Several aspiring pharmacists in countries like Nigeria seek better opportunities, career paths, and broader avenues in European countries. This article is centred on exploring the information that pharmacists from Nigeria need if they are looking to migrate to Germany.
Fields of Work
Aspiring Nigerian pharmacists may want to learn more about the opportunities they can avail of and the fields of work they can choose to engage in. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- The pharmaceutical industry.
- Hospitals and public pharmacies.
- Educational institutes and health departments at universities. Health insurance companies.
- The military.
Conditions and General Guidelines
The first condition a potential Nigerian candidate needs to have in mind is that working as a pharmacist in Germany requires proper government approval. This approval is usually given in the form of the permit called an “approbation”. As for the specifics, each German state evaluates their specific approbation cases individually and determines whether to grant an approbation in a specific case not more than three months after the initiation of the procedure.
- Pharmacists will have to give a German Language Exam that has four levels. They require the knowledge of level B2 and level C1 (advanced) to qualify.
- Potential applicants also need to decide which state they want to work in and once they do, they’ll have to submit their degree, equivalence assessment and language certificate to the state’s concerned authority.
- Once they’re approved, they are allowed to work as an assistant pharmacist for a duration of six months. However, if they have practical experience in retail or community pharmacy from their home country, it is recompensed.
- Lastly, once they’re done with their internship, they have to give an oral exam to a council of public health officers, pharmacists, and state officers to get their pharmacist license.
Steps and Procedures
Germany has two different sets of rules in this regard. One for EU member countries and the other for non-member countries. Here’s a breakdown of everything pharmacists need to know about the procedure as a Nigerian applicant.
1. An Equivalency Assessment
This is the initial assessment that pharmacists will be put through once they apply to work in Germany.
The assessment will be tailored towards comparing the duration and course material of their education with that of established German programs and standards.
There’s no real need to worry since most Nigerian pharmacy programs are sufficiently similar to German programs in terms of their content and relevance.
In the event that no considerable differences are found between German programs and the Nigerian program a candidate was involved in, they will be issued a formal assessment.
There are a few other options at their disposal, such as a settlement permit for highly qualified workers, or a Blue Card EU.
2. Additional Requirements
The additional requirements for practising pharmacy as a Nigerian pharmacist in Germany are requirements that aren’t traditionally mandatory, and pharmacists can still receive an approbation without them.
However, if a candidate meets certain additional requirements, such as good German language skills, they may be entitled to certain perks and privileges, such as the right to practice pharmacy in Germany without any restrictions.
3. Considerable Differences
In the event that considerable differences are found between German programs and a Nigerian applicant’s program, they will be asked to take a formal assessment exam.
In terms of content, the exam will test their knowledge of legal issues that fall under a pharmaceutical paradigm, established pharmaceutical practices, and any subjects which are determined to be considerably different from equivalent German courses.
This section gives a thorough insight into the application procedure for Nigerian candidates and sheds light on some pertinent ambiguities that they may have once they decide to apply.
- Contact German representatives
As has been mentioned before, individual German states take decisions on whether to allot permits separately from each other’s influence.
Nigerian pharmacists need to contact the agencies and authorities that are responsible for overseeing the procedure in the state they want to work in.
● What documents do pharmacists need?
- – A summary of their education and work experience,
- – Certificates related to education as well as any other certification of professionalqualifications,
- – Proof of German language skills.
- – Doctor’s certificate that attests good health,
- – Proof of their identity,
- – A current official certificate of good conduct,
- – Evidence of the right to practice in their country of origin (if required),
- – A declaration stating whether any legal criminal proceedings are pending or open,
- – Evidence of meaningful work experience and further education (if required),
How much does it cost?
Most of the costs pharmacists incur will look like processing fees for the preparation and taking of any exams, costs charged by the concerned authorities during the application process, and any costs for the obtainment of documents or copies.
References
[1] “Recognition in Germany,” Federal Minister of Education and Research, [Online]. Available: https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/en/interest/finder/profession.