The duration of each medical specialty in Germany is different from the other ones. In this article, we make a summary of that. The numbers are official. These numbers could be read from the following official document:
(Muster-)Weiterbildungsordnung
🇺🇸 (Model-)training regulations
The most recent version is from 2018. You can download it from this link.
More explanation about these regulations is here:
We wrote the duration for each specialty in the table below. For almost each medical specialty in Germany we have a Fecebook and Telegram group. The links are also in the table. Or you can enter through the following link the telegram groups of the most active 25 groups. Or though this link, you can enter all of our 59 telegram groups.
| Duration (in years) |  |  Telegram | |
| 💊 Allgemeinchirurgie (General Surgery) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Allgemeinmedizin (Family Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Anästhesiologie (Anesthesiology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Arbeitsmedizin (Occupational Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Augenheilkunde (Ophthalmologie) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Dermatologie (Dermatology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Forensische Psychiatrie (Forensic Psychiatry) | 2 (after psychiatry specialty) | Link | Link |
| 💊 Gefäßchirurgie (Vascular Surgery) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Geriatrie (Geriatrics) (as subspecialty) | 1,5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Gynäkologie, Frauenheilkunde & Geburtshilfe (Obstetrics & Gynecology) (OBGYN) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Herzchirurgie (Heart Surgery) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 HNO (Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde) (ENT) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Humangenetik (Human Genetics) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Hygiene und Umweltmedizin (Hygiene and Environmental Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Innere Medizin (Internal Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Interntal medicine subspecialties (like cardiology, gastroenerology): – if you do them from beginn of residency: 1 year – If not: 2 years | Link | – | |
| 💊 Kinder- und Jugendchirurgie (Child and Adolescent Surgery) | 6 | ||
| 💊 Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie (KJPP) (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Klinische Pharmakologie (Clinical Pharmacology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Laboratoriumsmedizin (Lab Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Mikrobiologie, Virologie & Infektionsepidemiologie (Microbiology, Virology and Infections Epidemiology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 MKG (Mund-Kiefer-Gesichtschirurgie) (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) | Bachelor in Dentistry: 5 Bacehlor in Medicine: 5 Residency: 5 years Total: 15 yeras | Link | Link |
| 💊 Neonatologie (Neonatology) | 2 (after pediatrics) | Link | Link |
| 💊 Neurochirurgie (Neurosurgery) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Neurologie (Neurology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Neurointensiv (Neurocritical care) | 2 (after neurology or neurosurgery) | Link | Link |
| 💊 Neuropädiatrie (Neuropediatrics) | 2 (after pediatrics) | Link | Link |
| 💊 Neuroradiologie (Neuroradiology) | 2 (after radiology) | Link | Link |
| 💊 Notfallmedizin (Emergency medicine) | Only courses + clinical experience* | Link | Link |
| 💊 Nuklearmedizin (Nuclear Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Orthopädie & Unfallchirurgie (Orthopedics) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Palliativmedizin (Palliative Care) | Courses | Link | Link |
| 💊 Pathologie (Pathology) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Pharmakologie und Toxikologie (Pharmacology & Toxicology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Physikalische und Rehabilitative Medizin (Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Plastische und ästhetische Chirurgie (Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie (Psychiatry & Psychotherapy) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Psychosomatische Medizin & Psychotherapie (Psychosomatic Medicine & Psychotherapy) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Pädiatrie (Kinderheilkunde) (Pediatrics) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Radiologie und Neuroradiologie (Radiology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Rechtsmedizin (Forensic Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Schmerztherapie (Pain Medicine) | 1 | Link | – |
| 💊 Sportmedizin (Sport Medicine) | Courses | Link | – |
| 💊 Strahlentherapie (Radiotheray) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Thoraxchirurgie (Thoracic Surgery Board) | 6 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Transfusionsmedizin (Transfusion Medicine) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Urologie (Urology) | 5 | Link | Link |
| 💊 Viszeralchirurgie (Visceral Surgery) | 6 | Link | Link |
For almost all medical specialties in Germany, there is a medical society. More details here:
Very important note:
The above durations do not mean that you are for sure going to finish the residency in the given period. In the above article about the log book (link here again), we explained that there are certain things to be done and learnt for each specialty. So, if you did not do them, your residency will continue indefinitely (or you have a nice head of department!). Moreover, some delays could result because you need to do rotations (some times needing to change the hospital and find a new posistion). But do not be afraid. With good planning and good connections, many finish the residency on time. To be able to finish on time, you can read this article to avoid common mistakes:
* There is no specialty for the emergency medicine. Doctors of many specialties just need a certain course (about 90 horus of teaching for 1 Week), learn a few procedures (like intubation, chest tube insertion, etc.) and be present in about 50 drives with a license emergency physicians. Then they will get this certificate. Wikipedia article in German about emergency medicine in Germany: link.
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)
Further readings:
• “How Long is Medical Residency in Germany? A Comprehensive Comparison with England, USA, Canada, and Australia”, German medical residency website, link.
now) all of the following groups:
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