C1 Course for academic health professions

• Course starting dates: 5 times per month
• Entry condition: German B2 Certificate (Telc, Goethe or ÖSD) / Entry Test
• Max. 6-8 professionals per course (we do not mix areas)
• 5-6 teaching units per day, 5 days per week. 500 units in total (about 17-20 weeks).
• German teachers with specialist training are approved by BAMF
• Qualified Doctors/Dentists/Pharmacists also teach you in class, simulate the FSP with you and share their experience working in Germany.
• Course and Exam costs paid by BAMF
• Focus on Communication: The curriculum heavily emphasizes verbal and written communication in professional contexts, such as taking patient histories (anamnesis), presenting cases to superiors, and performing patient education (informed consent).
• Medical Terminology & Documentation: Participants learn to translate between patient-level language (layman terms) and specialized medical jargon. Key focus areas include writing medical reports (Arztbriefe) and documenting findings.
• FSP Preparation: The course is highly focused on passing the Fachsprachenprüfung (FSP) at the State Medical Association (Landesärztekammer).
• Contextual Training: Simulation of real workplace scenarios, such as doctor-doctor handovers, communicating with nursing staff, and patient consultation.
• Cultural & Structural Knowledge: In addition to language, the courses teach essential knowledge about the German healthcare system, legal regulations, and hygiene standards.

The Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) is an examination at the C1 level, divided into various sections. It simulates a typical workday for healthcare professionals. While the structure is the same for all, the medical scenarios differ.

1. FSP for Physicians (Human Medicine) ca. 90 minutes

Focuses on clinical history-taking and hospital-based communication.

• Part 1: Doctor-Patient Conversation: Conducting a full medical history (anamnesis). You must record current symptoms, past history, and allergies while explaining suspected diagnoses in layman's terms.
• Part 2: Documentation: Writing a structured medical report or discharge summary based on the information gathered in Part 1.
• Part 3: Doctor-Doctor Communication: Presenting the patient case to a "senior physician" (the examiner) using professional terminology and answering clinical questions regarding differential diagnoses.

• Other: Vocabulary test, listening and understanding test

   

2. FSP for Dentists (Dentistry)

The structure is identical, but cases focus specifically on oral and dental health.

• Part 1: Dentist-Patient Conversation: Anamnesis for dental issues (e.g., toothaches, periodontal disease). You explain treatments like root canals, fillings, or prosthetics to the patient.
• Part 2: Documentation: Creating a dental findings report or a detailed treatment plan.
• Part 3: Dentist-Dentist Communication: Discussing the case with a colleague, often including the interpretation of X-rays (OPGs) and discussing surgical or orthodontic options.

3. FSP for Pharmacists (Pharmacy)

The focus shifts to counseling, safety, and pharmaceutical advice.

• Part 1: Pharmacist-Patient/Customer Conversation: Counseling on prescription drugs or over-the-counter (OTC) medication. You must explain dosage, storage, and potential side effects clearly.
• Part 2: Documentation: Filling out official forms, such as reports for adverse drug reactions (AMK forms) or medication plans.
• Part 3: Professional Communication: Discussing a pharmaceutical case with another pharmacist or a physician, focusing on topics like drug-drug interactions or lab-made formulations (Rezeptur).

Key Facts to Remember

• Language Focus: You are graded on language proficiency (grammar, pronunciation, medical terms), not on clinical accuracy—though medical knowledge is necessary to communicate correctly.
• Passing Score: You usually need to achieve at least 60% in each of the three sections. If you fail one section, you typically fail the entire exam.
• Exam Authority: The exam is usually conducted by the respective State Chambers (e.g., Landesärztekammer or Landesapothekerkammer).