Do I have to take a knowledge test as a veterinarian?

Only in certain cases: if substantial differences remain that your experience does not offset, or if your documents cannot be obtained for reasons beyond your control (§ 4(2) BTÄO).

Do I need a specialist language test?

Usually not. A general certificate at level B2 normally suffices, and most states do not require the specialist test.

Which subjects does the knowledge test cover?

Up to the 20 subjects of the veterinary state examination (§ 29 TAppV). Your decision letter states which ones you take.

How long can I work with the temporary permit?

Four years in total (§ 11(2) BTÄO), with a possible extension of up to three years for specialist training.

Veterinary medicine

Licence to practise (Approbation) for veterinarians

The authority first assesses your documents; a knowledge test follows only if substantial differences remain.

Veterinarians with a foreign qualification apply for the Approbation, the German licence to practise veterinary medicine, at the authority of a federal state. The authority first assesses your documents. A knowledge test follows only if substantial differences remain.

Legal basis: Federal Veterinary Surgeons Act (Bundes-Tierärzteordnung, BTÄO)
Licensing regulations: Veterinary Licensing Regulations (Verordnung zur Approbation von Tierärztinnen und Tierärzten, TAppV)
Temporary permit (Berufserlaubnis): § 11 BTÄO

Who applies as a veterinarian

Veterinarians filed 492 applications for recognition in 2025, after 420 in 2024 and 285 in 2021. Of the 462 cases decided, 249 ended in full equivalence, in 186 the authority imposed a compensation measure and 24 applications were refused.

The statistics do not break the applications down by country of origin. At the end of 2025 the veterinary chambers in Germany had 46,089 members, 2,939 of them without German citizenship, or 6.4 percent.

How the route works

Veterinary degree from the EU, EEA or Switzerland

Where your veterinary qualification is listed for your country in Directive 2005/36/EC and meets the reference date, it is recognised without a check of the course content. For veterinarians, what counts is the start of your training.

The authority asks for a certificate of conformity from your home country if the title differs from the list or if your training began before the reference date (§ 4(1a) BTÄO). It confirms that your training met the EU minimum standards.

Where no automatic recognition applies, the authority compares your training with the German course, and 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)

Veterinary degree from outside the EU

The authority first assesses your documents, with an equivalence report (Gleichwertigkeitsgutachten), and decides whether your training is equivalent to the German one. Only 3 states name a fee for the report; elsewhere the authority assesses documents itself or charges its actual expenses.

A knowledge test follows only if substantial differences remain that your professional experience does not offset, or if your documents cannot be obtained for reasons beyond your control (§ 4(2) BTÄO). The test follows the content and procedure of the German veterinary state examination, with up to 20 subjects (§ 29 TAppV). There is no four-week deadline for choosing, because the assessment is the standard route.

Non-EU qualifications in detail (German)

German is required, but usually as a certificate

Veterinarians usually need a general German certificate at level B2 (language certificate, Sprachnachweis). A specialist language test (Fachsprachenprüfung) is the exception: 11 of 16 states do not provide for one. If you have serious doubts about your German, the authority can examine it (§ 4(3a) BTÄO). The procedure, the forms and the tests are all in German.

Working as a veterinarian before you are licensed

Until your Approbation is granted, you can apply for a temporary permit to practise (Berufserlaubnis, § 11 BTÄO). It is revocable and limited to four years in total, twice as long as for doctors, dentists and pharmacists. Several states exclude sovereign tasks such as the inspection of animals at slaughter and of meat.

An extension of up to three years is possible only to complete specialist training (Fachtierarzt) that was delayed for reasons beyond your control (§ 11(2) BTÄO). If you are a national of an EU or EEA state or of Switzerland and hold a qualification from one of these states, you normally get no permit. An exception applies if you show a special interest in the permit.

The temporary permit in detail (German)

Which state is responsible for veterinarians?

For veterinarians the authority of the state where you intend to practise decides on your application (§ 13(2) BTÄO). The rule on habitual residence applies to doctors, dentists and pharmacists only.

In many states an authority for veterinary affairs or consumer protection handles veterinarians, a different office from the one for the human health professions.

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

Key figures for veterinarians

The application fee for a degree from outside the EU ranges from €80 to €850 across 14 states.
Where the knowledge test is held, it costs €80 per examination subject in 6 states.
Depending on the state, between 7 and 14 documents are mandatory for a degree from outside the EU.

Where to go next

In veterinary medicine the assessment of your documents is the standard route, so there is no choice to make. The fees overview shows what the assessment costs: the equivalence report (Gleichwertigkeitsgutachten).

Questions from veterinarians

Do I have to take a knowledge test as a veterinarian?: Only in certain cases: if substantial differences remain that your experience does not offset, or if your documents cannot be obtained for reasons beyond your control (§ 4(2) BTÄO).
Do I need a specialist language test?: Usually not. A general certificate at level B2 normally suffices, and most states do not require the specialist test.
Which subjects does the knowledge test cover?: Up to the 20 subjects of the veterinary state examination (§ 29 TAppV). Your decision letter states which ones you take.
How long can I work with the temporary permit?: Four years in total (§ 11(2) BTÄO), with a possible extension of up to three years for specialist training.

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].