Work as a Doctor in the UK from Germany
As of July 2026, German-qualified doctors who want to practise in the UK must hold registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC). Since the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021, German medical qualifications are no longer automatically recognised — the GMC now assesses each application individually.
How German-qualified doctors register with the GMC to work in the UK after Brexit — the assessment route, the Facharzt specialist option, English evidence, and the visa overview.
Which GMC route applies to you?
Answer two questions for a plain-English summary of the likely registration route and English-evidence options. This is general educational guidance only — the General Medical Council makes the final decision on every application.
The GMC route for German-qualified doctors
Since automatic EEA recognition ended, most German graduates register through a GMC-assessed route, which may involve the PLAB examination or a recognised postgraduate/specialist qualification depending on the GMC’s assessment.
Before 2021, doctors with EEA qualifications had their qualifications automatically recognised for GMC registration. That automatic route ended when the post-Brexit transition period closed. Today the GMC assesses the German Approbation and the underlying Staatsexamen through the same framework it uses for other international applicants — so confirming your route with the GMC is the essential first step.
Depending on your qualification and postgraduate training, the GMC may direct you to the PLAB examination, or accept a recognised postgraduate qualification. If you completed specialty training and hold the Facharzt title, ask the GMC whether it supports entry to the Specialist Register — that can be a faster route than PLAB for suitably qualified specialists.
Keep certified English translations of your Approbation, your Staatsexamen documentation, and, where held, your Facharzt certificate, together with a Certificate of Good Standing from your Landesärztekammer.
Your registration steps, in order
Confirm your GMC route
Contact the General Medical Council (gmc-uk.org) to confirm which registration route your primary medical qualification and any postgraduate qualifications support — the PLAB examination, a recognised postgraduate qualification, or specialist/GP registration.
Meet the knowledge and skills requirement
Complete the route the GMC confirms — for example, passing both parts of the PLAB examination, or holding a postgraduate qualification the GMC accepts.
Evidence your English
Provide the English-language evidence the GMC accepts for your circumstances — usually IELTS Academic or OET, or evidence that your qualification was taught and examined in English. Confirm current thresholds on gmc-uk.org.
Gather Certificates of Good Standing
Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Current Professional Status) from every medical regulator you have been registered with in the last five years.
Apply to the GMC and arrange the right to work
Submit your GMC application with your evidence. If you are not a UK or Irish citizen, secure the right to work — typically a Skilled Worker (Health and Care Worker) visa with a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer (gov.uk).
Specialty and specialist registration
German doctors who hold the Facharzt (specialist) title can ask the GMC whether it supports entry to the Specialist Register — either directly or through the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR / Portfolio Pathway). Because the Facharzt is a well-structured specialist qualification, many German specialists explore this route before defaulting to PLAB. The GMC assesses each application individually.
The specialist and GP registers, and the Portfolio Pathway, are administered by the GMC. Confirm whether your qualifications support a specialist route on gmc-uk.org before assuming a route.
English-language evidence
German medical degrees are taught in German, so most German applicants evidence English proficiency by sitting IELTS Academic or the OET (Medicine). The GMC sets the acceptable tests and the current minimum scores — confirm them on gmc-uk.org before booking a test.
What German-qualified doctors need
These are the obligations the GMC and, where relevant, UK Visas and Immigration place on applicants. Confirm the current detail on the official websites.
Hold the German Approbation and the underlying Staatsexamen medical qualification
Provide a Certificate of Good Standing from your Landesärztekammer covering the last five years
Where held, present your Facharzt certificate for specialist-route consideration
Confirm with the GMC whether the PLAB route or a postgraduate/specialist route applies to you
Evidence English-language proficiency (usually IELTS Academic or OET) and obtain the right to work in the UK unless you already hold settled or pre-settled status
Certificate of Good Standing
You will need a Certificate of Good Standing (Certificate of Current Professional Status) from your Landesärztekammer (State Medical Chamber), plus one from any other medical regulator you have been registered with in the last five years.
Right to work / visa
German citizens who were resident in the UK before Brexit may hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Everyone else typically needs a Skilled Worker (Health and Care Worker) visa, which requires a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer — details on gov.uk.
What German-qualified doctors earn in the NHS
NHS pay is set by national scales tied to the grade you are appointed to, not your nationality — a German-qualified doctor earns the scale rate for that grade.
Below are the current England basic pay scales for resident (junior) doctors. Basic pay excludes out-of-hours and weekend enhancements and any London weighting (High Cost Area Supplement), which are added on top.
| Nodal point | Typical grade | Basic pay |
|---|---|---|
| Nodal point 1 | Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | £38,831 |
| Nodal point 2 | Foundation Year 2 (FY2) | £44,439 |
| Nodal point 3 | Core / early specialty training (ST1–ST2) | £52,656 |
| Nodal point 4 | Specialty training (ST3–ST5) | £65,048 |
| Nodal point 5 | Senior specialty training (ST6–ST8) | £73,992 |
Consultants are on a separate national scale, currently running from roughly £109,725 to £145,475 in basic pay, rising with years of service. Additional programmed activities and on-call availability can lift total earnings further.
Source: BMA resident-doctor pay scales for England and the NHS Employers Pay and Conditions Circular (Medical & Dental). Basic pay before enhancements. Figures checked in July 2026 and reviewed annually — confirm the live figure with the BMA before relying on it.
The Germany → UK document checklist
Here is the shape of the pathway and the current NHS pay anchors. Enter your email to get the full, ordered document checklist for German-qualified doctors — the exact papers to gather, in sequence — kept up to date.
A German-qualified doctor’s UK route runs Approbation → confirm GMC route (PLAB, postgraduate, or Facharzt specialist route) → English evidence → Certificate of Good Standing from the Landesärztekammer → GMC application → work authorisation.
- Foundation Year 1 (nodal point 1)
- £38,831
- Senior specialty training (nodal point 5)
- £73,992
- Consultant basic pay range
- £109,725–£145,475
+ 8 more not shown here. As of July 2026. Source: GMC registration guidance + BMA / NHS Employers pay scales.
Get the full Germany → UK document checklist
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Practical notes for German-qualified doctors
- The end of automatic recognition means the single most important step is confirming your route with the GMC before spending money on tests or certified translations.
- If you hold the Facharzt, ask about the specialist route early — it can change your whole timeline.
Important: this is information, not recruitment
This page is independent educational information for doctors who are researching UK registration of their own accord. It is not legal, immigration, or careers advice, and it is not a job offer. Gera Services Ltd is not a medical regulator and is not a recruitment agency — we do not register doctors, and we do not place doctors into NHS or other UK jobs. As a matter of policy we provide information only and do not actively recruit from countries on the WHO 2023 Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List. The General Medical Council (GMC) is the UK’s independent regulator of doctors; visa rules are set by the UK Home Office. Requirements, fees and pay scales change periodically — always confirm the current position with the GMC (gmc-uk.org) and GOV.UK before making any decision.
Frequently asked questions
Are German medical qualifications still recognised in the UK after Brexit?
They are assessed rather than automatically recognised. Since 1 January 2021 the GMC evaluates the German Approbation through its international-application framework and confirms the route (PLAB or a postgraduate/specialist route) case by case.
Does the Facharzt help with UK registration?
It may support entry to the Specialist Register. Doctors who hold the Facharzt can ask the GMC whether it supports specialist registration, directly or via the CESR / Portfolio Pathway. The GMC assesses each application individually.
What English test do German graduates need?
Because German degrees are taught in German, most applicants sit IELTS Academic or OET. The GMC sets the acceptable tests and minimum scores — check the current requirement on gmc-uk.org.
Do German doctors need a UK visa?
Germans with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme do not need a separate work visa. Others usually need a Skilled Worker (Health and Care Worker) visa with a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer.
UK registration guides for doctors from other countries
Prefer to work remotely from Germany?
While you work through UK registration, you can keep practising as a remote telemedicine doctor with GeraClinic — see patients online in your own country, set your own hours and fee, and get paid within 3–5 business days.
Remote telemedicine work for doctors in GermanyKeep earning while you plan your move to the UK
GeraClinic is free to join for licensed doctors. Work from home, set your own hours and fees, and see online patients — from wherever you are registered today.