Approbation als Tierarzt Erteilung

If you wish to work permanently as a veterinarian in Germany, you must be licensed (approbiert) for this activity. You must apply for a license to practice in the federal state in which you wish to work as a veterinarian.

If you wish to practise the profession of veterinary surgeon in private practice in Germany on an unrestricted and permanent basis, you will need a state license in the form of a license to practice.

The license is issued by the federal state in which you wish to practice veterinary medicine.

You will need the following documents to process the application:

• Application for recognition
• Valid identity document from a country recognized under international law
• Brief curriculum vitae
• B2 language certificate
• a certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority of document type O (this must be requested from the residents' registration office responsible for your place of residence)
• If you have been living in Germany for less than two years but in an EU member state, you must apply for a European Certificate of Good Conduct
• a medical certificate, which must have been issued no earlier than one month before submission, stating that there are no indications that you are unfit in terms of health to properly exercise the profession
• Certificates of the veterinary examination/veterinary diploma incl. transcript of records (proof of qualification or proof of training that entitles the holder to take up the relevant profession).
  If these are not written in German, additionally an officially certified translation into German (or English)
• If you have been registered with the police in the Federal Republic of Germany for less than 2 years, a corresponding criminal record extract from your country of origin (if this is not in German, an officially certified translation into German)

The documents can be submitted as copies. Some documents may only have to be submitted as officially certified copies or officially certified photocopies (available e.g. from your municipal/district administration) at the request of the authorities.

• You have a degree in veterinary medicine
• You have successfully passed all the knowledge tests specified in a deficiency notice
• You have not been guilty of any behavior that makes you unworthy or unreliable to practice the veterinary profession
• You are medically fit to practise the veterinary profession
• You have the knowledge of the German language required for practicing the profession

You can submit your application for approval in writing or electronically.

You will be informed within four weeks whether your application is complete or whether you need to submit further documents.

Once your license has been granted, you will receive a license certificate.

Information page LANUV

https://www.lanuv.nrw.de/service/zustaendige-behoerde-fuer-bestimmte-berufe/fachberufe-fb80/tierarzt-tieraerztin

Engaging in veterinary activities before obtaining a license to practice medicine or a permit to temporarily practice the veterinary profession may result in criminal prosecution.

Administrative court action

• Licensing as a veterinarian
• The applicant requires state approval in the form of a license to practice as a veterinarian in Germany on a permanent basis
• A license can only be granted if the training is equivalent to a German university degree
• Responsible: Depends on the respective state law

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance necessary: No