Nearly half of foreign doctors aiming to work in Germany are failing the mandatory specialist language exam, highlighting significant challenges in meeting the country’s linguistic and professional standards.
The test, which requires advanced general and medical-specific German proficiency (B2 and C1 levels under CEFR), is a prerequisite for licensing. Despite Germany’s urgent need for healthcare professionals, these language barriers are delaying many foreign-trained doctors from entering the workforce.
Failure rates are stark: in Saxony, 112 out of 200 Syrian candidates and 15 out of 26 Ukrainians failed the exam in 2023. Across other regions, the numbers are similarly grim, with Brandenburg seeing a 50% failure rate, Bremen 49%, Bavaria 44%, and Berlin 38%. Hamburg reported failure rates of 40% to 45%. Thuringia, however, emerged as a bright spot, with only 26% failing.
The language exam, costing between €390 and €600 per attempt, can be retaken indefinitely, but success isn’t guaranteed. Critics argue the exam’s difficulty reflects the profession’s complexity and patient safety demands, but it has become a hurdle particularly for candidates from Syria, Iran, and Turkey.
This trend has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and medical professionals. The AfD party, for instance, has pointed to the failure rates as evidence of broader issues in foreign doctors’ readiness and qualifications. Martin Sichert, the party’s health policy spokesperson, advocates for stricter requirements and more robust training programs to ensure foreign doctors meet German medical standards.
“Promoting local medical students is, of course, an elementary and obvious task,” Sichert stated. He emphasized the importance of consistent standards to maintain patient care quality, stressing that foreign doctors shouldn’t be fast-tracked until they achieve acceptable language proficiency.
As Germany grapples with its healthcare workforce shortages, addressing these language challenges remains a critical task to balance professional standards and the urgent need for more doctors.
