Medical Degree Nostrification in Vienna: A Comprehensive Guide
Medical Degree Nostrification in Vienna
A comprehensive guide for foreign doctors pursuing recognition of their medical degree in Austria — including Austrian Medical Chamber requirements, MedUni Wien procedures, SPT exam structure, mandatory supplementary exams, legal requirements, and a real-life timeline.
Complete Process Overview
1. Austrian Medical Chamber
Request the Confirmation of Necessity of Nostrification (Einwilligungserklärung).
2. Collect Documents
Prepare legalized, translated, and certified academic records.
3. Apply at MedUni Wien
Submit all original documents and pay the application fee.
4. Investigation Procedure
Your curriculum is compared with the Austrian UN202 curriculum.
5. SPT Exam
If needed, complete the Stichprobentest (sampling test).
6. Supplementary Exams
Complete required Austrian-specific exams before final recognition.
1. Austrian Medical Chamber (ÖÄK)
- Before applying to MedUni Wien, you must obtain the “Confirmation of Necessity of Nostrification (Einwilligungserklärung)”.
- This confirms that nostrification is required for practicing medicine or continuing medical training in Austria.
- Email: international@aerztekammer.at
- The confirmation is valid for 1 year only.
Passport • CV • Medical Diploma • Transcript of Records • Completed Application Form
2. MedUni Wien Application Requirements
- Completed and signed application form
- Original passport
- Detailed CV with educational history
- Medical diploma and transcripts
- Detailed curriculum with:
- Subjects
- Course contents
- ECTS credits
- Hours (45 or 60-minute format)
- Theoretical vs practical teaching
- German C1 certificate
- Austrian address or authorized legal representative
- Proof of payment of the €150 fee
- Medical Chamber confirmation (Einwilligungserklärung)
German Language Requirement
Minimum C1 level. Certificates must not be older than 3 years. Accepted certificates include Goethe, ÖSD, telc, TestDaF, DSH, and German-language university studies.
Legalization
Depending on the country, documents require Apostille or full diplomatic legalization.
Translations
Documents not in German or English must be translated by court-certified translators in Austria.
3. Investigation Procedure (Ermittlungsverfahren)
MedUni Wien evaluates whether your foreign medical degree is academically and structurally equivalent to the Austrian Human Medicine curriculum (UN202).
Main medical subjects reviewed include:
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Surgery
- Gynecology
- Dermatology
- ENT
- Psychiatry
- Ophthalmology
- Emergency Medicine
4. Stichprobentest (SPT)
If equivalence cannot be fully determined from documents alone, you may be invited to the SPT exam.
| Subjects | Questions |
|---|---|
| Internal Medicine • Surgery • Pediatrics | 30 each |
| Neurology • Gynecology • Dermatology • Emergency Medicine | 25 each |
| ENT • Psychiatry • Ophthalmology | 20 each |
Passing Rule: minimum 60% correct answers per subject area.
Important: The SPT exam can only be taken once and there is no retake.
Understanding the SPT (Stichprobentest) Process
The Stichprobentest (SPT) is a centralized examination required for the medical nostrification process in Austria. While you may apply to a specific university, the exam itself is standardized and organized on a rotational basis across three major medical hubs.
Key Logistics
- Location Flexibility: You can sit for the SPT at any of the designated locations, regardless of which university is handling your overall nostrification file.
- Centralized Results: Once the exam is completed, the remaining steps of your nostrification process will continue at your original university of application.
- Frequency: The exam is held three times per year, rotating between Innsbruck, Vienna, and Graz.
Annual Exam Schedule & Deadlines
To ensure your application is processed in time, you must adhere to the specific registration windows for each session:
| Month of Exam | Host University | Registration Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| February | Medical University of Innsbruck | Mid-December (previous year) |
| May | Medical University of Vienna | Late March |
| September | Medical University of Graz | Late June |
Always ensure your documents are submitted within the Einreichungsfrist (submission window) for your desired exam month. Missing the deadline for one location will require you to wait for the next available session at a different university.
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- Gerichtsmedizin (Forensic Medicine) is always required.
- Rezeptierkunde (Prescription Writing / Pharmacology) is always required.
- Wahlfach (Elective Subject) may be required only if the Diplomarbeit/thesis is missing.
- Fachsprachprüfung (Medical Language Exam) must also be completed at the Austrian Medical Chamber.
Extraordinary Student Status
- While completing supplementary exams, you are enrolled as an außerordentliche:r Studierende:r (extraordinary/non-degree student).
- You must pay ÖH/student union fees.
- Supplementary exams are conducted in German.
- Enrollment does not automatically guarantee access to limited-capacity courses.
Real-Life Timeline Example (2025)
Important Notes
- Incomplete applications can delay the process for months.
- Address or representative changes must be reported immediately.
- Usually 5 exam attempts are allowed.
- A final 6th attempt may be possible for the final exam of the curriculum.
- Failure after all attempts may permanently terminate enrollment rights.
- Nostrification may be revoked if fraudulent documents are discovered.