# Faust Academy

## German for doctors in Germany: which level do you need?

URL: https://www.faustacademy.com/goethe-german-for-doctors
Language: en
Updated: 2026-09-25

To work as a doctor in Germany you need the Approbation, and the law asks for the German that the work needs (section 3 BÄO). The Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe, for example, asks for a general German certificate at B2 or higher and then tests medical German at C1 in its Fachsprachprüfung.

The Federal Medical Code (Bundesärzteordnung, BÄO) does not name a level. It says that the applicant must have the German skills that the work as a doctor needs. A state authority decides on the Approbation and tells you how to prove your German.

This page shows what two medical chambers in North Rhine-Westphalia publish about their language exam, where a Goethe B2 certificate fits in, and what Faust can and cannot help you with.

### Two steps of German for doctors

Rules of the Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe. Other chambers and authorities publish their own rules.

| Step | Level | What happens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General German certificate | B2 or higher | You send the certificate to the chamber before it gives you an exam date |
| Fachsprachprüfung (medical language exam) | Medical German at C1 | A board of three examiners, at least two of them doctors, tests you in a simulated hospital situation |

### The Fachsprachprüfung at two chambers

Values from the chamber pages, read on 25 September 2026.

|  | Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe | Ärztekammer Nordrhein |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parts | 3 parts of 20 minutes each | 60 minutes in 3 stations of 20 minutes each |
| Tasks | Talk with a patient, written report, talk with a doctor and a list of medical terms | Talk with a patient, patient history form, talk with two doctors |
| Pass mark | Scored by the board with one fixed scheme | 36 of 60 points (60 percent) |
| Fee | 400 euros | 430 euros |
| Retake | As often as needed | Several times, with the fee each time |

### What the exam tests

Both chambers test language, not medical knowledge. The Ärztekammer Nordrhein writes that a wrong diagnosis does not count against you. Only the way you use language in the situation is scored.

In the talk with the patient, you take the history and explain your working diagnosis in plain words that a patient understands. In the written part, you write up the case: as a report at the Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe, on a patient history form at the Ärztekammer Nordrhein. In the talk with doctors, you present the patient in a clear structure and answer questions in medical terms.

At the Ärztekammer Nordrhein, three examiners score you, each with up to 20 points. You pass with at least 36 of the 60 points. At the Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe, the board tells you the result right after the exam, and you get it in writing the week after.

### Where the Goethe B2 fits in

The general certificate shows general German at B2. The Goethe-Zertifikat B2 certifies this level. The chamber page does not list which B2 certificates the authority accepts, so ask your Approbation authority before you book. Also ask whether it needs all four modules, because the Goethe B2 is modular.

Goethe B1, B2, C1 and C2 are modular. You can take Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen alone or together, and each passed module gets a certificate. Goethe B1, B2, C1 and C2: each module has 100 points. You pass a module with 60 points.

### The Goethe B2 exam at a glance

| Part | Length | Tasks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reading (Lesen) | 65 minutes | 30 tasks in 5 parts |
| Listening (Hören) | 40 minutes | 30 tasks in 4 parts |
| Writing (Schreiben) | 75 minutes | 2 writing tasks |
| Speaking (Sprechen) | Oral exam | 2 parts, paired exam |
| Pass mark | 60 of 100 points | In each module |

### Working before the Approbation

The authority can give you a temporary licence to work as a doctor (Berufserlaubnis). It can limit this licence to some tasks and places, and as a rule it gives it for up to two years of work in total (section 10 BÄO). The Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe runs its Fachsprachprüfung for applicants for both the Approbation and this licence.

### What Faust can and cannot help with

Faust Academy helps with the general German step. It has 48 Goethe B2 practice papers for Lesen, Hören, Schreiben and Sprechen in the Goethe exam format, and every paper gets a result.

Faust does not train the Fachsprachprüfung. For medical German, use what your chamber publishes, for example the videos of the Ärztekammer Nordrhein on how its exam runs, and practise case talks with colleagues.

One scored online paper per part is free, and every PDF is free.

Faust Academy is independent practice. It is not a product of the Goethe-Institut and issues no certificates.

### Practise for Goethe B2

- [Goethe B2 Lesen papers](https://www.faustacademy.com/goethe-b2-lesen)
- [Goethe B2 Lesen paper 1 with answer key](https://www.faustacademy.com/pruefungsmaterial/goethe-b2-lesen-01)
- [Goethe B2 writing practice test](https://www.faustacademy.com/goethe-b2-writing-practice-test)

### Questions

**What German level do doctors need in Germany?**

The law asks for the German that the work needs (section 3 BÄO). The Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe asks for a general certificate at B2 or higher and tests medical German at C1 in the Fachsprachprüfung.

**Is a Goethe B2 certificate enough for the Approbation?**

Not on its own. At the Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe the B2 certificate is a document you send before the Fachsprachprüfung. The exam then checks medical German at C1.

**What happens in the Fachsprachprüfung?**

At both chambers in North Rhine-Westphalia there are three parts of 20 minutes each: a talk with a patient, a written part and a talk with doctors. Only your language is scored, not your medical knowledge.

**How many points do I need to pass the Fachsprachprüfung?**

At the Ärztekammer Nordrhein you need at least 36 of 60 points, which is 60 percent. Three examiners give up to 20 points each.

**How much does the Fachsprachprüfung cost?**

On 25 September 2026 the fee was 400 euros at the Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe and 430 euros at the Ärztekammer Nordrhein. Check the chamber page for the current fee.

**Can I retake the Fachsprachprüfung?**

Yes. The Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe lets you retake it as often as needed. The Ärztekammer Nordrhein allows several retakes and charges the fee each time.

**Can I work as a doctor before I have the Approbation?**

Yes, with a temporary licence (Berufserlaubnis). As a rule the authority gives it for up to two years of work in total, and it can limit the licence to some tasks and places (section 10 BÄO).

**Does Faust prepare me for the Fachsprachprüfung?**

No. Faust prepares you for the Goethe exams, for example the Goethe B2 that shows general German. It does not train medical German.

### Sources

- [§ 3 BÄO, Approbation](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/b_o/__3.html)
- [§ 10 BÄO, Berufserlaubnis](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/b_o/__10.html)
- [Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe: Fachsprachenprüfung](https://www.aekwl.de/fachsprachpruefung)
- [Ärztekammer Nordrhein: Fachsprachprüfung](https://www.aekno.de/aerzte/fachsprachpruefung)
- [Goethe-Institut: Deutschprüfungen A1 bis C2](https://www.goethe.de/de/spr/prf.html)
- [Goethe-Institut: Durchführungsbestimmungen B1, Stand 1. September 2025](https://www.goethe.de/pro/relaunch/prf/de/Durchfuehrungsbestimmungen_B1.pdf)