Failed the FSP: retakes, waiting times and costs

In short

If you fail the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP), you can retake it — no chamber that addresses the question sets an upper limit. You always repeat the whole exam with all its parts, and every attempt costs the full fee again (roughly €400 to €700 depending on the chamber). Two attempts are usually at least three months apart: in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern this is mandatory, in Bavaria, Berlin and Westfalen-Lippe it is recommended, and in Rhineland-Palatinate the examination board's recommendation is binding. Use the time to find out exactly which part went wrong.

How often you can retake

The 2014 guidelines of the health ministers' conference already state: "Der Sprachtest kann nur als Ganzes, aber unbegrenzt wiederholt werden" (the language test can only be repeated as a whole, but without limit). The chambers put it like this:

Berlin: "Die Anzahl der Wiederholungsprüfungen ist nicht begrenzt" (the number of retakes is not limited).
Bavaria: "es gibt derzeit keine Beschränkung der Wiederholungsmöglichkeiten" (there is currently no limit on retakes); the procedural rules say "nicht begrenzt" (not limited).
Lower Saxony: "Die Anzahl der Wiederholungsversuche ist nicht begrenzt" (the number of retake attempts is not limited).
Westfalen-Lippe and Thuringia: the exam can be repeated "so oft wie erforderlich" (as often as necessary).
Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: explicitly not limited.
Nordrhein: "mehrmals" (several times); Bremen (2015 decree): "beliebig häufig" (as often as you like).
Hessen: "Die Fachsprachprüfung kann beliebig oft abgelegt werden" (the exam can be taken as often as you like).
Hamburg allows a retake "nach Erfüllung der erteilten Auflage" (after fulfilling the condition imposed); Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt only say that a retake is possible, without giving a number.

The limit of two retakes that you sometimes read about applies to the Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge exam), not to the FSP. The Bremen decree puts the two side by side: the Kenntnisprüfung "kann bei Nichtbestehen insgesamt zweimal wiederholt werden" (can be repeated twice in total), the language exam "beliebig häufig". The difference between the two exams is explained under FSP or Kenntnisprüfung.

Always the whole exam, always the full fee

Passed parts are not carried over. Berlin: you can repeat the exam "nur im Ganzen mit allen drei Prüfungsteilen" (only as a whole, with all three parts). Brandenburg: "Auch wenn Sie nur einen der Prüfungsteile nicht bestanden haben, ist die Wiederholungsprüfung immer als Gesamtprüfung mit allen drei Prüfungsteilen abzulegen" (even if you failed only one part, the retake always covers all three). Bavaria: "Eine Anrechnung von Einzelbereichen auf einen später abgelegten Sprachtest findet nicht statt" (individual parts are not credited towards a later test).

Every attempt costs the full fee — for example €400 in Westfalen-Lippe, €430 in Nordrhein, €550 in Bavaria and Berlin, €590 in Saxony. The full overview is under FSP fees.

It also gets expensive if you cannot attend a new date:

Berlin: free cancellation until you receive the invitation or up to 14 days before. Later and without good reason: new registration and a new fee; with good reason: a €100 handling charge.
Rhineland-Palatinate: cancelling or not attending within two weeks of the date — the fee is forfeited; for an earlier cancellation or postponement, half the fee is due.
Lower Saxony: if your place cannot be reassigned after a cancellation, the costs are due again, "auch bei krankheitsbedingtem Fernbleiben" (even if you are absent through illness); for a new date, expect a wait of up to five months.
Westfalen-Lippe, Thuringia, Bavaria: for a late cancellation or a no-show, the fee may become due again or is not refunded; the BLÄK reserves the right to keep it in full.

So plan your next date so that you can be sure to attend.

Waiting time before the next attempt: the rules by chamber

Chamber	Rule	Binding?
Bavaria	re-register at the earliest 3 months after the last attempt; preparation time 3–6 months, set by the panel "in Abhängigkeit von der erreichten Punktzahl" (depending on the score achieved) and named in the exam conversation	recommendation
Berlin	"Lernzeitraum von mindestens drei Monaten" (a study period of at least three months), guided by the board's recommendations for improvement	recommendation
Westfalen-Lippe	recommended retake date "zwischen 3 und 6 Monaten" (between 3 and 6 months); the chamber proposes the date	recommendation
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (also for Schleswig-Holstein)	"darf frühestens nach drei Monaten wiederholt werden" (may be retaken after three months at the earliest)	binding
Rhineland-Palatinate	preparation time recommended by the board; exceptions only for compelling personal reasons (e.g. visa expiry, a new job offer in Rhineland-Palatinate), documented in writing	binding
Brandenburg	the board recommends the earliest retake date and, if needed, further measures such as a language course	recommendation
Lower Saxony	a recommendation for improvement if needed; "Die Empfehlungen sind keine Pflicht" (the recommendations are not mandatory)	recommendation
Nordrhein	"einige Monate zwischen den Prüfungsterminen" (a few months between exam dates)	recommendation
Hamburg	retake "nach Erfüllung der erteilten Auflage" (after fulfilling the condition imposed)	individual condition
Hessen	recommended preparation time, noted on your copy of the exam result	recommendation
Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Bremen	no waiting period published	—

A separate block applies if you are late or do not turn up: in Hamburg the exam then counts as failed "unabhängig vom Grund" (regardless of the reason), and a new date is possible "frühestens nach drei Monaten" (after three months at the earliest). The Westfalen-Lippe chamber's 2021 information leaflet also named a three-month wait after a cancellation following the invitation or a no-show; the current website only says that the fee may then be due again — ask if in doubt.

How you learn the result and the reasons

In most chambers you hear the result orally on the day of the exam; Berlin sends it by email at the earliest ten days later (overview under FSP grading). How much you learn about the reasons varies:

Lower Saxony: the result is discussed with you, and "ggf. eine Empfehlung zur Verbesserung der Sprachkompetenz mitgeteilt" (a recommendation for improving your language skills is given if needed).
Westfalen-Lippe: after the exam, "über die jeweiligen Stärken und Schwächen gesprochen" (your strengths and weaknesses are discussed with you); you receive an information sheet and the result in writing the following week. With your consent, the chamber also talks to the senior physician or a mentor in the department where you do your observership about what you should practise specifically.
Hessen: the examination team notes on your copy of the exam result how long you should prepare for the retake.
Bavaria: you are given a blue leaflet; the panel names the preparation time in the exam conversation. According to the procedural rules, the minutes record "die wesentlichen Gesichtspunkte" (the essential points) if you fail; a copy goes to the government authority.
Berlin: every scoring sheet contains the field "Ihre Empfehlung zur Nachbesserung der Sprachkenntnisse" (recommendation for improving language skills); the chamber advises you to base your preparation on these recommendations.
Brandenburg: the board recommends the earliest date and, if needed, measures such as a language course.
Nordrhein: the chamber sends "umgehend Informationen zur Wiederholungsprüfung" (information on the retake straight away).

Write down what the examiners said right after the conversation — as close to word for word as you can.

Access to the evaluation and appeals

Berlin states explicitly that you cannot lodge an objection (Widerspruch) against a fail with the chamber — only against decisions in the licensing procedure at the State Office for Health and Social Affairs (LAGeSo). The chamber's data protection notice does, however, list the right to information about your stored data (Art. 15 GDPR) and to inspect the files; the stored data include "Prüfungs- und Ergebnisdaten" (exam and result data).
Bremen: according to the decree, applicants receive "einen rechtsmittelfähigen Bescheid" (a formal decision open to legal challenge) on the result.
All other chambers publish nothing on access or appeals. Ask the chamber in writing; for legal questions about your licensing procedure, your licensing authority (Approbationsbehörde) is responsible. This section is not legal advice.

What to do in the weeks afterwards

In the first few days: a memory record

Write everything down while it is fresh: the case, the patient's questions, the places where you did not understand, what you wrote on the form, the senior physician's follow-up questions, the terminology list and the feedback. Nordrhein examiner Dr Jaswant Singh advises candidates "genau zu rekapitulieren, woran der erste Anlauf scheiterte, und entsprechend die Kompetenzen im Schreiben, Sprechen oder Hörverständnis zu vertiefen" (to work out exactly why the first attempt failed and to strengthen writing, speaking or listening accordingly) — and to allow "einige Monate" (a few months) for it. Do not let online reports unsettle you: according to the Westfalen-Lippe chamber they are "sehr subjektiv" (very subjective) and distorted, because candidates who passed rarely post there.

Analysis by exam part

Map your observations to the criteria. Berlin's scoring sheets are the only published template:

What you noticed	Criteria affected	Training
often did not understand the patient, missed names or numbers	Part 1: "versteht ihr/sein Gegenüber problemlos" (understands the other person without difficulty)	listening with audio cases, writing down numbers and names, clarification phrases
searched for words, fell back on stock phrases	Part 1: "klar und detailliert" (clear and detailed), "Sachverhalte flüssig zu erklären" (explains fluently)	speak freely every day, retell cases aloud, clinical observership (Hospitation)
answered the patient's questions poorly, no closing	Part 1: "erklärt das weitere Vorgehen verständlich und patientengerecht" (explains next steps patient-appropriately)	lay explanations for common examinations and treatments
form incomplete, ran out of time	Part 2: "strukturiert und vollständig" (structured and complete), "nötige Detailtiefe" (necessary detail)	fill in the chamber form against the clock in 20 minutes
grammar, spelling, Konjunktiv	Part 2: "grammatisch korrekt", "orthografisch korrekt"	personal error list, Konjunktiv I exercises
senior physician's questions, details not at hand	Part 3: follow-up questions, discussion	case presentation with five follow-up questions per case
terminology list	Part 3: terms, abbreviations, lab values	daily drills in both directions

Typical causes and fixes in detail: common mistakes.

Registering again

Bavaria: by email to the FSP office (address on the leaflet). After payment you receive the date "unter Berücksichtigung der Vorbereitungszeit von drei bis sechs Monaten" (taking the three-to-six-month preparation time into account). If you do not want to retake, inform the central recognition office of the Government of Upper Bavaria in writing.
Westfalen-Lippe: a written message to the chamber by post or email is enough; the ÄKWL proposes the date.
Lower Saxony: only via NiZzA; you decide whether to retake or withdraw your application.
Berlin and Rhineland-Palatinate: a new registration form and a new fee for every attempt.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: by email to the chamber; applicants from Schleswig-Holstein contact the state office (LASG).
Brandenburg: via the state medical chamber.

Until the new date: targeted training

The BLÄK recommends "Sprachkurse und/oder Hospitationen in Krankenhäusern, Arztpraxen" (language courses and/or observerships in hospitals and practices); Lower Saxony and Westfalen-Lippe name language courses and observerships with active use of German in hospitals or practices. Build your weeks like this: short daily exercises for your weakest part, speaking freely every day and, from the middle of your preparation, regular full mock exams under real conditions — three parts, 20 minutes each, one case. A weekly plan that you can shorten for a retake is under FSP preparation. For full simulations of the whole chain with language feedback you can also use fsppruefung.de; the first complete simulation is free.

Sources

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