Can German doctors work in the UK? Yes. GMC registration after getting a German Board

Can German doctors work in the UK?

• German doctors work in the UK: Introduction

The German board is recognized in all countries of the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (list of these countries). Despite Brexit (Britain leaving the EU on 31.01.2020), the German board is still recognized in Great Britain. 🥳🥳🥳🥳 Therefore, certainly can German doctors work in the UK. This applies too for foreign doctors who finished their medical residency in Germany and got a German board. The nationality of the doctors trained in Germany does not play a role.

You can see in the following article where the German board is recognized too:

🇩🇪 Recognition of the German board: In which countries?

💡 Despite Brexit (Britain leaving the EU on 31.01.2020), the German board is still recognized in Great Britain. 🥳🥳🥳
That German doctors work in the UK is possible.

Facharzt JETZT!

• German doctors work in the UK: They need to register in the GMC

The General Medical Council (GMC) is a regulatory body in the United Kingdom that oversees the medical profession. It is responsible for ensuring that doctors meet the necessary standards for safe and effective medical practice. The GMC sets the standards for medical education and training, registers medical practitioners, and regulates the professional conduct and behavior of doctors.

So, the GMC does partly what the medical license authorities (Approbationsbehörden) do in Germany and namely giving the “🇩🇪 Approbation” (permanent medical license) in Great Britain for foreign medical graduates.


• Costs of registration

To register in the GMC, all costs are here: Link.

💸💰🫰 Be careful: Even if you got your CMG registration, you need to pay yearly a “registration fee*”; even if you did not work in the UK. 😌 The fee depends on a few factors, but is at least 150 Pound/year.

Source: Website of GMC.

• Steps to get a GMC registration:

(1) OET (Occupational English Test)

Pass the English Language Test (OET) for Healthcare Professionals. This test and its parts are beautifully explained in a Wikipedia article: Link.

Many say it is an easy test and requires a few days of preparation.


(2) Fill the application form

Source: GMC website

You will find it in the website of the GMC. I must praise them for such an easy-to-use website. You simply answer questions about your situation, and then the website will show you what you need to do.


(3) Send the following documents online as a part of your application

  1. German permanent medical license (🇩🇪 die Approbation)
  2. Certificate of the German Board (🇩🇪 die Facharzturkunde)
  3. Letter of good standing (🇩🇪 die Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung): You get this from the medical association in which you are a member. It could be that they would require a letter of good standing for all of your working experience in the last 5 years. Please proof this point and write us a comment 💐🫡
  4. Copy of passport
  5. Employer references (🇩🇪 der Arbeitszeugnis) for the last five years are NOT always required. Details here.
  6. Answering health questions. Link.

All non-English documents need to be translated into English.


(4) Performing an identity check

You must do it within three months. Do not be afraid. You can do it with an app. 🥳 Details here: Link.


• FAQ about the exam from the website of the GMC

The most important questions are already explained in our article. For more details: Link.


So, this shows you how German doctors or graduates can work in the UK. It is easy, is not it? 🥳

Want to learn more? Questions?
Join JETZT (🇺🇸 now) all of our groups & ask what you like
(On mobile phone: The links are at the end of this page/ On PC: On the right side)

12 comments

  1. Hello
    Can non eu doctors work in uk after getting approbation in Germany? I mean doing specialty training in uk after getting approbation?

    1. Sorry, I missed your question. This is a very good question. Sure is, after getting a German Board, you can get approbation in the UK. But if simply having a German approbation is enough, is questionable.

      If you reach an answer, could you please notify us to update the article? 🙂

    2. After getting the gmc registration what should one do to be consultant?
      He will haabe to take CESR pathway? Or there are other possibilities?

  2. Hello

    What is the equivalent of facharzt to the UK residency pathway? Is the chefarzt is like consultant?

  3. “After obtaining a license from the General Medical Council (GMC), is it possible to apply for residency in Germany instead of doing residency in the UK?”

  4. Hi , iam in germany but im not resident , i take my fsp exam but i didnt take approbation .
    Can i work in uk ?
    And how ?

  5. Hallo,
    Ist die Kenntnisprüfung ähnlich dem Zeugnis der Ärztlichen Staatsprüfung oder Zeugnis über die Ärztliche Prüfung ?
    Vielen Dank im Voraus.

Write a comment