CzechiaAprobační zkouška (Czech approbation examination)
Definition
The aprobační zkouška (approbation examination) is the Czech exam that doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals trained outside the EU must pass, after nostrification of their degree, to have their competence to practise recognised by the Ministry of Health. It has a written part, a supervised practical part and an oral part.
Also called: aprobační zkouška, aprobacni zkouska, approbation exam Czech Republic, Czech medical licensing exam, aprobační zkouška lékařů, aprobační zkouška sestry, AZ
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What is the aprobační zkouška?
Under section 34 of Act No. 95/2004, doctors, dentists and pharmacists educated outside the EU must prove health fitness and good conduct and pass the aprobační zkouška. Nurses and other non-medical professions follow section 85b of Act No. 96/2004. The Ministry of Health (MZČR) decides on recognition; the IPVZ runs the written and oral parts for doctors, dentists and pharmacists, and the NCO NZO in Brno runs them for nurses and other non-medical professions.
It comes after nostrification (nostrifikace) of your degree, which the application must include.
The three parts
- Written part. Two tests on one day: professional knowledge, and the Czech health system and the basics of health law. For doctors, dentists and pharmacists you need at least 60% in each.
- Practical part. Supervised work under a Ministry decision. Doctors, dentists and pharmacists work 6 months full time in a facility accredited for this purpose and write 5 case studies. General nurses and midwives complete 40 working days, physiotherapists 60.
- Oral part. Before a commission. Doctors defend one of their case studies, chosen by the commission. For nurses, the Ministry describes the exam as testing the ability to express yourself professionally in Czech.
How to apply (doctors, dentists, pharmacists)
- Send the Ministry the application for recognition with a certified Czech translation of your diploma, the nostrification decision with its legal force clause, a medical fitness certificate and criminal record certificates, each no more than 3 months old.
- Pay the CZK 2,000 administrative fee to the Ministry.
- Meet the deadline: 1 February for the spring period and 1 August for the autumn period. The autumn 2026 period runs from 2 November to 11 December 2026.
- After the written part, start the practical part under the Ministry decision and tell the Ministry within 30 days where and with whom you started, or you are treated as having failed.
- Finish the practice at least 2 months before an exam period and send proof within 5 calendar days to be placed for the oral.
Fees and limits
Exam fees are paid to IPVZ. The written part costs CZK 3,000 for the first attempt, CZK 4,000 for the first retake and CZK 6,000 after that; the oral part costs CZK 4,000, CZK 6,000 and CZK 9,000. You can apply at most five times. A passed written part, and a defended case study, stay valid for 30 months.
Common problems
- Missing a date. An excuse must reach the Ministry at least 15 calendar days before the exam, by post or data box, not email. If you simply do not attend, that part is marked as failed.
- Starting the practice without permission. You need the Ministry decision and a residence permit such as the zaměstnanecká karta before you start; the practice time does not count towards specialist training.
- Underestimating Czech. Learn it early. See Czechia and the Ministry of Health page.
Questions
Plan on Czech. The Ministry publishes the topics and oral questions in Czech, the optional IPVZ preparation courses run only in Czech with no interpreter, and the nurses' exam explicitly tests professional Czech.
Yes for degree-level professions. The Ministry's application for doctors requires a certified copy of the nostrification decision with its legal force clause.
At least one exam cycle for the written part, 6 months of practice for doctors, then an oral in a later period. Because periods run in spring and autumn, most doctors should plan for well over a year.
Yes, under supervision. The Ministry issues a decision allowing you to work for the practical part, and you need a residence permit such as an employee card. Doctors must use a facility accredited for the practical part.
The application fee is CZK 2,000, the first written attempt CZK 3,000 and the first oral attempt CZK 4,000, before translations, certificates and travel.
You can retake parts at higher fees, within the maximum of five applications. A passed written part stays valid for 30 months.