The Nordrheinische Ärzteversorgung is the professional pension fund (Versorgungswerk) of the Ärztekammer Nordrhein, the medical chamber for the Rhineland part of North Rhine-Westphalia. For new doctors there, the process matters less than the question of which monthly amount applies to your group and what changes below the pension insurance ceiling.
Short answer: For 2026 the Ärztekammer Nordrhein states, for gross pay from EUR 8,450 per month, EUR 1,571.70 for employed doctors exempted from statutory pension insurance (§ 21 para. 1 of the bylaws). Employed doctors who are not exempted (§ 34) and civil servants on probation or fixed term (§ 21 para. 2) pay EUR 471.51 (as of January 2026, Rheinisches Ärzteblatt 2/2026).
The Most Important Points
- Compulsory membership rests on § 6a of the North Rhine-Westphalia Heilberufsgesetz (in German) and the chamber bylaws.
- For 2026 the chamber works with a statutory pension contribution rate of 18.6 percent and a threshold of EUR 8,450 gross per month.
- At or above that threshold the amounts are EUR 1,571.70 (exempted) and EUR 471.51 (not exempted, civil servants on probation or fixed term).
- Below the threshold the amount follows your pay: equal to the pension insurance contribution, or three tenths of it.
- How the exemption itself works is covered in the guide to the training phase; the deadline is three months (§ 6 para. 4 SGB VI).
Which monthly amounts does the Ärztekammer Nordrhein state for 2026?
The amounts were adjusted on 1 January 2026 because the contribution rate of the statutory pension insurance changed. The chamber published them in the Rheinisches Ärzteblatt for employed doctors and civil servants on probation or fixed term.
| Group | Bylaw provision | Monthly amount from EUR 8,450 gross |
|---|---|---|
| Employed doctors exempted from pension insurance | § 21 para. 1 | EUR 1,571.70 |
| Employed doctors not exempted | § 34 | EUR 471.51 |
| Civil servants on probation or fixed term | § 21 para. 2 | EUR 471.51 |
The figures can be checked: 18.6 percent of EUR 8,450 is EUR 1,571.70, and EUR 471.51 is three tenths of that (own calculation). Doctors who are not exempted pay the smaller amount but remain compulsorily insured in the statutory pension scheme as well. Exempted doctors pay the larger amount and drop out of the statutory scheme.
What applies below the EUR 8,450 threshold?
The chamber’s publication says only that the contribution equals the pension insurance contribution or three tenths of it. Which group pays which variant is set by the bylaws. The example below shows only the order of magnitude.
Worked example. Assumption: your gross pay is EUR 6,000 per month. 18.6 percent of that is EUR 1,116.00, and three tenths of it EUR 334.80 (own calculation, not a statement from the pension fund). At EUR 9,000 the amount no longer changes according to the chamber, because the EUR 8,450 threshold applies.
Where does Nordrhein end, and what applies if you move?
North Rhine-Westphalia has two medical chambers and two pension funds. You become a member of the Nordrheinische Ärzteversorgung through membership of the Ärztekammer Nordrhein. If you move between the two regions or to another state, put the bylaws of both funds side by side before signing a contract. The other fund may calculate contributions on a different scheme.
Which questions should you put to the fund before you start?
- Which group of the bylaws does my post fall into, and which provision applies?
- Which monthly amount applies at my expected gross pay, and when is it first due?
- Does the amount stay the same if my pay is above or below EUR 8,450 at different times of the year?
- Which documents does the fund require to confirm compulsory membership, which accompanies the exemption application?
Who is the exemption right for, and who not?
The exemption directs your retirement provision into the professional fund. It is tied to the specific activity (§ 6 para. 5 SGB VI) and must be re-examined when you change jobs. It fits if you expect to stay in medical practice for the long term. It fits less well if you are likely to move into an activity that is not compulsory. For help weighing this, a personal consultation with Academycon is available: How we work.
Frequently asked questions
From when do the 2026 amounts apply?
The chamber names 1 January 2026 as the effective date. The trigger was the changed contribution rate of the statutory pension insurance. For later adjustments, read the chamber’s current publication.
Why do exempted doctors pay more than those not exempted?
The higher amount replaces the statutory pension insurance, while the lower one is paid in addition to it. It is therefore not a price comparison between two identical benefits but a comparison of two routes to retirement provision.
What changes in 2027?
In October 2026 the federal cabinet decided a contribution ceiling of EUR 8,850 per month for 2027; the approval of the Bundesrat was still outstanding (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, in German). Chamber amounts for 2027 are not in the verified source.
Where do I find the binding rates?
In the current bylaws and in the announcements of the Ärztekammer Nordrhein. If in doubt, ask for a written contribution calculation for your case.
What to do now
- Place yourself in a group: employed with exemption, employed without exemption, or civil servant on probation or fixed term.
- Compare your gross pay with the threshold of EUR 8,450 per month.
- Ask the pension fund to state the monthly amount for your case in writing.
- If you want the exemption, apply within three months through the fund.
Related guides
- Ärzte in Weiterbildung: PKV, Versorgungswerk und BU richtig kombinieren
- Assistenzarzt Gehalt: Tarif, Stufen und Nachtdienst
- PKV oder GKV beim ersten Job: Entscheidungshilfe mit Rechenbeispiel (in German)
- Ärzteversorgung Baden-Württemberg: Beitrag, Befreiung und Leistungen für Berufseinsteiger
- Ärzteversorgung Niedersachsen: Beitrag, Befreiung und Leistungen für Berufseinsteiger
Sources: Rheinisches Ärzteblatt 2/2026, contributions to the Nordrheinische Ärzteversorgung (in German) (as of January 2026); § 6a Heilberufsgesetz NRW (in German) (accessed October 2026); § 6 SGB VI (in German) (accessed October 2026); Pension insurance reference values (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, in German) (as of October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
