Anyone wishing to qualify as a doctor in Germany generally completes a university programme in human medicine. The strictly regulated course has a standard duration of six years and three months, including examinations. After passing the Medical Examination, graduates may apply for a full licence to practise medicine (Approbation). Doctors can subsequently complete specialist training and receive recognition as a Facharzt or Fachärztin. Separately, they may earn the academic degree “Dr. med.” by completing a medical doctorate; this is not the same as qualifying to practise medicine. A further academic qualification, usually a Habilitation, may establish eligibility for a university professorship but does not itself confer the title “Professor”. A habilitated academic granted independent teaching authorisation may use the title “Privatdozent” or “Privatdozentin”, abbreviated to “PD”.
For international patients, it is important to understand that anyone practising as a doctor in Germany must be legally authorised to do so. This normally requires an Approbation; in certain cases, a temporary or restricted professional permit (Berufserlaubnis) is sufficient. These rules help ensure that practitioners meet the prescribed professional requirements.
A doctor without the title “Dr” or “Professor” is nevertheless fully qualified to practise medicine. These titles denote additional academic achievements or appointments, not medical licensing. Doctors treating patients in hospitals must hold the required authorisation, regardless of whether they have an academic title.