Official Expert Answer
Language certificates (telc, Goethe, ÖSD) officially usually have no expiration date — but authorities and chambers often set their own rules:
• Some accept certificates indefinitely, others want them "no older than 1–3 years." This depends on the federal state and the office.
• For the FSP application, only the required level (often B2) usually counts as a prerequisite anyway — the actual clinical language proficiency is tested by the FSP itself.
• Ask the responsible office specifically: "Do you accept my B2 certificate from [date] or does it need to be more recent?"
Practical: Even if the certificate is accepted, your German might be rusty after a year without practice. Regardless of the certificate, it is worthwhile to actively train your clinical German again.
• Some accept certificates indefinitely, others want them "no older than 1–3 years." This depends on the federal state and the office.
• For the FSP application, only the required level (often B2) usually counts as a prerequisite anyway — the actual clinical language proficiency is tested by the FSP itself.
• Ask the responsible office specifically: "Do you accept my B2 certificate from [date] or does it need to be more recent?"
Practical: Even if the certificate is accepted, your German might be rusty after a year without practice. Regardless of the certificate, it is worthwhile to actively train your clinical German again.