For Physicians · Global Physician Career
Your medical career —
in Germany, the USA, or the UAE.
From first recognition to senior leadership. We guide doctors at every career stage — structured, personal, and without false promises.
A pure coaching service — no guarantee of Approbation, Residency, DHA/DOH/MOHAP licence, visa, or employment contract · no legal advice.
Who This Is For
International doctors ready for the next step
Whether you want to get your foreign qualification recognised, move into a specialist role, or take on a leadership position — we help you find the right path.
Unclear requirements depending on career stage and state / federal state
The options are overwhelming. We identify the right path from your very first conversation with us.
Too many parallel processes — recognition, applications, language, visa
We cut through the noise. You get a clear, honest picture of what applies to your specific situation.
Missing local connections and insider knowledge about programmes and hospitals
We know the hospitals, the programmes, and how authorities decide — not from a guide, but from years of direct experience. That access is part of what you hire us for.
"We know the requirements, the institutions, and the pitfalls — and we put that into a plan that fits your specific profile."
No licence yet?
You're starting from scratch
You completed medical school abroad — no Approbation, no Berufserlaubnis, no US licence yet. This is exactly where we start: from your degree to your first application.
Already licensed?
Your next career step
Approbation in hand, but the path to specialist recognition, a better position, or leadership is unclear. We know the structures.
One Partner · Three Paths
USA, Germany or UAE — we support all three routes
Career in the USA
Residency · Fellowship ·
Attending · Research
From your first ECFMG check to a permanent position as an Attending Physician — all pathways into the US healthcare system.
Career in Germany
Approbation · Specialist ·
Leadership
New recognition, specialist training or the next step as a senior or chief physician — we know the structures.
Career in the UAE
DHA · DOH · MOHAP ·
Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Medical licence in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the northern Emirates — from eligibility assessment to submitted application.
USA Path
Your career in the USA — all options
We guide you through each step of the US licensing and application process — from initial assessment to Match Day.
Status assessment & document review
We review your qualifications and documents, creating an honest picture of where you stand on the path to ECFMG certification.
ECFMG / USMLE status mapping
Step 1 (Pass/Fail), Step 2 CK, OET Medicine via ECFMG Pathway — we map your current status and plan the route to ECFMG certification.
CV, Personal Statement & application strategy
We optimise your CV and Personal Statement for US programmes and develop a targeted application strategy suited to your profile.
ERAS / NRMP preparation & interview coaching
ERAS submission, NRMP registration, programme selection, and intensive interview coaching — thorough preparation for Match Day.
ECFMG certification is a prerequisite for the NRMP Match and any accredited Residency programme.
USMLE Step 1 (Pass/Fail — no longer numerically scored) and Step 2 CK are required for ECFMG certification.
Step 2 CS was discontinued in 2021. Clinical skills are now demonstrated via the ECFMG Pathway including a sufficient OET Medicine score.
ERAS (electronic application system) and NRMP (Match process) are separate systems — both required independently.
USMLE registration is now processed via FSMB (since the January 2026 service changeover).
US Clinical Experience (USCE): required by some programmes, not by others. We check programme by programme.
Germany Path
Your career in Germany — all levels
From document check to Approbation — including full support for the 2026 reform affecting non-EU graduates.
Status assessment — EU or non-EU route
EU/EEA graduates follow a more direct path. Non-EU/EEA graduates face the full recognition procedure — and from 1 July 2026, the Kenntnisprüfung becomes the standard route.
Document preparation — certified translations & apostilles
All foreign documents require certified German translations. Depending on your country of origin, apostille or legalisation may also be required.
FSP & Kenntnisprüfung preparation
We support preparation for the Fachsprachprüfung (C1 medical German at state medical chamber) and, where required, the Kenntnisprüfung.
Berufserlaubnis, federal state strategy & clinic applications
We help you select the right federal state, apply for Berufserlaubnis, and prepare clinic applications so you can work while your Approbation is processed.
Approbation vs. Berufserlaubnis
Approbation
- Unlimited, nationwide, independent licence to practise
- No supervision required
- Permanent once granted
- Issued by Approbationsbehörde of the target federal state
Berufserlaubnis
- Temporary, scope- and geography-limited permit
- Work under supervision; income possible
- Bridge solution while Approbation is pending
- Conditions vary by federal state
For non-EU/EEA graduates, from 1 July 2026, the Kenntnisprüfung (knowledge examination) becomes the standard route under new legislation. Applications submitted from 1 July 2026 are subject to the amended rules — the document-equivalence-only pathway is phased out. Early planning avoids detours and delays.
UAE Path
Your career in the UAE — Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or the northern Emirates
Unlike Germany, there is no single national licence in the UAE. Each emirate has its own authority — and we guide you through the right one for your target.
DHA — Dubai Health Authority. Application via the Sheryan portal.
DOH — Department of Health Abu Dhabi (formerly HAAD).
MOHAP — Ministry of Health and Prevention, responsible for the remaining emirates.
Eligibility assessment
Which authority matches your target? Do your degree, specialist qualification, and clinical experience meet the basic requirements for DHA, DOH, or MOHAP?
DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV)
Your documents are verified directly by DataFlow with your universities, employers, and authorities. This step typically takes 6–12 weeks.
Licensing exam
Depending on the authority: DHA-Prometric (Dubai), DOH exam (Abu Dhabi), or MOHAP exam. Applicants from certain recognised countries may — depending on authority, country of origin, and specialty — be exempt from the exam. We clarify this individually.
Licence application
Submission of the complete dossier via the relevant authority portal. A DHA licence does not automatically apply in Abu Dhabi — conversion is required if you change emirates.
Extended career gaps (from two or three years, depending on the authority) can affect your eligibility for licensure. We assess this with you upfront before any application is submitted.
What Is Included
What we do for you
A pure support service — structured, personal, and fully transparent.
Orientation & Roadmap
Personal initial consultation, honest status assessment, and an individual plan — step by step. Clarity before any commitment.
Documents & Recognition
Complete checklist, review for completeness and plausibility, coordination of translations and certifications. (Document review ≠ authenticity verification.)
Exam & Application Preparation
CV optimisation, Personal Statement, FSP and interview preparation, mock interviews — tailored to your target country and programme.
Programme & Clinic Selection
Selection by verifiable, transparent criteria — by programme, federal state, and country of origin.
Personal Guidance
Dedicated contact person, regular appointments, and preparation of communication with programmes and clinics throughout your journey.
Coaching Packages
Your starting point — for every career phase
Which package fits your situation? We clarify this together in your free orientation call.
Orientation & Check
You're not yet sure which route applies to your profile — or whether it does at all. We assess your situation and give you an honest picture. No roadmap, no documents — but a clear basis before you invest.
Career Development
Your profile is clear — now comes implementation. We build your individual roadmap, review all documents for completeness, and guide application preparation. Exam and interview coaching not included.
Intensive Support
Everything in Career Development — plus preparation for FSP, Prometric or USMLE and structured interview coaching. For those who want the entire journey thoroughly prepared.
Executive Coaching
Specialist recognition, leadership positions, complex credential situations, or multiple target markets in parallel. Individual guidance over several months — including direct communication with authorities and institutions.
All prices net plus VAT. Exact pricing discussed in your free orientation call.
What comes next
After coaching — a free introduction to facilities.
After your coaching, we can — on request and at no extra cost — introduce you to our network of clinics and practices. There is no cost to you: the placement fee is paid exclusively by the facility.
Complete coaching
Documents, language, strategy — you're prepared and ready.
Express your wish
You decide voluntarily whether you'd like to be introduced to our facility network.
Introduction — free
VIVITAS introduces you to matching clinics and practices. The facility pays — not you.
The introduction is a voluntary option following coaching. Coaching contract and staffing placement are legally separate services.
Transparency & Honesty
What we are — and what we are not
Important: what this service covers
- This is a purely supportive coaching service — not employment brokerage or legal representation.
- No guarantee of Approbation, Berufserlaubnis, Residency, visa, ECFMG certification, or employment contract.
- Document review means a check for completeness and plausibility — not a confirmation of authenticity.
- All exams and licensing decisions are made exclusively by the responsible official authorities and organisations (e.g. Approbationsbehörde, Landesärztekammer, ECFMG, USMLE, NRMP, DHA, DOH, MOHAP, DataFlow).
- No legal, visa, or residence advice. These matters must be handled by qualified lawyers or the relevant authorities.
The Team
Personal. Experienced. Committed.
Two people behind VIVITAS — an HR expert with years of experience in healthcare, and a doctor who knows the path first-hand.
Ulrike Ripper
CEO & FounderWith years of experience in healthcare and HR consulting, Ulrike Ripper knows the challenges facing both institutions and international doctors from hands-on practice.
Abdel Karim Younis
Physician & Co-FounderKarim Younis knows this path from personal experience: a foreign medical degree, the Approbation process, navigating a new healthcare system. He went through it himself — and shares that insider knowledge directly.
As a practising physician, he combines medical expertise with a genuine understanding of the challenges international colleagues face. Coaching in Arabic, English and German.
What doctors say
Physicians who went through the process
"I had no idea which federal state to apply to, or how long the process would realistically take. VIVITAS gave me a clear picture from the very first call — and stayed with me through every document and every step of FSP preparation."Dr. M.A. · Internal Medicine · Egypt → Germany
"The ECFMG requirements changed just as I was starting out. I didn't realise my early Step 1 date had already started a clock running. VIVITAS caught that early — without them, I would have missed my window."Dr. R.T. · Paediatrics · Jordan → Ohio
"I knew I wanted Dubai, but I didn't know whether DHA was right for my specialty or whether I'd face an exam. The initial assessment alone saved me months of misdirected effort."Dr. N.H. · Cardiology · Iraq → Dubai (DHA)
Free Orientation Call · No Obligation
Your next step starts here.
One conversation. No pressure. We assess your situation honestly and tell you exactly what is realistic — and what is not.