Anerkennung einer Weiterbildung zur Erlangung einer Fachtierarzt- oder Zusatzbezeichnung nach Weiterbildungsordnung der Tierärztekammer Niedersachsen bei Qualifikation aus Drittstaaten

Have you acquired further training/qualification as a specialist veterinarian abroad? Then you can apply for recognition as a specialist veterinarian in Germany under certain conditions.

The qualification as a specialist veterinarian must be recognised in Germany. This means that you need recognition if you want to use the designation "specialist veterinarian" for your specialisation in the selected federal state.

Veterinarians can acquire further designations after completing their training and having been granted a licence to practise veterinary medicine.

The aim of the training is to impart in-depth knowledge, experience and skills that enable and entitle the holder to use other titles in addition to the professional title as an indication of special or other additional knowledge or skills in a specific veterinary field (specialist veterinarian) or area (additional title). It also serves to ensure the quality of veterinary practice.

The corresponding specialist veterinarian or additional designations may only be used if the prescribed further training has been successfully completed and the designation has been recognised by the Chamber.

Note: You may only use the designation after recognition for your specialization if there is a corresponding continuing education designation in Germany.

• Curriculum vitae with details of completed further training and professional experience
• Proof of identity (ID card or passport)
• Proof of German license to practice medicine or professional license and proof of equivalent level of education
• Certificates of continuing education and certificates of professional experience
• additional evidence to check equivalence
• written statement as to whether you have already submitted an application for recognition to another veterinary association.
• Further documents to be submitted can be found in the linked continuing education regulations of the Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians.

If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. Translations must be carried out by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised.

• You must already have a state licence to practise as a veterinarian or a professional licence valid in Germany.
• You must prove the equivalence of your professional qualification as a specialist veterinarian.
• The scope of the proof results from the linked continuing education regulations of the Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians.

Before you apply, you must already have a license to practice veterinary practice or a professional license in Germany.

You can apply for recognition of your continuing education title as a specialist veterinarian at the responsible regional veterinary association:

• First, submit your application and the required documents to the Veterinary Association of the state in which you want to work.
• If necessary, you will be asked to submit missing documents.
• The competent authority will check whether your qualification is equivalent. It is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign qualification and the German continuing education qualification.
• If your qualification as a specialist veterinarian is recognised, you can use the specialist title in Germany. You will receive a notification.

If significant differences are identified, you will not be certified as having the equivalence of your qualifications as a specialist veterinarian:

• You will receive a justification.
• You can start further training to acquire the designation at an eligible site (which would hire you).

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority within a certain period of time (e.g. lodge an appeal). The decision will then be reviewed. Details on this can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first talk to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

Recognition of the qualification is always based on the respective state law as well as the standards of the responsible veterinary association of the place of residence or intended residence.

• Contradiction
• Further information on how to file an objection can be found in the notification of your application
• Appeal before the Administrative Court

• Recognition for the use of the title of specialist veterinarian in the case of professional qualification from third countries Grant
• Qualifications as a specialist veterinarian from third countries are subject to recognition. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
• The competent authority checks whether there is equivalence between the foreign qualification and the German qualification.
• Prerequisite: Licence to practise as a veterinarian or a professional licence
• Processing time: expected within 4 months after receipt of the complete documents
• Responsible: State Chambers of Veterinarians

Lower Saxony Chamber of Veterinarians

Forms available: No. Written form required: Yes. Informal application possible: Yes. Personal appearance required: No. Online services available: No.