Chinese doctors can start in Germany

You can start the German doctor licence process with a Chinese medical degree and internship without a Chinese medical licence. The state office compares your university training and clinical internship with German medical training.

A missing Chinese licence does not close the German application. It does mean your degree papers and internship papers must answer more questions clearly.

What Germany checks first

The licensing office in your German state decides your case. Berlin uses the State Office for Health and Social Affairs. Bavaria uses the government office for the region where you apply.

The office checks your medical diploma, transcript, course list, internship certificate, passport and name documents. It also asks whether your training is equal to German medical training.

Your university teaching language does not decide the case alone. An English-taught degree from China still needs a full course list, clinical subjects and exam results.

• pre-clinical subjects such as anatomy, physiology and pharmacology
• clinical rotations in medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics
• the clinical internship, with hospital name and rotation dates
• final degree certificate and full transcript
• official translations of Chinese papers, where the office requests them

Does the Chinese licence decide everything?

No. Germany assesses the medical education that led to your degree. A Chinese medical licence is a separate paper showing that you passed China’s licensing steps and can practise there.

If you never worked as a licensed doctor in China, you cannot send a Chinese good-standing certificate. Say this clearly in a signed letter. Do not leave an empty gap in the application.

The office may ask for a paper from the university, hospital or Chinese authority. That paper should state that you completed the degree and internship, but did not receive a Chinese practice licence.

A completed internship matters because it shows bedside training. Ask the hospital for one certificate listing each department, the dates, full-time status and supervising doctor.

What happens after the paper check

The office compares your training with German medical education. If it finds major missing subjects or clinical time, it can require the medical knowledge exam (Kenntnisprüfung).

A German language certificate is a separate requirement. Most states also require the language exam for doctors before they issue the full doctor licence (Approbation).

A job offer does not replace the diploma or internship certificate. It can help show why you are applying in that state, especially before you move to Germany.

What to do now

1. Request a university letter confirming your degree, teaching language and graduation date.
2. Request an internship certificate listing every hospital department and rotation date.
3. Write a short signed statement explaining why you have no Chinese medical licence.
4. Send scans to the licensing office in your chosen German state before paying for extra exams.
5. Keep original papers ready for certified copies and German translations.

Stand: 2026-09-30. This is a guide, not legal advice. Every German state has its own rules, and rules change. Check with your state's [medical chamber (Landesärztekammer)](https://www.bundesaerztekammer.de/aerztekammern) before you act.