Official Expert Answer9 months ago
Hi Jamal, thanks for your question. In Germany, emergency medicine is not (yet) its own Facharzt specialty. Instead, it is an additional qualification (Zusatzweiterbildung Notfallmedizin). To start working in emergency medicine, you need Approbation plus 24 months of postgraduate training in direct inpatient care (e.g., internal medicine, anesthesiology, surgery), often including 6 months in intensive care, anesthesia, or an emergency department. You must also complete an 80-hour emergency medicine course and show emergency service deployments. A completed Facharzt is not required for this classic pathway, but it is required for the newer Zusatzweiterbildung Klinische Akut- und Notfallmedizin.
You can train in emergency medicine at almost any hospital. University hospitals in Berlin (Charité), Heidelberg, Munich (LMU), and Hamburg (UKE) offer the widest exposure and highest patient volumes, while smaller hospitals may allow you to enter more quickly.
📍 Important: For international doctors, the first step is always Approbation. This requires German language exams (B2 + C1 Medical), and often the Kenntnisprüfung if your degree is from outside the EU.
Regarding MRCEM (UK): it is not automatically recognized. It may strengthen your CV but does not replace German exams and does not grant Facharzt status. If you need further help we recommend our one-to-one guidance on professional recognition and career entry in Germany. Warm regards, Sophie
You can train in emergency medicine at almost any hospital. University hospitals in Berlin (Charité), Heidelberg, Munich (LMU), and Hamburg (UKE) offer the widest exposure and highest patient volumes, while smaller hospitals may allow you to enter more quickly.
📍 Important: For international doctors, the first step is always Approbation. This requires German language exams (B2 + C1 Medical), and often the Kenntnisprüfung if your degree is from outside the EU.
Regarding MRCEM (UK): it is not automatically recognized. It may strengthen your CV but does not replace German exams and does not grant Facharzt status. If you need further help we recommend our one-to-one guidance on professional recognition and career entry in Germany. Warm regards, Sophie