Which hospitals in Germany hire doctors without Approbation?
As of 3 November 2026, counted from every live doctor advert on Klaro.
Ahmed Quteishat, Assistenzarzt, Innere Medizin (Berlin) · Founder of Klaro
Updated:
In short
Few do, and they say so in the advert. On 3 November 2026, 162 of the 13,580 doctor adverts on Klaro (1.2%) said a temporary licence (Berufserlaubnis) is enough. Most are resident (Assistenzarzt) jobs in psychiatry, internal medicine and surgery, at mid sized hospitals, psychiatric clinics and rehab clinics, most often in Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg.
Where the 162 adverts are
| State | Adverts |
|---|---|
| Bavaria (Bayern) | 40 |
| Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) | 21 |
| Brandenburg | 19 |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | 17 |
| Hesse (Hessen) | 11 |
| Schleswig-Holstein | 11 |
| Saxony (Sachsen) | 9 |
| Thuringia (Thüringen) | 7 |
| Other 6 states | 27 |
Which hospitals and which jobs
| Kind of employer | Adverts |
|---|---|
| Specialised hospital (Schwerpunktversorger) | 37 |
| Psychiatric or psychosomatic clinic | 35 |
| Rehab clinic | 27 |
| Local hospital (Grund- und Regelversorgung) | 21 |
| Large hospital (Maximalversorger) | 15 |
| Practice or MVZ | 16 |
| University hospital | 8 |
By specialty, psychiatry leads with 52 adverts, then internal medicine (21), surgery (20) and neurology (10). By career level, 117 adverts are for residents (Assistenzarzt), 39 for specialists (Facharzt) and 13 for senior physicians (Oberarzt).
The employers with the most such adverts on 3 November 2026 were Helios Kliniken (10), Asklepios Fachklinikum Brandenburg (8), Asklepios Fachklinikum Göttingen (7), AMEOS (5) and Klinikverbund Allgäu (5). The list changes every day as adverts open and close.
How to find them and apply
- Open the doctor jobs on Klaro and switch on the filter "Berufserlaubnis accepted".
- Narrow it by state or specialty; psychiatry and internal medicine have the most openings.
- Write your licence stage on your CV the way Approbation pending on your CV shows.
- Check the language rules in What German level do doctors need: most hospitals ask for the Fachsprachprüfung first.
Adverts that do not mention the Berufserlaubnis are not a firm no: many hospitals simply do not say. A short question to the department before you apply costs nothing. Background on the licence itself: paid doctor work with a Berufserlaubnis.
Questions
Can I work as a doctor in a German hospital without Approbation?
Yes, with a temporary licence (Berufserlaubnis) from the authority of your state, under the conditions it sets (Bundesärzteordnung § 10). On 3 November 2026, 162 of the 13,580 doctor adverts on Klaro said a Berufserlaubnis is enough.
Which specialty hires the most doctors with a Berufserlaubnis?
Psychiatry: 52 of the 162 adverts on 3 November 2026. Internal medicine (21), surgery (20) and neurology (10) follow.
Which German state has the most jobs for doctors without Approbation?
Bavaria, with 40 adverts on 3 November 2026, then Lower Saxony (21), Brandenburg (19) and North Rhine-Westphalia (17).
Are there specialist or senior jobs with a Berufserlaubnis?
A few. On 3 November 2026, 39 adverts for specialists (Facharzt) and 13 for senior physicians (Oberarzt) accepted it; 117 were for residents (Assistenzarzt).
If an advert does not mention the Berufserlaubnis, should I still apply?
Ask first. Most adverts do not say either way. A short e-mail to the department asking whether they take doctors with a Berufserlaubnis saves both sides time.
Sources
Klaro writes your German application
A German CV and cover letter from your own details, which you can enter in English. Free.