Apply for Approbation in Germany
Find the right authority (2025)
If you want to work as a pharmacist or medical doctor in Germany, you need official recognition of your foreign qualification – the so-called Approbation.
But where to apply for Approbation in Germany? It depends on the federal state where you plan to work.
Below, you’ll find a list of the responsible authorities in each federal state of Germany. This will help you apply for Approbation in Germany easily and quickly – whether you are a pharmacist or a doctor.
Author: Max Köhler
Date: 21.03.2025
Reading time: 5 minutes
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🔗German
Where to Apply for Approbation in Germany – Authorities by State
In Germany, each federal state is responsible for issuing the Approbation for pharmacists and medical doctors.
You must submit your application to the authority of the state where you plan to work.
Below you will find an overview of all competent authorities to help you start your recognition process in Germany easily and correctly.
❗Important: You must apply in the federal state where you plan to work as a pharmacist or medical doctor.
Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg)
🏢 Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart – State Health Office
📍 Nordbahnhofstraße 135, 70191 Stuttgart
📞 +49 711 904-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Baden-Württemberg
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria (Bayern)
🏢 Government of Upper Bavaria – State Examination Office for Health Professions
📍 Maximilianstraße 39, 80538 Munich
📞 +49 89 2176-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Bavaria
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Bavaria
Berlin (Berlin)
🏢 State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LaGeSo)
📍 Turmstraße 21, 10559 Berlin
📞 +49 30 90229-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Berlin
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Berlin
Brandenburg (Brandenburg)
🏢 State Office for Occupational Safety, Consumer Protection and Health (LAVG)
📍 Großbeerenstraße 181, 14482 Potsdam
📞 +49 331 8683-5000
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Brandenburg
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Brandenburg
Bremen (Bremen)
🏢 Public Health Office Bremen
📍 Horner Straße 60–70, 28203 Bremen
📞 +49 421 361-15226
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Bremen
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Bremen
Hamburg (Hamburg)
🏢 Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection – Approbation Office
📍 Billstraße 80a, 20539 Hamburg
📞 +49 40 42837-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Hamburg
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Hamburg
Hesse (Hessen)
🏢 Regional Council Darmstadt – State Examination Office for Health Professions
📍 Wilhelminenstraße 1–3, 64283 Darmstadt
📞 +49 6151 12-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Hesse
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Hesse
Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
🏢 Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family – Oldenburg Office
📍 Theodor-Tantzen-Platz 8, 26122 Oldenburg
📞 +49 441 2229-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Lower Saxony
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
🏢 District Government Düsseldorf – State Examination Office for Medicine, Psychotherapy, and Pharmacy
📍 Cecilienallee 2, 40474 Düsseldorf
📞 +49 211 475-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in North Rhine-Westphalia
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz)
🏢 State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care
📍 Rheinallee 97–101, 55118 Mainz
📞 +49 6131 967-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Rhineland-Palatinate
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland (Saarland)
🏢 Ministry for Labor, Social Affairs, Women and Health – Department of Health
📍 Franz-Josef-Röder-Straße 23, 66119 Saarbrücken
📞 +49 681 501-00
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Saarland
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Saarland
Saxony (Sachsen)
🏢 State Directorate of Saxony – Department of Health and Pharmacy
📍 Braustraße 2, 04107 Leipzig
📞 +49 341 977-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Saxony
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
🏢 State Administration Office Saxony-Anhalt – State Examination Office for Health Professions
📍 Ernst-Kamieth-Straße 2, 06112 Halle (Saale)
📞 +49 345 514-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Saxony-Anhalt
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Saxony-Anhalt
Schleswig-Holstein (Schleswig-Holstein)
🏢 State Office for Social Services Schleswig-Holstein (LAsD)
📍 Hamburger Chaussee 25, 24113 Kiel
📞 +49 431 988-0
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Schleswig-Holstein
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia (Thüringen)
🏢 Thuringian State Administration Office – State Examination Office for Health Professions
📍 Jorge-Semprún-Platz 4, 99423 Weimar
📞 +49 361 57-3320
🩺 Apply for Approbation as a Doctor in Thuringia
💊 Apply for Approbation as a Pharmacist in Thuringia
How to Apply for Approbation in Germany – Step-by-Step Guide
If you want to apply for Approbation in Germany, you need to follow these steps carefully:
📍 Choose the Right Authority
You must apply in the federal state where you want to work.
Use the list above to find the right authority for pharmacist or medical doctor recognition in Germany.
📝 Prepare Your Documents
The basic documents you need for recognition in Germany include:
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Passport or national ID card
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Proof of name change (if applicable)
-
Diploma in pharmacy or medicine
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Transcript of records
-
Certificate of good standing (professional license)
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Proof of professional experience (if available)
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German language certificates (B2 and Fachsprachprüfung Pharmacy or Medicine)
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Medical certificate
-
Criminal record certificate
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Professional resume (CV)
❗ Important:
All documents must be officially translated into German.
📬 Submit Your Application
Send your application to the responsible authority.
Some authorities allow online applications, others require postal submission.
⏳ Wait for the Equivalence Check
The authority will verify if your pharmacy or medical qualification is equivalent to a German degree.
If there are significant differences, you may have to pass a knowledge examination or complete an adaptation period.
🎉 Receive Your Approbation
Once your documents are approved and you pass any required exams, you will receive your Approbation and can officially work as a pharmacist or medical doctor in Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions about Applying for Approbation in Germany
If you are planning to work as a pharmacist or medical doctor in Germany, you probably have many questions about the application process for recognition in Germany.
Our FAQ section answers the most common questions about how to apply for Approbation in Germany and explains where to apply depending on your chosen federal state.
Below, you will find detailed information about the required documents, the application procedure, and the responsible authorities for each region.
This guide will help you navigate the process easily and start your career in Germany without unnecessary delays.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Baden-Württemberg?
In Baden-Württemberg, you must apply at the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart – Department 95. You can find the application for Approbation here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Bavaria?
In Bavaria (Bayern), you must apply at the Government of Upper Bavaria – Licensing Department. You can find the application for Approbation here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Berlin?
In Berlin, you must apply at the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LaGeSo). The application form for Approbation can be found here (PDF).
Where to Apply for Approbation in Brandenburg?
In Brandenburg, the responsible authority is the State Office for Occupational Safety, Consumer Protection and Health. Application information is available here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Bremen?
In Bremen, you must apply at the Public Health Office Bremen. You can find information about the application here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Hamburg?
In Hamburg, the Authority for Health and Consumer Protection is responsible. The application form for Approbation is available here (PDF).
Where to Apply for Approbation in Hesse?
In Hesse (Hessen), you must apply at the Darmstadt Regional Council – Licensing Department. You can find the application here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern?
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the State Office for Health and Social Affairs is responsible. You can find the application here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Lower Saxony?
In Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), you must apply at the State Examination Office for Health Professions. Application information is available here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in North Rhine-Westphalia?
In North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen), you must apply at the District Government of Cologne (Bezirksregierung Köln). All application details are available here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Rhineland-Palatinate?
In Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), the responsible authority is the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care. The application form (PDF) is available here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Saarland?
In Saarland, you must apply at the Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Women and Family. You can find the application information here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Saxony?
In Saxony (Sachsen), the State Directorate of Saxony is responsible. You can find the application form here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Saxony-Anhalt?
In Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt), you must apply at the State Administration Office of Saxony-Anhalt. The application form (PDF) can be found here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Schleswig-Holstein?
In Schleswig-Holstein, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Youth, Family and Senior Citizens is responsible. The application form (PDF) is available here.
Where to Apply for Approbation in Thuringia?
In Thuringia (Thüringen), you must apply at the State Administration Office of Thuringia. Information about the recognition process is available here.