The licensing regulation for doctors (Approbationsordnung für Ärztinnen und Ärzte) sets out how medical studies and practical training run until licensure. The Federal Ministry of Health has presented a revised draft ministerial bill (Referentenentwurf) for it. This guide shows what the current text sets out on the practical year (Praktisches Jahr, PJ), which details are missing, and how to recognise the status of the procedure.
Short answer: According to the draft bill of the Federal Ministry of Health, the practical year begins only after passing the second part of the medical examination. The draft announces binding requirements to strengthen general practice. A draft bill is not yet a law. This article gives no figures for duration or pay. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The text is a draft bill of the Federal Ministry of Health and therefore not yet binding law.
- The date of the draft appears in the present text only as a placeholder.
- Under section 48, the practical year takes place after passing the second part of the medical examination.
- Under section 47, training at the patient is central, and students should be able to provide care independently afterwards.
- Binding requirements are to strengthen general practice and primary care within the practical year.
- Under section 11, the practical year is to be evaluated every year in anonymised form, and the results must be published.
What is a licensing regulation, and why is it being revised?
The licensing regulation is a federal ordinance. It sets out which content, examinations and training stages lead to the licence to practise medicine (Approbation). A draft bill is the text proposed by a ministry before the procedure continues. The draft therefore reflects the position of the ministry, not the outcome of a completed procedure.
According to the draft, training should be more strongly oriented towards patients. Section 47 describes the aim of deepening prior studies and applying knowledge to the individual case. After the practical year, students should be able to provide care to patients independently.
When does the practical year begin under the draft?
The timing of the practical year is clearly set in the draft. Under section 48, the practical year takes place only after the second part of the medical examination has been passed. The table sorts the rules in the extract.
| Area | Position in the draft | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Aims of the practical year | training at the patient, deepening of studies, independent care afterwards | section 47 |
| Timing | after passing the second part of the medical examination | section 48 |
| General practice | binding requirements to strengthen general practice and primary care announced | section B of the draft |
| Evaluation | annually, anonymised, results published | section 11 |
| Duration, rotations, pay | not quantified in this guide | sections 49 to 51 |
If you plan your practical year, distinguish between the timing, which is clearly regulated, and the details, which are still in the draft. An overview of the rules on pay appears in our article on the practical year allowance by federal state (in German), which explains the rules currently in force rather than the draft.
What does the draft mean for general practice in the practical year?
The draft announces binding requirements that are to anchor general practice and primary care more firmly in the practical year and in examinations. How these requirements look in detail, for example as fixed shares or as teaching content, is set out in parts of the draft that this guide does not quantify.
For medical students this means: keep an eye on the procedural status before you fix your elective placements. An overview of training around the practical year appears in our article on medical studies with electives, the practical year and health insurance (in German).
How is the practical year to be reviewed in future?
Under section 11 of the draft, training in the practical year is to be evaluated every year in anonymised form. The results must be published. For students, this is one way to make feedback on training placements visible. The draft regulates the evaluation only in principle.
What remains open in the draft?
- The wording of sections 49 to 51 on duration, rotations, training plan and pay.
- The date of the draft, which in the present text appears only as a placeholder.
- The status in the further procedure, that is, the involvement of the states, the Bundesrat and the date of entry into force.
- The precise design of the requirements on general practice.
How does the procedure differ from a statute?
An ordinance such as the licensing regulation follows a different procedure from a parliamentary statute. First the responsible ministry drafts a text. Statements from associations, faculties and states often follow. Only at the end comes publication, in the Federal Law Gazette. The statements show where those involved want changes. Whether they are publicly accessible is decided by the ministry at publication.
For you this means that a draft can still change considerably. If you rely on individual points, such as the number of days or the form of general practice in the practical year, wait with important decisions until a binding text exists.
Which questions should medical students clarify now?
- Does my study regulation remain in force, or will it be adapted to the new licensing regulation?
- Which parts of the practical year are planned for general practice once the regulation text is fixed?
- How are training placements in the practical year evaluated, and are the results visible to students?
- How is the allowance for the practical year regulated in my federal state?
Your faculty or examination office should answer these questions first. They know the current status and which rules apply to your cohort. A look at the evaluation results can later help when choosing training placements, once they are published. An overview of insurance and studies appears in our article on medical student insurance: electives, practical year and cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new licensing regulation already in force?
No. The present text is a draft bill. The rule becomes binding only once it has passed the procedure and been published. Check the current status with the Federal Ministry of Health and in the Federal Law Gazette.
Do I receive pay during the practical year?
The draft deals with monetary and non-monetary benefits during the practical year in section 51. This guide gives no amounts, because the wording is missing from the present text. Current allowances by federal state are explained in our article on the practical year allowance (in German).
Does the reform also apply to students already in their practical year?
The extract contains no transitional rule. Ask your faculty or examination office which rule applies to your cohort, and keep your records of training placements carefully.
What is the second part of the medical examination?
The second part is the examination after which the practical year begins. The draft ties the start of the practical year to this examination. If you have not yet passed the second part, the draft does not allow you to begin the practical year.
Where can I find the status of the procedure?
The Federal Ministry of Health publishes draft bills. There you can also see whether the text is still being worked on. This guide does not state an adopted status.
What you should do now
- Read the draft in its original form and note that its date currently appears only as a placeholder.
- Check which study stage you are in and whether a transitional rule applies to your cohort.
- Clarify with your faculty which requirements for elective placements and primary care components apply today.
- Find out about pay during the practical year from your state authority or your hospital.
- Follow the procedural status before you make long-term decisions.
Related reading
- Medical student insurance: electives, practical year and cover (in German)
- Medical student insurance: electives, practical year and cover
- PJ allowance by federal state (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
