pursuant to the here refered law. Ethnic German resettlers can decide which procedure is likely to be more
favourable for them. Your competent authority will advise you on choosing the right procedure depending on your personal
profile.

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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 chemist s (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 chemist s 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.

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