How is the knowledge test for dentists structured?

In three parts: written (45 minutes), oral (60 to 90 minutes) and practical (about five hours). You may take the next part only after passing the previous one (§§ 104 to 118 ZApprO).

What does the practical part involve?

Prosthodontics, conservative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery under simulated practice conditions. Prosthodontics and conservative dentistry take about two hours each.

If I fail one part, do I repeat everything?

No. Each part you fail may be retaken twice, counted per part (§ 118 ZApprO).

How long can I work with the temporary permit?

Two years of dental work in total, across all German states (§ 13(2) ZHG).

Dentistry

Licence to practise (Approbation) for dentists

The knowledge test has three parts: written, oral and practical; the practical part takes about five hours.

Dentists with a foreign qualification apply for the Approbation, the German licence to practise dentistry, at the authority of a federal state. Outside the EU the route includes a language test at the state dental chamber and a knowledge test in three parts: written, oral and practical.

Legal basis: Dentistry Act (Gesetz über die Ausübung der Zahnheilkunde, ZHG)
Licensing regulations: Licensing Regulations for Dentists (Approbationsordnung für Zahnärzte und Zahnärztinnen, ZApprO)
Temporary permit (Berufserlaubnis): § 13 ZHG

Who applies as a dentist

In 2025 dentists filed 1,659 applications for recognition, after 1,350 in 2024. Of the 1,737 cases decided in 2025, 711 ended in full equivalence. In 1,005 cases, more than half, the authority imposed a compensation measure, and 21 applications were refused.

Most applications came from Syria with 534 in 2025, followed by Ukraine with 99, Egypt with 87, India with 78 and Turkey with 63.

How the route works

Dental degree from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

Dentists whose qualification is listed for their country in Directive 2005/36/EC are recognised automatically, provided the reference date is met. This is a cut-off date set for each country. For dentists, the start of your training or the date of your diploma counts.

If your title differs from the listed one, the authority asks for a certificate of conformity issued in your home country. It confirms the EU minimum standards for dental training.

Where no automatic recognition applies, the authority compares your training with the German dental course. Experience can make up for gaps. For remaining substantial differences you take an aptitude test (Eignungsprüfung) limited to those subjects.

In every case you still need to prove your German and meet the requirements on reliability and health.

EU qualifications in detail (German)

Dental degree from outside the EU

The standard route is the knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung) under § 12b(2) ZHG. It has three parts: a written part of 45 minutes, an oral part of 60 to 90 minutes and a practical part of about five hours. You can sit a part only after you have passed the previous one.

An assessment of your documents is the alternative. You announce it within four weeks after applying, it binds you for the whole procedure and it requires an equivalence report (Gleichwertigkeitsgutachten). Missing documents, for reasons beyond your control, lead to the test as well (§ 12b(3) ZHG).

Non-EU qualifications in detail (German)

German at B2 and C1

Two levels are required: B2 for everyday German and C1 for the language of your profession. The specialist language test (Fachsprachenprüfung) usually proves the second level and is held by the state dental chamber. It has a conversation with a patient, written documentation and a conversation between dentists. The chambers report 60 minutes in Berlin, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and about 90 minutes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The procedure, the forms and the tests are all in German.

Working as a dentist before you are licensed

Until your Approbation is granted, you can apply for a temporary permit to practise (Berufserlaubnis, § 13 ZHG). It is revocable and covers two years of dental work in total, counted across all German states. Several states grant it only for employed work under supervision, so you cannot run a practice with it.

A longer period is possible only in exceptional cases, for example while the equivalence of your training is still open (§ 13(3) ZHG). Holders of an EU, EEA or Swiss qualification normally receive no permit, except where they show a special interest.

The temporary permit in detail (German)

Which state is responsible for dentists?

If you live in Germany, the authority of your place of habitual residence decides (§ 16(1a) ZHG). If you live abroad, you apply in the state where you want to practise.

Responsibility lies with one state only. Under § 2(4) ZHG the authorities may exchange information about pending applications, which rules out parallel applications.

We check beforehand which authority is responsible in your case. Responsibility and changing state (German)

Key figures for dentists

The language test costs €450 to €580 in the 11 states with a fixed fee, and 15 of 16 states require it.
The application fee for a degree from outside the EU ranges from €100 to €872 across 16 states.
The three-part knowledge test costs €1,300 to €3,000 in the 9 states that name a fixed fee. That is well above the fees for the other professions.
Depending on the state, between 8 and 21 documents are mandatory for a degree from outside the EU.

Where to go next

Questions from dentists

How is the knowledge test for dentists structured?: In three parts: written (45 minutes), oral (60 to 90 minutes) and practical (about five hours). You may take the next part only after passing the previous one (§§ 104 to 118 ZApprO).
What does the practical part involve?: Prosthodontics, conservative dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery under simulated practice conditions. Prosthodontics and conservative dentistry take about two hours each.
If I fail one part, do I repeat everything?: No. Each part you fail may be retaken twice, counted per part (§ 118 ZApprO).
How long can I work with the temporary permit?: Two years of dental work in total, across all German states (§ 13(2) ZHG).

The 16 federal states

Each state page lists the responsible authority, the documents for each case, the fees and the tests. The pages are in German, because the procedure is conducted in German. Typical documents are your diploma, transcripts, a criminal record certificate, a certificate of good standing (issued by your home authority) and a language certificate. We check with you which documents your state expects. Write to [email protected].