In Germany, there are approximately 400,000 doctors working with a specialist title.
For this title, doctors have completed their specialist training in a specific medical speciality after their medical studies. Here, assistant doctors can choose between almost 50 specialist training programmes.
What is a specialist?
A medical specialist is a doctor with a recognised specialist training in a medical field.
In Germany, only those who have successfully completed several years of further training and the subsequent specialist examination before a state medical association may use the title "specialist".
Why become a specialist?
The title of specialist is required for doctors to be able to carry out certain medical activities.
For example, the title of specialist has been required since the 1990s in order to be admitted as a panel doctor by the statutory health insurance funds.
It also makes sense to train as a specialist if you are aiming for a later career as a senior physician or head physician.
Requirements for specialist training
To qualify as a medical specialist, you must have completed your medical studies and be licensed to practise medicine.
How much do I earn during my specialist training?
Doctors in further training earn between 4,850 euros and 6,340 euros during their specialist training (as of 2023).
The salary is based on the respective collective agreements of the employer - so all the hard work during medical school really pays off.
Duration of specialist training
Specialist training in Germany lasts 4-6 years.
The weekly working hours influence the duration of specialist training - i.e. whether one works full-time or part-time.
For doctors in further training who complete their training part-time, the training period is extended.
The specialist training must be completed with a person authorised to provide further training.
Consequently, doctors in further training can only be trained by a specialist who has the corresponding authorisation for further training in the desired specialty.
In this context, the duration of the authorisation for further training differs from trainer to trainer.
Some doctors have full authorisation for further training, while other specialists may only train for a limited period (e.g. 36 months).
The duration of specialist training varies depending on the specialty.
Training to become a specialist
During specialist training, the doctor is called an assistant doctor in the respective specialty (e.g. "Assistenzarzt für innere Medizin").
Further training as a specialist is provided by a doctor authorised to provide further training at a university hospital or a medical care facility (clinic or doctor's practice).
In Germany, further training to become a specialist usually takes place within the framework of clinical medical practice.
In this context, specialist training is based on the corresponding further training catalogue of the respective specialty.
The respective state medical associations are responsible for the catalogues.
There is a logbook for certification of the completed content.
In this logbook, the assistant doctor must have his progress certified in writing by his supervisor.
When changing jobs or bosses, residents should insist on the documentation.
If the documentation is missing, the doctor in further training may have to repeat the contents of the further training in the worst case.
Settling down as a specialist
At the end of specialist training, a specialist examination must be taken at the state medical association. On passing the specialist examination, the doctor acquires the title of specialist.
This is a prerequisite for setting up a practice.
A branch can be a takeover or a new establishment. Only one specialist is legally entitled to care for patients covered by the health insurance system.
He or she must be a member of the relevant regional medical association in the respective federal state in order to be able to provide care to patients covered by the health insurance system.
If a doctor does not have a specialist title, he or she can only treat private patients.
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