Information for non-EU citizens
Dental professionals from countries outside of the European Union require a special recognition of their professional qualification to be able to practice dentistry in Germany (information and advice on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications can be found at www.bzaek.de).
The responsible authority is:
Hessisches Landesprüfungs- und Untersuchungsamt im Gesundheitswesen (HLPUG)
Walter-Möller-Platz 1
60439 Frankfurt/Main
Telephone 069 / 1567-712
Fax 069 / 1567-716
The Hessian State Examination and Investigation Department for the Health Care Sector (HLPUG) advises that, in accordance with the Professional Qualifications Assessment Act (BQFG), the granting of a license to practice dentistry in Germany is no longer conditional on the holding of a certain nationality.
In future, all dentists, regardless of their nationality, can apply for a license to practice dentistry in Germany if they have completed their studies in Germany. Previously, this was only possible, with certain exceptions, for candidates who held the nationality of one of the European Union member states.
As soon as a license or authorisation as per Section 13 of the German Dentistry Act has been granted and the candidate begins their professional activity, they are required to register with the State Dental Association of Hesse.
Important note on the recognition of foreign qualifications:
Since January 2010, those in possession of a degree from a foreign university can request the assessment of their degree gained abroad by the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) at the Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs. They then receive a document that will aid their search for a job in Germany.
The assessment of the certificate contains a description of the foreign university and certifies the professional and academic application possibilities. It indicates which German qualification the foreign qualification is comparable to and provides additional information on possibilities for continuing studies, on the legal basis for awarding academic degrees and on the procedures for professional recognition.
University qualifications from all countries of the world are assessed. The basis for the assessment of degrees is the “Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region” (known as the Lisbon Convention). This came into force in Germany on 01/10/2007.
The ZAB is the central office for the assessment of foreign qualifications in Germany. This includes school, vocational, and university qualifications.