What is the Kenntnisprüfung?
The Kenntnisprüfung (KP) is a medical equivalence exam that verifies your foreign medical degree meets the German standard. It is administered by the competent Landesärztekammer and is a purely medical-clinical exam covering subjects such as internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, and more.
Passing the KP is the main route to the Approbation (permanent, unrestricted medical licence in Germany) for doctors from non-EU countries or from states whose degrees are not automatically recognised.
Who must take the Kenntnisprüfung?
The KP is generally required for doctors whose professional qualification cannot be directly recognised. This mainly concerns:
Doctors from non-EU/EEA states
Doctors from Arab countries (Syria, Egypt, Gulf states, and others)
Anyone whose foreign degree was assessed as not equivalent by the Landesärztekammer
In exceptional cases, direct recognition without the KP may be possible if the university and curriculum meet certain criteria. The competent Landesärztekammer decides this on a case-by-case basis.
The difference between KP and FSP
The two exams are often confused. The difference is fundamental:
FSP: Linguistic-communicative exam in a medical context. Not a knowledge test — it verifies your German medical language proficiency.
KP: Complete medical-clinical exam. Assesses your medical expertise in internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, pharmacology, and other fields. Mostly oral, sometimes partly written.
What order is usual?
The standard path to Approbation is:
Pass the FSP (medical language exam)
Apply for the Berufserlaubnis (temporary licence to practise, optional in some federal states)
Pass the KP
Apply for and receive the Approbation
Some boards also allow registering for the KP without a prior Berufserlaubnis. Please check your competent board's requirements.
What is tested in the KP?
The KP generally covers these core subjects:
Internal medicine
Surgery
Emergency medicine
Pharmacology and toxicology
Forensic and social medicine
An elective subject depending on the board (e.g. paediatrics, gynaecology)
The exact subjects, exam duration, and format vary by Landesärztekammer. Always check your competent board's website for the latest information.
What comes after passing the KP?
Once you pass the KP, you can apply for the Approbation — the permanent, unrestricted medical licence in Germany. It lets you work as an independent physician, specialise, or open your own practice.
How does Kennti support your preparation?
Kennti offers the comprehensive KP All-in-One package for exam preparation (1,428 euros), as well as the Live-Kurs KP Mai 2026 with weekly live sessions and supervised mock exams (1,200 euros one-time or 178.50 euros monthly). Details and registration: kennti.com/abo
For individual study planning, book a consultation: kennti.com/termin-buchen
Note: Kennti is an education provider, not a legal or immigration advisor. For legal questions about recognition of your Approbation, please consult a specialised lawyer or the Bundesärztekammer.