Fachsprachprüfung in Saarland: which certificates count

At a glance

Who is responsible in Saarland

Approbation and Berufserlaubnis are granted by the Landesamt für Soziales through its Zentralstelle für Gesundheitsberufe and the Landesprüfungsamt. The Ärztekammer des Saarlandes (the Saarland medical chamber) makes this clear in its information sheets: the Landesamt is responsible, „nicht die Ärztekammer“ (not the medical chamber); the chamber decides only on recognising foreign specialist titles and further training. On language it writes: „Das Landesamt für Soziales fordert Sprachkenntnisse auf den Niveau B2-GER und Fachsprachkenntnisse auf dem Niveau C1-GER.“ (The Landesamt requires language skills at B2 and medical-language skills at C1.) The state's service portal also names B2 and a C1 medical language test for the Berufserlaubnis.

Which documents you submit is set out in the „Merkblatt zur Beantragung der Approbation oder Berufserlaubnis als Arzt/Ärztin nach Studium im Ausland“ (information sheet on applying for the Approbation or Berufserlaubnis after studying abroad) on the Landesamt's Approbation page. For questions, the LAS gives telephone service hours and the address [email protected].

Which certificates count — and where to take the exam

Because there is no chamber exam in the state, candidates in Saarland obtain their C1 proof from an external provider. The framework of the classic chamber FSP is described in the three parts in detail; the external exams are built differently.

telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin Fachsprachprüfung

The telc exam is held at licensed telc exam centres, on paper and only as a complete exam. It has a written part (listening, reading, language elements) and an individual „Sprechen und Schreiben“ (speaking and writing) part of 65 minutes after 5 minutes' preparation: history-taking conversation, short report, doctor–doctor conversation. According to telc, it certifies work-related German at B2 and medical German at C1. Ask the LAS which result it requires for the medical-language level. A detailed comparison with the chamber FSP is in telc and FaMed.

Patientenkommunikationstest (PKT) C1 of the FIA

The Freiburg International Academy (FIA) states that its PKT remains recognised in Saarland for medicine and pharmacy for all degrees as proof of medical language — regardless of where you studied; in Hamburg and Hesse, according to the FIA, it applies only to degrees from the EU area. The medical PKT has three parts of 20 minutes each: written documentation for a colleague, a patient presentation to a colleague and a patient education talk, with 30 minutes' preparation for the two oral parts. The order is thus the reverse of the chamber FSP, and instead of history taking there is an informed-consent conversation at the end. You pass if you reach at least 60 per cent in each part. The exam is held in Frankfurt or online; the fee is €450, cancellation or refund is not possible, and a B2 certificate is required.

FSP of another state medical chamber

According to the Marburger Bund, Saarland recognises a chamber FSP from another state only if you passed it there as part of an Approbation or Berufserlaubnis procedure. This route hardly works for an "exam trip", because many chambers examine only applicants from their own procedure — for example: in Saxony the Landesdirektion arranges the exam, in Thuringia registration requires the acknowledgement from the Landesverwaltungsamt, and in Brandenburg an Approbation application at the state office there. It matters mainly if you already passed the FSP in another state and then move to Saarland.

Other C1 medical-language exams

Other exams at C1 are possible only after consultation with the authority, according to the Marburger Bund. There is no list.

Registration: how to proceed

1. You apply for the Approbation or Berufserlaubnis at the Landesamt für Soziales; the documents are listed in its information sheet.
2. You clarify with the LAS which C1 proof it accepts in your case — ideally in writing, before you pay an exam fee.
3. You have your B2 certificate ready; for the PKT, a confirmation of attendance is not enough.
4. You register with a telc exam centre or with the FIA.
5. You submit the certificate to the LAS.

Because no chamber fee applies in Saarland, the fee overview shows only a dash for the state; budget for the provider's fee instead.

Assessment and retakes

Assessment and retakes follow the provider's rules. With the PKT you learn the result directly after the exam and receive the certificate the same day; after a failed attempt you can sit it again at the earliest three weeks after the exam day. For the telc exam, telc gives no pass mark on its exam page; the exam centre can tell you. What helps after a failed attempt is covered under failed the FSP.

Tips for candidates in Saarland

• Confirmation first, booking second. With the PKT, cancellation and refunds are excluded. Get the LAS to confirm that your chosen proof is sufficient for your procedure.
• Choose the format that suits you. The PKT requires an informed-consent talk instead of history taking and starts with the written part; telc adds a written section with listening and reading. Train for exactly the format you will sit.
• Practise the shared core. A patient conversation in everyday language, written documentation and presenting the case to colleagues appear in every format.
• Check dates early. The FIA examines on fixed dates, also online; plan your preparation towards a specific date.

Sources

• Ärztekammer des Saarlandes: Merkblatt Voraussetzung für die Beantragung der Approbation als Arzt/Ärztin (PDF)
• Ärztekammer des Saarlandes: Merkblatt Anerkennung ausländischer Bildungsabschlüsse (PDF)
• Landesamt für Soziales Saarland: Approbation
• Landesamt für Soziales Saarland: Häufig gestellte Fragen (FAQ) akademische Gesundheitsberufe
• Serviceportal Saarland: Zulassung als Ärztin oder Arzt in Deutschland mit Berufsausbildung im Ausland beantragen
• Marburger Bund: Deutschkenntnisse
• Freiburg International Academy: C1 Patient Communication Test (PKT) Professional Language
• telc: telc Deutsch B2·C1 Medizin Fachsprachprüfung