Practical year in medicine

☝️ The most important information in brief

• The final year of your studies or your final exam is followed by a practical year.
• The PJ serves as practical training and prepares you for your future in medicine.
• During the practical year, PJ students rotate between different wards.
• In Germany, you take the first state exam after the pre-clinical phase, usually after the 4th semester – at some universities after the 6th semester. This is followed by the clinical phase and, after the 5th year of study, the Hammerexamen or second state exam. This is followed by the practical year and the third state exam.

To complete the PJ, you must have passed the second part of the medical examination, known as the Hammerexamen. You then have the option of starting the practical year (PJ) in May or November. You will quickly realize that a new part of your medical studies awaits you, as the PJ differs significantly from the theoretical focus of your studies so far.

The practical year is divided into three tertials, each lasting 16 weeks. Internal medicine and surgery are compulsory, and you also have the option of choosing an elective subject. At some universities, the prescribed 16 weeks are completed in one block, while at others they are split up. Check with your home university to find out how the PJ is planned.

The new licensing regulations will change this from 2025 onwards. Instead of the 16-week program, there will be a quarterly PJ, which will only last 12 weeks. The total duration will remain 48 weeks.

During your practical year, you can put your theoretical skills to the test. Deepening your knowledge is very important during this time. In Germany, the practical year takes place in teaching practices, at university clinics, or in teaching hospitals.

Where exactly you work depends on your university. When you enroll, you not only decide where you want to study, but also which teaching hospitals, practices, etc. you want to work at—this applies to the practical phase during your clinical training, i.e., from the 2nd to 5th year of study. You can also complete your PJ tertials at other clinics or even abroad. German faculties have partnerships and are affiliated with specific medical institutions. The PJ coordination office or the university itself is responsible for assigning placements.

The Äappro (Approbationsordnung für Ärzte, or licensing regulations for doctors) stipulates that you must have studied for at least ten semesters and be ready for the third stage of your studies. You must have successfully passed the first and second state examinations. In addition, you must undergo a medical examination by a doctor. All done? Then it's time to apply.

Before you start your PJ and enter the final phase of your studies, the focus is on your application. If you are staying at your home university, the application goes directly to the state examination office or the dean's office. Although general medicine is not one of the compulsory practical subjects, many recommend this sector for further development. Here you will learn all the skills you will need when dealing with patients later on. You must include the following documents with your application:

• Physikum certificate
• All certificates of clinical internships
• Existing certificates from the clinical part of your studies
• The completed PJ application form
• Your certificate for the second part of the medical examination

Tip: You can apply before your certificate has been issued. In this case, please include your application for admission to the second section of the medical examination.

Until 2013, you were required to complete your practical year only at teaching hospitals affiliated with your home university. With PJ mobility, the boundaries have been significantly expanded. Provided there is enough space, you can now complete your PJ at any academic hospital in Germany. The prerequisite is that enough places are available.

Does a practical year abroad sound interesting to you? That's no longer a problem, because you have the opportunity to complete this stage of your training in numerous countries (both EU and non-EU countries). The PJ in EU countries is recognized as standard in Germany. If you decide to do a PJ in another EU country, you must check whether the clinic is recognized for your practical year in Germany. With our partner clinics abroad, you can be sure that your practical year will be recognized in Germany.

Our tip: We at travel4med will support you if you want to spend part of your medical studies abroad. During your practical year, get to know other cultures and people who can help you advance your career.

University clinics and teaching hospitals are not obliged to pay you for your PJ. As a rule, you will receive remuneration based on the maximum BAföG rate. This is not a salary, but rather an expense allowance. Some clinics do not pay students anything, while others offer a small allowance. Since the practical year is part of the training, students are responsible for organizing their own income.

You cannot expect a salary during your practical year—depending on the clinic, you may receive a small expense allowance.

You are not officially entitled to vacation during your PJ. The PJ is part of your training, so you are not subject to labor law or working time regulations. You do not have any vacation days, but up to 30 days of absence per year are still permitted. You can use these as sick days, study days, or to attend conferences.

Important to know: If you are absent for more than four weeks, you will need to interrupt your PJ. This can be done by submitting a request to the LPA. If you continue within the next two years, the time you have already completed will remain valid and will be recognized for your PJ.

May and November are the key months for the start of the practical year in medicine. The exact dates may vary depending on the year. In 2024, they are as follows:

PJ May 2024:

• The first tertial lasts from May 20, 2024, to September 8, 2024.
• The second tertial lasts from September 9, 2024, to December 29, 2024.
• The third tertial lasts from December 30, 2024, to April 20, 2025

PJ November 2024:

• The first tertial lasts from November 18, 2024, to March 9, 2025
• The second tertial lasts from March 10, 2025, to June 29, 2025
• The third tertial lasts from June 30, 2025, to October 19, 2025

The sequence is always as follows: internal medicine – surgery – elective.

The practical year is the academic year in which you put the knowledge you have learned into practice. In the clinic, you work directly at the bedside and are part of the medical team. You are always supervised and guided by a real doctor who gives you instructions and tips. Your responsibilities include, for example, admitting new patients who need a place in the clinic.

Medically, you will be responsible for the following tasks, among others:

• Taking blood samples
• Inserting indwelling catheters
• Changing dressings
• Wound care
• Assisting with operations

The doctors responsible for you will decide which tasks are suitable for you based on your level of knowledge. When working abroad, it is important that you have language skills in the respective national language. This will enable you to communicate with the team and understand your patients.

After your PJ, your studies are officially complete. However, you are not yet a doctor, as you still need to obtain your license to practice medicine. To do so, you must take the M3 exams. Depending on the size of the exam groups, you will often have the opportunity to get appointments around a week after the end of your PJ. To take the exam in the spring, you must apply by January 10 of the same year. The fall exam requires an application deadline of June 10.

Tip: Remember that you must still be enrolled at the university to take your M3 exam.