The Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) is the medical language exam at the Ärztekammer: doctor-patient interview, written documentation and doctor-doctor discussion. It's the real watershed of the journey — once you pass the FSP, the rest is (almost) downhill.
In brief
- Three parts of ~20 minutes: patient history, written documentation, case presentation to a colleague.
- In Berlin you register via the Ärztekammer Berlin; fee ~€550.
- Didn't pass? You can retake it — many succeed on the second attempt.
What you need
- General B2 certificate (prerequisite for registration)
- Specific FSP preparation course (in Berlin or online)
- Practice with clinical cases in German: history, documentation, presentation
- German medical vocabulary + hospital abbreviations (crucial!)
From our experience
Prepare the FSP with other Italian or international doctors: simulating the doctor-patient interview in pairs is the method that worked best. And learn German abbreviations from day one — on the ward nobody writes things out in full.
Prepare the FSP with other Italian or international doctors: simulating the doctor-patient interview in pairs is the method that worked best. And learn German abbreviations from day one — on the ward nobody writes things out in full.
What's next?
With the FSP passed, you have the missing piece to request full recognition: the Approbation.
Questions about this step? Check the FAQ or write to us.