Anyone who wants to become a civil servant (Beamtin or Beamter) in Baden-Württemberg goes through a medical pre-employment examination before appointment. It checks fitness for civil service. The procedure in the state is governed by a framework agreement that applies to civil servants on probation, for life, on revocable terms and for a fixed term.
Short answer: In Baden-Württemberg you choose a suitable doctor yourself from a published list. The basis is the framework agreement on pre-employment examinations of 10 August 2016 (status of retrieval October 2026). You pay for the examination, and the result normally goes to the employing authority only if you consent.
Key points at a glance
- No authority carries out the examination itself. You select a doctor from the state list.
- A certificate should be no more than six months old at the time of appointment.
- You pay the costs of the examination, including any additional specialist reports.
- The authority decides on fitness, and the doctor provides the medical basis.
- For appointment for life, the assessment made during probation remains relevant, unless new circumstances arise.
Who examines you in Baden-Württemberg?
Unlike in some other states, the pre-employment examination is not tied to the public health officer (Amtsarzt). Suitable doctors are licensed physicians who take part in further training for medical assessments. The state publishes lists of these doctors on gesundheitsamt-bw.de. You choose the doctor yourself, and the choice is not limited to your local district. Longer journeys are reasonable if not enough doctors are available locally.
An exclusion applies if the doctor has treated you within the five years before the examination, or if you are closely related to or married to the doctor. You confirm this in a declaration that is annexed to the framework agreement.
Which documents do you need?
The documents differ depending on whether you are appointed on probation, for life, on revocable terms or for a fixed term. The table lists the most important documents and what they are for.
| Document | Purpose | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Medical certificate under annex 1P/Lz (probation or life) or 1W/Z (revocable or fixed term) | Result of the examination for the authority | Should be no more than six months old at appointment |
| Medical history form under annex 2 | Your account of your medical history | Basis of the examination, fill in completely |
| Declaration of exclusion under annex 1c | Confirms there is no treatment relationship with the doctor | Covers the examination and the five years before it |
| Consent to transmission under annex 1b | Allows the doctor to send the result directly to the authority | Without consent only you receive the result |
| Release from confidentiality under annex 3 | Only needed if the doctor involves other doctors | Covers passing on findings |
If you refuse to release the doctor from confidentiality, you do not have to declare consent. The certificate is then issued with a note that it has limited informative value. How the authority weighs this in an individual case is not set out in the framework agreement, so ask the appointing authority before you decide.
What is examined and what does it cost?
Under the framework agreement, the standard examination includes the following steps:
- Medical history based on the completed form
- Weight, height and a full physical examination
- Blood pressure, a basic hearing and vision test including colour vision
- A rapid urine test and a check of the vaccination record
- Review of medical reports you bring and a discussion of the findings
Where needed, specialist assessments are required. In justified cases, a repeat or follow-up examination can follow, which since 1 January 2017 has been carried out by medical assessment centres. You pay all costs, including further specialist examinations and medical reports. The standard examination is paid under the German Judicial Remuneration and Compensation Act (JVEG), and additional specialist services follow the medical fee schedule (GOÄ). If you doubt that a fee is appropriate, the responsible district medical chamber can issue an opinion on request.
What does the prognosis mean for probation and life tenure?
The appointing authority decides on fitness. The doctor gives a prognosis that generally refers to the period until the statutory retirement age. The standard is a probability that is more likely than not. The table shows how the period differs by type of appointment.
| Appointment | Prognosis period | Special point |
|---|---|---|
| On probation or for life | Until the statutory retirement age | When appointed for life, the authority is bound to the assessment made during probation |
| On revocable terms or for a fixed term | Additionally the duration of this status | The prognosis relates to the duration of the employment |
| Severe disability (at least 50 percent degree of disability or equivalence) | Five years | Applies as a special rule for the prognosis |
For appointment for life, the authority therefore considers only circumstances that became known for the first time during probation. If you have medical reports from the past, submit them in full and note what the authority already knows.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to see the public health officer?
In Baden-Württemberg, not necessarily. You choose a licensed doctor from the published list. The term Amtsarzt is common in everyday use, but it does not always describe this procedure.
How long is the certificate valid?
The certificate should not be older than six months at the time of the personnel measure. If the appointment is delayed, ask the authority whether a new certificate is needed.
What happens if I do not want to share a diagnosis?
The decision is yours. Diagnosis, findings and medical history go to the authority only if you consent. Without consent, the authority receives a certificate with limited informative value.
How long are the documents kept?
Under the framework agreement, the documents must be kept for ten years. If you need a copy of the certificate for your own records, ask for it.
Protection in case of illness
Civil servants receive Beihilfe, a state allowance that supplements their own health cover. For trainees and civil servants on revocable terms without children, the standard rate is 50 percent. The exact rule is set out in the state Beihilfe regulation. Many civil servants on probation choose private health insurance with a top-up to the Beihilfe, while others remain in statutory insurance. Whether that pays off depends on family status, age and health. For the logic of Beihilfe during training, see Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims.
What to do now
- Ask the appointing authority which documents apply to your type of appointment.
- Choose a doctor from the list and clarify the appointment and costs in advance.
- Complete the medical history form in full and gather older medical reports.
- Clarify your health insurance before the appointment takes effect.
Related guides
- Civil Servant Health Aid During Training: Rates and Claims
- Krankenversicherung im Referendariat: GKV, PKV und Beihilfe (in German)
- Beihilfe im Referendariat: Anspruch, Satz und Antrag (in German)
- Teacher training insurance: from studies to traineeship
Sources: Framework agreement on pre-employment examinations, Baden-Württemberg, version of 10 August 2016 (in German); Federal Civil Servants Status Act (BeamtStG), section 10 (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
