Official Expert Answer
It is negotiable more often than hospitals let on. The mechanics:
• The collective agreements (TV-Ärzte VKA, TV-Ärzte TdL, or a house specific contract) define pay levels by years of relevant medical experience, not by where that experience was gained. Foreign experience can be credited.
• It is almost never applied automatically. You have to submit translated work certificates that clearly state role, department, and exact dates, and then ask explicitly for the higher Stufe.
• Time spent as Gastarzt or in an unpaid Hospitation usually does not count. Supervised work under a Berufserlaubnis usually does.
• Check which agreement your contract actually references before you argue, because the rules differ between them.
Ask in writing, attach the certificates, and name the Stufe you are asking for. The worst case is that they say no and you have lost nothing.
• The collective agreements (TV-Ärzte VKA, TV-Ärzte TdL, or a house specific contract) define pay levels by years of relevant medical experience, not by where that experience was gained. Foreign experience can be credited.
• It is almost never applied automatically. You have to submit translated work certificates that clearly state role, department, and exact dates, and then ask explicitly for the higher Stufe.
• Time spent as Gastarzt or in an unpaid Hospitation usually does not count. Supervised work under a Berufserlaubnis usually does.
• Check which agreement your contract actually references before you argue, because the rules differ between them.
Ask in writing, attach the certificates, and name the Stufe you are asking for. The worst case is that they say no and you have lost nothing.