Czech Ministry of Health (MZČR): Recognition, Exams and Fees

• Doctor (lékař): recognition under section 34 of Act No. 95/2004 Coll. after the aprobační zkouška
• Dentist (zubní lékař): recognition under section 34 of Act No. 95/2004 Coll. after the aprobační zkouška
• Pharmacist (farmaceut): recognition under section 34 of Act No. 95/2004 Coll. after the aprobační zkouška
• General nurse (všeobecná sestra), children's nurse and practical nurse: recognition under section 85b of Act No. 96/2004 Coll.
• Midwife (porodní asistentka), physiotherapist (fyzioterapeut), paramedic (zdravotnický záchranář), radiological assistant, laboratory, dental and other non-medical professions under Act No. 96/2004 Coll.
• Supporting roles such as ošetřovatel, sanitář and dental instrument nurse (zubní instrumentářka), which take a shorter approbation examination and do not need nostrification
• Time-limited permits to practise under direct supervision (section 36 of Act No. 95/2004 and section 89 of Act No. 96/2004)
• Recognition of qualifications from EU member states under Act No. 18/2004 Coll., and recognition of specialist competence obtained abroad

• A qualification in a regulated health profession obtained outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
• Recognition of that education in Czechia (nostrifikace): from a Czech public university for a degree, or from the regional authority for a secondary or higher vocational qualification. Only some supporting roles are exempt.
• For doctors, dentists and pharmacists, a nostrification that recognises your degree as equivalent to the Czech master's programme in general medicine, dentistry or pharmacy, with the clause showing the decision is final (doložka nabytí právní moci).
• A medical fitness certificate (lékařský posudek) from a general practitioner or occupational health provider, no more than 3 months old.
• Proof of good character: a criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship, plus one from any state where you lived continuously for more than 6 months in the last 3 years, each no more than 3 months old.
• Enough Czech to sit the examination: the Ministry states that the doctors', dentists' and pharmacists' examination is held in Czech, and the oral examination for non-medical professions is in Czech only.
• A residence permit that allows you to work (an employee card, a Blue Card or a work visa) before you start the practical part.
• No more than five applications in total for recognition and the examination since the rule took effect on 1 November 2021, with earlier applications counted.

Check your route with the route finder

1. 1

   1. Get your nostrification decision

   The Ministry will not open the procedure without it. For a university degree, apply to a Czech public university with a comparable programme; the MŠMT lists a CZK 3,000 fee and a basic 30-day decision period. Ask for the legal force clause on the decision, because the Ministry requires it for doctors, dentists and pharmacists.
2. 2

   2. Prepare your documents and translations

   Doctors, dentists and pharmacists need a certified Czech translation of the diploma, a certified copy of the nostrification decision, the fitness certificate, the criminal record certificates and proof of payment. Documents in a foreign language, except Slovak, must be submitted in the original with a certified Czech translation by a translator on the Ministry of Justice list. Order the fitness and criminal record certificates last, since they expire after 3 months.
3. 3

   3. Submit the application by the deadline

   Doctors, dentists and pharmacists submit the section 34 application by post or to the Ministry's data box (pv8aaxd), by 1 February for the spring period or 1 August for the autumn period. The CZK 2,000 administrative fee is paid by bank transfer to the Ministry's account with variable symbol 2420, and the full amount must arrive. Non-medical professionals apply through the EZP application at least 50 days before their examination date, according to the Ministry's leaflet.
4. 4

   4. Sit the written part

   IPVZ or NCO NZO sends an invitation with the payment details. The professional knowledge test and the health system and law test are taken on the same day, and doctors, dentists and pharmacists need at least 60% in each. If you dispute a result, doctors, dentists and pharmacists can object to IPVZ within 3 working days of the test.
5. 5

   5. Get permission for the practical part

   After the written part, the Ministry issues a decision allowing you to work under direct supervision for the length of the practical part. Non-medical professionals must first submit an Information on their intention to complete the practical part, with a CZK 500 fee. Sort out your residence and work permit before you start, because the Ministry says you begin only once those are arranged.
6. 6

   6. Complete the practical part

   Doctors, dentists and pharmacists work 6 months full time in a facility accredited specifically for the practical part (accreditation for specialist training does not count) and write 5 case studies. You must notify the Ministry of the facility, your supervisor and your start date within 30 days, or you are treated as having failed. Excuses are not accepted for the practical part, and you cannot extend it beyond the period in the decision.
7. 7

   7. Register for and pass the oral examination

   Doctors, dentists and pharmacists register (přihláška) for the oral part once the practical part is finished, and must finish it at least 2 months before the examination period and send proof within 5 calendar days. The commission picks one of your case studies for you to defend. For non-medical professionals, your evaluator sends the practical assessment to NCO NZO, which then invites you to the oral examination in Czech.
8. 8

   8. Receive your decision

   For doctors, dentists and pharmacists the recognition decision follows a pass in all parts. Non-medical professionals receive a certificate of passing the examination and then apply for recognition under section 85b with the original certificate, the nostrification decision, fresh fitness and criminal record certificates, proof of residence status and a CZK 500 fee. The Ministry's leaflet says the recognition has no time limit.
9. 9

   9. If you cannot attend or do not pass

   You may excuse yourself from a written or oral date by a signed letter or data box message that reaches the Ministry at least 15 calendar days before it, or within 5 working days afterwards for a serious reason you can prove; email is not accepted. A late or missing excuse counts as a fail. Resits cost more, and each new application counts towards your limit of five.

• Written part (doctors, dentists, pharmacists)

  Two tests on one day: professional knowledge, and the Czech health system and legal basis of healthcare. You need at least 60% in each to pass. The Ministry publishes thematic areas and recommended reading for each profession. A pass stays valid for 30 months.

• Practical part (doctors, dentists, pharmacists)

  6 months of full-time work under the direct supervision of a qualified doctor, dentist or pharmacist in an accredited facility, following the Ministry's training programme for the practical part. You write 5 case studies during it. Dentists who have worked at least one year on a section 36 permit can ask for that practice to be credited, for a CZK 500 fee.

• Oral examination (doctors, dentists, pharmacists)

  Professional knowledge tested before a commission, plus the defence of one case study chosen by the commission. The Ministry publishes the 2026 lists of oral questions for doctors and pharmacists. Passed subjects of the doctors' oral and a passed case study defence stay valid for 30 months.

• Written tests (nurses and non-medical professions)

  A professional knowledge test and a test on the Czech health system and law, under section 85b of Act No. 96/2004 and Decree No. 189/2009. The Ministry's leaflet says both may be taken in Czech, English, French, German or Russian, and you must pass both before the practical part.

• Practical part (nurses and non-medical professions)

  Done with a health or social care provider under the direct supervision of a professional who may practise without supervision and who judges in writing whether you passed. The Ministry's leaflet lists 60 days for physiotherapists and clinical psychologists, 40 days for general nurses, midwives and paramedics, 30 days for practical nurses and 14 days for roles such as sanitář.

• Oral examination (nurses and non-medical professions)

  Tests professional knowledge and, where relevant, your ability to express yourself in Czech. It is held only in Czech, before a commission appointed by the Minister of Health. NCO NZO publishes the question lists.

• The Ministry does not use English tests such as IELTS or OET. It does not publish a CEFR level either: Czech is tested through the examination itself.
• Doctors, dentists and pharmacists: the Ministry states that the aprobační zkouška is held in Czech. IPVZ's optional preparatory courses, held twice a year, are also in Czech and do not allow an interpreter.
• Nurses and other non-medical professionals: the written tests may be taken in Czech, English, French, German or Russian according to the Ministry's leaflet, but the oral examination is in Czech only.
• The Ministry's leaflet for non-medical professionals says you need at least a basic knowledge of Czech before arriving, and describes Czech courses for general and practical nurses run by NCO NZO.
• All foreign-language documents except Slovak need a certified Czech translation for the Ministry of Health.

Estimate your total cost

• Nostrification: the MŠMT says the basic decision period is 30 days from the application, extendable for complicated checks.
• Doctors, dentists and pharmacists: apply by 1 February 2026 for the spring period (27 April to 12 June 2026) or by 1 August 2026 for the autumn period (2 November to 11 December 2026).
• Practical part: 6 months for doctors, dentists and pharmacists, which must end at least 2 months before the period in which you sit the oral; on that calendar the oral usually falls in a later examination period than the written part.
• Non-medical professions: apply at least 50 days before the examination; NCO NZO confirms the date at least 30 calendar days ahead; the practical part takes 14 to 60 days depending on the profession.
• Validity: a passed written part and case study defence stay valid for 30 months, and the Ministry does not publish an overall processing time for the whole route.