How to Become a Medical Doctor in Austria (9 Steps)
Achieving the goal of becoming a doctor in Austria is a challenging yet attainable endeavor. In addition to completing your undergraduate degree, it is essential to understand the necessary steps to gain admission to your desired medical school. Furthermore, you must be prepared to face the rigorous lifestyle of a medical student and complete your residency.
To ensure success on your journey to becoming a doctor in Austria, be sure to familiarize yourself with the following steps.
1. Why Be a Doctor In Austria?
Austria is a beautiful landlocked country in Central Europe, famous for being home to some of the world’s most famous musicians, such as Mozart and Beethoven, who spent most of their life in the country’s capital – Wien. Due to the stunning mountain terrain, Austria is also a top destination for winter sports and tourism.
Austrian art and culture are very well-known around the world. Many foreigners decide to move to this country. Imagine starting a new life in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth, both in terms of the natural beauty, as well as the very developed economy and high standards of living.
Austria is an important member of the European Union and other important world organizations. In addition, being a doctor in Austria can be helpful if you want to move to other countries. You can practically move into any country in the EU, pass tests, and become a doctor there.
2. Learning German
The official language in Austria is German, spoken similarly to the one spoken in Germany, with a few differences in certain words and pronunciation. Learning German can be a challenging task, even for people who are native English speakers, and requires years of dedication and practice to fully master it.
Studying German at an Austrian university is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, language, and history of this beautiful country. From world-renowned universities, like the University of Vienna to smaller private institutions, you’ll have access to some of the best teaching and learning opportunities around. Classes focus on everything from literary and cultural studies to spoken language classes where you can practice conversational German with native speakers.
Thanks to it being one of the most popular languages in the world, there are many resources to learn it without even going to Germany or Austria. You can attend German classes in your home country instead. Your level of German will need to be of a certain level, so you can communicate with your colleagues and patients.
To prove your proficiency in the language, you will either need to have completed medical training in a German-speaking country or worked as a German-speaking health professional for at least 3 years. Otherwise, you will need to pass a German language test which is held by the Austrian Medical Chamber.
3. Study Medicine in Austria if possible
Austria has historically had some of the world’s most recognized universities, and starting your medical education there will set you on the right track to becoming a medical doctor in Austria. This will allow you to get better at the language, immerse yourself in the culture, and make your life a lot easier when the time for getting a medical license comes.
Medical degrees are among the most sought-after in Austria, which means there are yearly quotas for how many students can be accepted into each university. You will also need to pass an entrance exam, which is different depending on the medical field you are applying for.
Your level of German needs to be at least at a C1 level to attend most medical programs in Austria, which means that you will have to learn it before applying, probably throughout high school. The duration of medical education in Austria is the same as in most other countries – 6 years.
Check Also: Best Medical Schools in Austria
4. Pass the Required Language and Medical Tests
Thanks to Austria’s global political outlook, becoming a doctor in Austria is not as difficult as in some other countries, especially those outside the EU. However, there are still some requirements before you can register with the Austrian Medical Chamber.
First, you will need to be either an EU/EEA resident, or have a residence visa. You then need proof of good character and fitness (health) to practice, as well as demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the German language.
If you haven’t completed your medical training in a German-speaking region, you might need to go through a Language test before being accepted for the final exam by the Austrian Medical Chamber. For graduates of non-EEA medical programs, they will also have to prove that their training is of the same standards as the one in Austria. This is done by applying for recognition of the degree with the Commission for the Accreditation of foreign training.
Learn More: Study in Austria as an International Student
5. Complete your Residency
All medical graduates are required to finish a 3 or 6-year residency or “Turnus” after the completion of their studies. You can do this at a university hospital or a medical facility that has a teaching license. The 3-year residency grants you the ability to work as a medical doctor in Austria, while the 6-year residency is reserved for aspiring specialists.
6. Getting Medical License in Austria
After fulfilling all of the before-mentioned requirements, future doctors are admitted to the final exam that is mandatory for all doctors to take before becoming medically licensed in Austria. Given that you already completed training and 3 years of residency, the exam shouldn’t be very difficult to pass.
Note that the final exam is different for specialists. After you pass the final exam, you will be licensed to work in Austria as a doctor, and you can start working as soon as you find employment or start your private practice.
7. Getting a Work Visa
Medical professionals fall under “Very Highly Qualified Workers” in Austria, and have two options when getting a work visa for the country. You can enter Austria on a job seeker visa, and if you find employment within the assigned time frame, you can apply for a Red-White-Red Card. This card grants you permission to work in the country.
Suppose you have already found employment in an Austrian hospital. In that case, you can apply for a Red-White-Red card directly with the Austrian consulate in your country. All potential candidates need to be licensed to practice medicine before starting to work in Austria as medical doctors.
See Also: Study Nursing in Austria
8. Finding hospitals to work in Austria
There are a lot of positions available all over the country, making it manageable to look for jobs, considering that medical professionals seem to be “in shortage” in Austria. One of the best resources for finding employment in an Austrian hospital is this website. You can also apply directly to a hospital that you would want to work for.
The majority of the Austrian population gets their healthcare at private practices, so the demand for private practitioners is certainly high. Starting your own practice, thus, may also be an excellent choice when working in Austria. You can do this by proving that you have a clean record and that you are in good health and able to practice.
9. Procedure for foreign-trained doctors to become a doctor in Austria
Foreign-trained doctors who want to start working in Austria should start seeking employment in an Austrian hospital. After they secure employment, the next step is to apply for a work visa. However, you’ll need to get an Austrian medical license first.
Foreign-trained doctors who have completed their medical training in an EU/EEA country can immediately apply for a medical license in Austria, considering that they have the necessary knowledge of the German language.
Suppose you do, you can take the final exam by the Austrian Medical Chamber before being granted a license to become a medical doctor in Austria. Graduates from outside the EEA zone will additionally need to prove that their foreign training is of the same standard as Austrian medical programs, before completing all the other steps.
With these steps, you’ll get closer to pursuing a lucrative and fulfilling career in the healthcare industry. You’ll gain access to some of the finest healthcare and educational experiences available as well as learn best practices from world-renowned physicians. Want to know the universities where you can start your pre-med education in Austria? Be sure to check out this list of best universities in Austria for international students.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Europe Scholarships Page.