aptitude test

What is tested in an aptitude test?

Under Article 3(1)(h) of Directive 2005/36/EC, the aptitude test is limited to the professional knowledge, skills, and competences of the applicant. The authority draws up in advance a list of the subjects that were absent from the applicant's prior education. Only those subjects are examined. The material of the German state examination as a whole is expressly not included. The aptitude test counts, alongside the adaptation period, as one of the compensation measures and presupposes that substantial differences have previously been identified.

How does it differ from the knowledge examination?

The two terms are often confused. The knowledge examination (Kenntnisprüfung) concerns qualifications from third countries and, under § 3(3) of the Federal Medical Act, relates to the content of the final state examination — that is, the full scope including the oral-practical component. The aptitude test, by contrast, is governed by § 3(2) of the Federal Medical Act and applies only to qualifications from EU and EEA states that are not automatically recognised. It is considerably more narrowly drawn and as a rule shorter.

What applies to graduates from EU countries abroad?

Those who completed human medicine in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Malta, or the Baltic states and hold a title listed in Annex V do not encounter an aptitude test; automatic recognition applies here. In practice it becomes relevant for healthcare professions, in certain dental constellations, and for qualifications that pre-date the relevant cut-off date in the annex and lack a certificate of acquired rights. For students in Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina, the knowledge examination is the usual route instead.

Deadlines and hurdles

Article 14(7) of the Directive requires the examination to be available within six months of the decision. In practice, the date depends on the examination schedule of the state authority or the relevant chamber, and these vary in frequency from state to state. Fees, preparation courses, and waiting time quickly add up to a four-figure sum. How many resit attempts are permitted is governed by the relevant state law; the competent authority provides binding information on this.