preparatory assistant dentist

How long does the preparatory period last?

§ 3(2)(b) of the Dental Practice Accreditation Regulation (Zahnarzte-ZV) requires a preparatory period of at least two years. Under § 3(3), at least six months of this must be completed as an assistant or locum for a panel dentist; the remainder may be spent at university dental clinics, hospital wards, public health services, or Bundeswehr dental stations. Periods of less than three weeks do not count. Part-time work extends the period accordingly; many statutory dental associations (KZVen) set a minimum of 16 hours per week. Up to three months may be replaced by work at a university dental clinic or a Bundeswehr dental station. Any independent practice activity undertaken alongside the assistant period is not counted.

What applies to graduates from EU countries abroad?

§ 3(4) of the Accreditation Regulation exempts dentists from the preparatory period if they have obtained a qualification recognised under EU law in another EU member state, the European Economic Area, or an equivalent contracting state and are authorised to practise there. Those who have graduated in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, or Croatia may therefore under certain circumstances be entered in the dentist register without the two-year period. Whether the conditions are met in an individual case is assessed by the relevant statutory dental association (KZV), and in cases of doubt it is worth seeking legal advice.

What practice and assistant must bear in mind

The employment must be notified to and approved by the statutory dental association in advance. Without approval, the fee entitlement for services provided by the assistant may lapse. Under § 32(3) of the Accreditation Regulation, an assistant may moreover not serve to enlarge the practice. Periods of maternity protection and parental leave are not counted, which can noticeably extend the total duration. The assistant also does not bill independently: services are invoiced through the practice owner, who remains responsible for them.

What the period offers in practice

The professional step up is significant. Billing under BEMA and GOZ, practice organisation, documentation, and patient management are barely covered during the degree. That is precisely what this period is for. Those who studied in the EU abroad also gain routine during this phase in the German specialist language and in handling statutory health insurance forms. Even where the preparatory period may legally be waived, many newly qualified dentists voluntarily choose an assistant period before setting up in practice.