Working in Europe as a Doctor

Medicine is regulated in all EU member states and covered by the automatic recognition regime of EU Directive 2005/36/EC. EU and EEA-trained doctors receive recognition on production of their qualifying certificate without a substantive assessment. Non-EU doctors must apply to the national or state medical authority and will typically face a knowledge examination (such as Germany's Kenntnisprüfung) before a licence to practise is issued.

Most EU countries offer the EU Blue Card for doctors, but the relevant licensing procedure with the medical chamber must be completed before or alongside the work permit application. In Germany, both the Approbation (or Berufserlaubnis) and a residence permit must be in place before the first shift.

The following countries have detailed qualification recognition information in their country guides.