How long is the knowledge test for pharmacists?

It is oral, takes place on one day and lasts 30 to 60 minutes per candidate (§ 22d(2) AAppO).

Can I manage a pharmacy with the temporary permit?

As a rule, no. The permit usually covers employed work that is not managing, under supervision. It is limited to two years (§ 11(2) BApO).

Pharmacy

Licence to practise (Approbation) for pharmacists

The knowledge test lasts 30 to 60 minutes and is oral.

Pharmacists with a foreign qualification apply for the Approbation, the German licence to practise pharmacy, at the authority of a federal state. Outside the EU the route includes a language test at the state chamber of pharmacists and a short oral knowledge test.

Legal basis: Federal Pharmacists Act (Bundes-Apothekerordnung, BApO)
Licensing regulations: Licensing Regulations for Pharmacists (Approbationsordnung für Apotheker, AAppO)
Temporary permit (Berufserlaubnis): § 11 BApO

Who applies as a pharmacist

Pharmacists filed 1,467 applications for recognition in 2025, up from 540 in 2021. Of the 1,572 cases decided, 573 ended in full equivalence, in 993 cases the authority imposed a compensation measure and 9 applications were refused.

Syria leads with 636 applications, followed by Egypt with 231 and Ukraine with 123. According to ABDA, the pharmacists’ association, 1,809 language tests for pharmacists were taken in 2025.

How the route works

Pharmacy degree from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

A pharmacy qualification that Directive 2005/36/EC lists for your country is recognised automatically if it meets the reference date. For pharmacists only the start of your training counts.

Where your title differs from the list, the authority asks for a certificate of conformity from your home country, confirming that your training met the EU minimum standards.

If no automatic recognition applies, the authority compares your studies with German pharmacy training. Professional experience can offset differences. For substantial differences left you take an aptitude test (Eignungsprüfung) on 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)

Pharmacy degree from outside the EU

The standard route is the oral knowledge test (Kenntnisprüfung) under § 10c(2) BApO and § 22d AAppO. It takes place on one day and lasts 30 to 60 minutes. It always covers three subjects: pharmaceutical practice, special areas of law for pharmacists and a third subject the authority sets.

Alternatively you may choose an assessment of your documents, which you must announce within four weeks of applying and which binds you until the end. It rests on an equivalence report (Gleichwertigkeitsgutachten). Documents that you cannot obtain through no fault of your own lead to the test (§ 10c(3) BApO).

Non-EU qualifications in detail (German)

Language requirements for pharmacists

The authorities expect B2 in everyday German and C1 in the language of pharmacy. The usual proof is the specialist language test (Fachsprachenprüfung) of the pharmacists’ chamber in most states. It takes about 60 minutes in three parts. You hold a conversation with a patient, write a note, for example on a counselling session, and talk with a pharmacist, putting technical terms into plain language. The procedure, the forms and the tests are all in German.

Working as a pharmacist before you are licensed

Until your Approbation is granted, you can apply for a temporary permit to practise (Berufserlaubnis, § 11 BApO). It is revocable and limited to two years in total. It is usually granted for employed, non-managing work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist, so you cannot run a pharmacy with it.

Going beyond two years requires special grounds, such as an individual case or the supply of medicines, and your equivalence must still be unrecognised (§ 11(2) BApO). For EU, EEA and Swiss qualifications the rule is the same: no permit without a special interest.

The temporary permit in detail (German)

Which state is responsible for pharmacists?

If you live in Germany, the authority of the state where you have your habitual residence decides (§ 12(2) BApO). If you live abroad, you apply in the state where you want to work.

A single state decides. Authorities may ask one another about pending applications (§ 4(5) BApO), so you cannot apply in several states at the same time.

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

Key figures for pharmacists

The language test costs €200 to €495 in the 13 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 oral knowledge test costs €170 to €710 in the 8 states that name a fixed fee, the lowest range of the three professions with a knowledge test as the standard route.
Depending on the state, between 9 and 23 documents are mandatory for a degree from outside the EU.

Where to go next

Questions from pharmacists

How long is the knowledge test for pharmacists?: It is oral, takes place on one day and lasts 30 to 60 minutes per candidate (§ 22d(2) AAppO).
Which subjects are examined?: Always three: pharmaceutical practice, special areas of law for pharmacists and a third subject the authority sets from the subjects with substantial differences (§ 22d(1) AAppO).
Can I manage a pharmacy with the temporary permit?: As a rule, no. The permit usually covers employed work that is not managing, under supervision. It is limited to two years (§ 11(2) BApO).
How often can I retake the knowledge test?: Twice (§ 22d(6) AAppO).

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].