Working as a Medical Physicist in German

In Germany, medical physicists work mostly in areas such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and diagnostic radiology. Their work may include dosimetry, treatment planning, quality assurance, radiation protection and the introduction or evaluation of medical technology. Usually, medical physicists work as Medical Physics Expert (MPE, Medizinphysik-Experte in German) in these fields. This is regulated in the German radiation protection law and known as Fachkunde MPE.

Modalities like MRI and ultrasound based on non-ionizing radiation are not covered by the German radiation protection law, so it is not currently required to be a Medical Physics Expert to work as a medical physicist in these fields.

By law, after completing a Master's degree in Physics or Medical Physics, aspiring Medical Physics Experts (MPE) must complete several courses in radiation protection to obtain theoretical knowledge. There is a basic course in radiation protection, followed by special courses covering all aspects concerning radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and/or diagnostic radiology.

At the same time, aspiring MPE must gain practical experience (Sachkunde or Sachkundezeit in German) by working in a clinical setting under the supervision of a qualified Medical Physics Expert (at least 3 years of professional experience as an MPE). Unfortunately, Sachkunde is not a structured program — it depends on your clinic and supervisor.

After completing the applicable requirements, applicants submit the supporting evidence to the competent authority. Fachkunde may be obtained for radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or permitted combinations and limited fields. The authority generally reviews:

More details can be found in the legal basis: Guidelines - Required Expertise in Radiation Protection for Medical Physics Experts (MPE) (Richtlinienmodul: Erforderliche Fachkunden im Strahlenschutz für Medizinphysik-Experten (MPE) in German).

A foreign university degree and the German radiation protection qualification as an MPE are separate matters. You can first check your university degree in the German anabin database. If the required information is not available, you may apply to the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB) for a Statement of Comparability. Further information is available from Recognition in Germany.

A Statement of Comparability describes how a foreign university qualification relates to the German education system. A Statement of Comparability is not sufficient to work as an MPE in Germany. However, it is necessary to have.

During the application process for Fachkunde MPE the authorities check on the basis of your degree and the corresponding curriculum of your study, if it is equivalent to a German master’s degree in Medical Physics. Annex 1 (Required Level of Knowledge for Medical Physics Experts, Erforderlicher Wissensstand für Medizinphysik-Experten in German) of the MPE guideline provides the benchmark for the required knowledge. Missing content may be demonstrated through additional education and training. In all cases, a higher education degree on a master level in a scientific or technical study is required.

If the competent authority cannot conclusively determine from the submitted evidence whether the required level of knowledge in medical physics has been met, it may conduct an expert interview (Fachgespräch in German).

The expert interview serves to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether the requirements for the necessary radiation protection qualification have been met if this cannot be conclusively assessed on the basis of the submitted evidence. The knowledge requirements for medical physics experts set out in Annex 1 serve as the assessment standard. The interview is conducted by at least two appropriately qualified medical physics experts, each of whom must have at least three years of experience in the relevant field of application. If evidence of basic medical knowledge has not been provided, a physician holding the necessary radiation protection qualification should also participate. The interview must be documented in writing and lasts usually 30-60 minutes

If the gaps in your academic studies and additional education and training are too extensive to be assessed in an expert interview, you will need to complete further education and training. This may include, for example, distance-learning programmes in medical physics or certificate programmes (e.g. Weiterbildung Medizinische Physik für Physiker*innen in Heidelberg or Weiterbildendes Fernstudium: Medizinische Physik und Technik in Kaiserslautern ).

To obtain the required radiation protection competence (Fachkunde) as an MPE, all applicants must complete the Basic Radiation Protection Course. In addition, they must complete the specialist courses required for their respective field: diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy or nuclear medicine.

Please note that courses completed outside Germany are usually not recognised, as German courses cover German radiation protection law.

Basic Radiation Protection Course: The course comprises 24 teaching units of 45 minutes each and is required for all fields. The guideline recommends completing it no later than the end of the third month after beginning the Sachkunde period; it may also be completed during university study.

Diagnostic Radiology: Applicants specialising in diagnostic radiology must complete the Basic Radiation Protection Course and the following specialist courses:

Radiotherapy: Applicants specialising in radiotherapy must complete the Basic Radiation Protection Course and the following specialist courses:

The following additional course is required for particle therapy:

ST5 may only be completed after successful completion of ST1 and ST2.

Nuclear Medicine: Applicants specialising in nuclear medicine must complete the Basic Radiation Protection Course and the following specialist courses:

Updating Radiation Protection Competence: Under Section 48 of the German Radiation Protection Ordinance, radiation protection competence must be updated at least every five years. This normally requires successful participation in a recognised refresher course lasting 8 teaching units.

On the DGMP website, you will find an overview of the various providers of radiation protection courses.

In addition to the required education and radiation protection courses, applicants must acquire practical experience (Sachkunde) in the relevant field of application. The period of practical experience is usually completed as part of paid employment. For the initial acquisition of the radiation protection qualification in a single field, the minimum period is:

These periods are based on full-time work and must be adjusted accordingly in the case of part-time employment. For simultaneous initial acquisition, the guideline specifies 24 months for radiotherapy plus diagnostic radiology, 24 months for radiotherapy plus nuclear medicine, 18 months for nuclear medicine plus diagnostic radiology, and 30 months for all three fields (excluding the additional particle-therapy period).

The practical experience must be acquired at an institution that has the technical equipment and qualified personnel necessary to provide the required practical training. It must be completed under the supervision and responsibility of an MPE who holds the required radiation protection qualification. If one institution cannot provide experience in all relevant methods, the practical experience may be acquired at several suitable institutions.

The competencies to be acquired and the relevant practical activities are described in Annex 2 (Requirements for the practical experience; Anforderungen an den Sachkundeerwerb in German) of the guideline. The numbers assigned to individual activities are intended as reference values.

The practical experience must be documented in writing by the person under whose responsibility or supervision it was acquired. The template provided in Annex 5 (Proof of Practical Experience; Nachweis über den Erwerb der praktischen Erfahrung (Sachkunde) in German) of the guideline may be used for this purpose. The certificate should include information about the applicant, the supervising MPE and their radiation protection qualification, and the technical equipment and relevant procedures available at the training institution. It must also contain an overview of the practical activities completed in accordance with Annex 2, including where and over what period they were carried out.

The guideline does not specifically state whether professional experience acquired abroad may be recognized as practical experience (Sachkunde). Recognition should therefore not be assumed and must be clarified with the competent authority. Applicants should submit detailed evidence of the duration, institution, supervision, and activities completed, particularly in relation to the competencies and activities specified in Annex 2 and Annex 5.

Please note that you can apply directly for training positions even without Fachkunde MPE, if you have a Statement of Comparability of the Central Office for Foreign Education and hold a work permit in Germany.

German language skills are not a formal requirement. However, German is generally spoken among staff and in communication with patients in hospitals and medical practices. The expert interview (Fachgespräch), where required, is also conducted in German.

German language proficiency at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is therefore recommended.

An exception may apply to PhD positions at universities, where English is often sufficient. Applicants should check the language requirements stated in the individual job advertisement.

There is no central authority responsible for applications for Fachkunde MPE. Instead, responsibility lies with the competent authorities of the 16 individual federal German states. The responsible authority varies from one federal state to another and may, for example, be the Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry of Labour, or a subordinate authority.

As there is no complete nationwide list of the competent authorities, applicants must identify the relevant authority themselves. As a general rule, responsibility is determined by the applicant’s place of residence. If the applicant does not yet live in Germany, the competent authority is that of the federal state in which they intend to work.

EU and EFTA citizens may enter Germany without a visa and have unrestricted access to the German labour market. Third-country nationals generally need an appropriate visa or residence title before taking up employment; the applicable route depends on nationality, qualification, job offer, and personal circumstances. Use the official Make it in Germany visa guidance and obtain an individual assessment before travelling or starting work. You should also consult the German embassy in your country for further information.

If you are already accredited as Medical Physics Expert (Fachkunde MPE), you can apply directly for qualified positions as a Medical Physics Expert. When searching for vacancies, it is advisable to specify the area in which you are qualified or wish to work, such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology. One of the most relevant specialist resources is the job board of the German Society for Medical Physics (DGMP), which publishes vacancies in medical physics from hospitals, research institutions, and industry. Individual job advertisements should be checked carefully, as employers may require Fachkunde for a particular field of application rather than general professional experience in medical physics.

If you do not yet hold Fachkunde MPE, you do not normally need to obtain it before beginning your job search. Once your foreign academic qualification has been formally recognised by the Central Office for Foreign Education, you can apply directly for a suitable training position. Such vacancies may be advertised under titles including “MPE in training,” “MPE in Ausbildung,” “Medizinphysiker in Weiterbildung,” “Sachkundezeit,” or “Medical Physicist in Training.” These positions are also found on the job board of DGMP. When assessing a position, you should confirm that it provides the required supervised practical training (Sachkundezeit) under the guidance of an appropriately qualified MPE and that the training covers the field in which you intend to obtain Fachkunde. During this period, you acquire the prescribed practical experience and complete the relevant basic and specialised radiation protection courses. Many employers cover the course fees as part of the training, although this should be clarified with the employer before accepting the position.

Industry offers additional employment opportunities, for example with manufacturers of medical devices, radiation therapy equipment, imaging systems, dosimetry solutions, or specialist software. Some industrial positions require Fachkunde, especially if the work involves regulated radiation-protection responsibilities or clinical activities. For many other positions - such as product development, software development, applications support, quality assurance, or sales - it may not be required. The specific requirements should therefore be checked in each job advertisement.

Universities and research institutes also employ medical physicists in research projects and PhD positions. Fachkunde is generally not required for most PhD positions, as these primarily involve scientific research rather than independent clinical responsibilities. Relevant vacancies may be found on university and research-institute websites as well as on academic job portals.