MEDICAL SPECIALISATION/ RESIDENCY in Switzerland

I thought to create a new thread seperately.. as it is mostly ask through many times through "private messages":

Other previous levels are here https://www.englishforum.ch/permits-...citizen-3.html

LEVEL 5: Learning German in Bern

LEVEL 6: Getting job as Resident Doctor in Kanton Bern/ Swiss

I have combined above post as both are interlinked.

Steps to swiss medical Residency/ Specialisation

Step 1: Learning Swiss language upto B2. (below)

to be followed:

Step 2: Organising visa and accomodation.

Step 3: Registering onself into Swiss Med-Register & acquiring GL Number.

Step 4: Getting in contact with MEBEKO regarding Degree recognition.

Step 5: Getting a job as Intern/ Resident doctor.

Step 6: Getting into Doctorarbeit/ Thesis work for DR title.

Step 7: Preparing for Staatsexamen.

Step 8: Working further to complete remaining specialisation years to become a specialist.

Step 9: Preparing for Federal Specialist exam.

Step 10: Continuing futher medical education.

STEP 1: LEARNING THE LANGUAGE (German/ French/ Italian):

In switzerland, getting into medical residency/ Specialition program is quite difficult to impossible without required certain level of language competency.

Swiss official languages are only : German, French and Italian.

ENGLISH IS NOT (one of the 4) SWISS NATIONAL LANGUAGE:

NEITHER ARE SPECIALISATION COURSE HELD IN ENGLISH, Very RARELY patient prefer/ or demands for consultation to be held in english. These patients could be mostly foriegners residing in CH or Tourists. I have met just 3 patients in Internal medicine and Psychiatry during last 2 years.

I had learn german and only well versed with processes or hospital in german area, particularly around Bern.

No matter how good you are in medicine; Swiss hospitals/ HOD/ Chefarzt won’t hire you without your language proficiency..!

Min.officially required language level: B2 based on common european framework of reference/ CEFR for EU languages The higher, one has the language competency, the better are chances of getting job as well as starting specialisation programme (logically ).

Where to learn:

 For those , who wanna start at their home country especially from Asian/ African/ American countries:

• Join a regular language school to learn at faster pace atleast upto B1. It would save your money and time in switzerland. It would a plus while finding a job as Intern/ Resident doctor.

• If possible, another alternative would be : hire a hourly based private Goethe licensed tutor for A1-A2 levels >> then join language schools for B1 (+/- B2) level. It would be more convinient if you are working at emergency dept. in your native country. I did this option which was very convinient for me while I was working then too and at ultra fast paced way for basics. Pace could vary depending on mainly individual self study etc.

 For those, who are already in Bern. There are many languages school/ organisation to help out:

• Chargeable courses at: Alemania, Flying teachers, Benedict, inlingua, Migros Klubschule etc. For ex : I joined Alemania for B2 and C1 levels. Details: https://www.alemania.ch/deutschkurs

• Non-chargeable Organisation: ( extensive list from regional Integration centre: Kompetenzzentrum Integration Bern, Effingerstrasse 33, 3008 Bern )

- Denkmal at Lagerweg 12, 3013 Bern: (advantage: meet people from diverse linguatic backgrounds, good way to practice your own teaching skills too; disadvantage: slow paced, irregular time as well as classes)

- Meet up Bern: Register > meet at an organised Restaurant & time ; every Thursday > just spoken skill to practice. Usually few helping swiss or german volunters are almost always there to rectify the mistakes.

(advantage : person of any level are welcomed and mostly talk informally about daily life.)

Resources to learn from:

 I followed the prescribed books from Goethe & materials from language schools in India. Later on Telc precribed study & workbooks for B2 & C1 level at Alemania.

 After passing B1 level, gradually & progressively started reading newspapers (NZZ, Tagesanzieger, Der Bild, Spiegel, Suddeutsche Zeitung); all on a common android app.

 Listened with written Transcript ā€ž Deutsche Welle: Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten ā€œ. For eg:

https://www.dw.com/de/deutsch-lernen/nachrichten/s-8030

 Android apps:

here is a list of tried Apps, which probably might help you too:

1. Eng - ger Dictionary:

dict.cc dictionary (by Paul hemetsberger) or Duden

2. Vocabulary for beginners:

> Duolingo: learn languages free (by Duolingo)

> Learn German vocabulary free {by language course S.L.}

> Learn German vocabulary - 6000 words (by fun learn easy)

3. Total grammar explained in short n easy way:

German grammar (by Global Inc.} (Explained in English)

4. For beginners, according to grammar topic:

* German verb conjugator (by Ian Tipton)

* German verbs (conjugation) {by Appicenter LLC}

* German gender quiz (for all nouns) {by Nicola tesser}

* German adjective declension {by Nicola tesser}

* German verb -prepositions quiz (fixed combinations) {by Nicola tesser}

5. small conversational-sentences apps:

* Babbel (subscription based)

* Duolingua german (non chargeable)

6. Newspapers:

> DW – 5 small compiled breaking world news { by Deutsche Welle} (Slow spoken news with its transcripts)

> world Newspapers { by bazimo} (select any from DACh eg: Bild, Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung, NZZ)

7. Self assesment according to each level:

* Learn Deutsch DeutschAkademie (by DeutschAkademie....)

 Websites

1. Grammar in details : EN Ā« Ā» DE interchangeable

www.canoo.net

2. Learning material/ worksheets, according to grammatical topics*_ ger

www.nthuleen.com/teach.html

3. Grammar topics: consice & compact explained:*_ eng« »ger

www.deutschseite.de/inhalt.html

4. Newspapers:

> Deutsche Welle – 5 small compiled breaking world news {by Deutsche Welle} (Slow spoken news with its transcripts)

https://www.dw.com/de/23022019-langs...ten/a-47652122

PS: Special thanks to Cugeno from the link below; he helped me understand the initial process in detail.

Link: https://www.englishforum.ch/permits-...ml#post2369136

You deserve a medal for this wonderfully detailed and very pragmatic post! Thank you!

LEVEL 5: Learning German in Bern

LEVEL 6: Getting job as Resident Doctor in Kanton Bern/ Swiss

I have combined above post as both are interlinked.

Steps to swiss medical Residency/ Specialisation

Step 1: Learning Swiss language upto B2 (below).

Step 2: Registering onself into Swiss Med-Register & acquiring GL Number (below).

to be followed:

Step 3: Getting in contact with MEBEKO regarding Degree recognition.

Step 4: Getting a job as Intern/ Resident doctor.

Step 5: Organising visa and accomodation.

Step 6: Getting into Doktorarbeit/Promotion/ Thesis work for << Dr. title >> .

Step 7: Preparing for Staatsexamen.

Step 8: Working further to complete remaining specialisation years to become a specialist.

Step 9: Preparing for Federal Specialist exam.

Step 10: Continuing futher medical education.

STEP 2: Registering onself into Swiss Med-Register & acquiring GL Number

As of January 1, 2018, all medical doctors working in Switzerland will have to be registered in the medical professional register due to the revised Medical Profession Act (Med BeGe). Those who have not yet registered but who are already working before 1 January 2018 will receive a two-year transitional period (i.e till end of Dec 2019) to get themself registered.

Whom to contact for registeration:

Bundesamt für Gesundheit BAG

Abteilung Gesundheitsberufe

Gesundheitsberuferegister

Schwarzenburgstrasse 157

3003 Bern

Schweiz

Tel. +41 58 462 15 97

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Purpose: to register the medical education as well as the language competency of all healthcare professionals who are working in Switzerland with unrecognised medical degree. Simultaneously, make it available to prospective employer as well as to patients. Search according to name on: https://www.medregom.admin.ch/

Cost of registration: CHF 800 for medical education & CHF 50 - 100 per language registration. This could vary on individual basis & decided after assesment on 1 :1 basis.

How to get register: Persons with a non-recognizable foreign diploma who have received a positive decision from MEBEKO, must be oblligatory now registered in MedRegister or MedReg.

Healthcare professionals includes doctors, dentists, pharmacists, Vets and chiropractioners.

The 6 necessary/ required documents are mentioned in registration form is attached (below) or download it from :

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home...nalberufe.html

Processing time: It could take around min. 2-3 months to get the confirmation letter.

Outcome: One is registered in ā€ž Swiss medical Registerā€œ and receive a confirmation letter with Global locator or GL number , is unique to each healthcare professional.

During my last job interview (at my current hospital), I was asked if I am already registered or not! And I was then only registered among others.

I guess, Jan 2020 onwards, all doctors especially who have acquired their medical degrees from outside Switzerland or EFTA, would have to get registered before start working. Although, no such circular/notification has been issued from MEBEKO (that I have came across).

LEVEL 5: Learning German in Bern

Level 6: Getting job as Resident Doctor in Kanton Bern/ Swiss

I have combined above post as both are interlinked.

Steps to swiss medical Residency/ Specialisation

Step 1: Learning Swiss language upto B2 (below).

Step 2: Registering onself into Swiss Med-Register & acquiring GL Number.

Step 3: Getting in contact with MEBEKO regarding Degree recognition.

to be followed:

Step 4: Getting a job as Intern/ Resident doctor.

Step 5: Organising visa and accomodation.

Step 6: Getting into Doktorarbeit/Promotion/ Thesis work for <> .

Step 7: Preparing for Staatsexamen.

Step 8: Working further to complete remaining specialisation years to become a specialist.

Step 9: Preparing for Federal Specialist exam.

Step 10: Continuing futher medical education.

Step 3: Getting in contact with MEBEKO regarding Degree recognition.

Whom to contact for recognition:

Bundesamt für Gesundheit BAG

MEBEKO

Schwarzenburgstrasse 157

3003 Bern

Tel. +41 58 462 94 83

[email protected]

MEBEKO (Medizinberufkommission or medical professional commission) is an authorised non-parliamentary commission (incoordination with ministry of health/ Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG) has both an administrative and a consulting function in the field of university medical professions.

Their tasks and competences are governed by the Medical Profession Law (MedBG) and the administrative Regulations.

The MEBEKO:

as a consultative body, comment on subject-specific and quality-related aspects of education and training; may submit proposals to the Accreditation Body, the Federal Council, the FDHA and the University Council to increase the quality of education and training; decides on the recognition of foreign diplomas and advanced training titles for which there is a bilateral agreement for mutual recognition; decides on the conditions that holders of an unrecognizable foreign degree must fulfil in order to obtain a federal degree; supervises the federal examinations, which lead to the federal degree in human, dental, veterinary medicine or pharmacy and chiropractic; and regularly reports to the EDI and the University Council on their activities.

In view of the number and breadth of the tasks, MEBEKO consists of a management board as well as the two departments Training and Further Education. Both ministries run a branch office located in the BAG Healthcare Professionals Section.

Registration ( as mentioned in step 2 ) and Recognition of medical degree ( mentioned below ) are two different issues for each individual &their degree. Both are done & undertaken by MEBEKO on 1:1 basis assessment. For Swiss and EU medical degree holders (falling under step 1-3) , both processes are carried out simultaneously. For non EU medical degree holders, it’s prolonged process (mentioned under type 4 recognition)

Types of recognition in Switzerland:

DEGREES FROM SWITZERLAND or EU/EFTA COUNTRIES

1. Direct (automatic) recognition (for medical degrees from Switzerland)

2. Direct (facilitated) recognition (for medical degrees from EU/EFTA countries)

DEGREES OUTSIDE SWITZERLAND or EU/EFTA COUNTRIES

3. Indirect recognition (for non EU/EFTA medical degrees, but recognised in EU countries)

4. Registered but unrecognised degrees (all the degree which are neither from Switzerland nor from EU/EFTA countries).

*(degrees = diplomas, in german)

A distinction is made between the recognition variants of direct and indirect recognition:

Direct recognition takes place when the diploma has been obtained in EU or a Contracting State.

Indirect recognition (= recognition of recognised degree) is done when EU country/ a Contracting State recognizes a third-country diploma and this recognition is accepted by Switzerland.

DEGREE FROM SWITZERLAND or EU/EFTA COUNTRIES

1. Direct (automatic) recognition (for medical degrees from Switzerland)

All medical students who complete their 6th year of medicine (Bachelor & Master, each of 3yrs) in Switzerland (equivalent to Indian 5.5 yrs of MBBS/ Bachelor of medicine and surgery) are obliged to pass Swiss medical license exam (known as Staatsexamen ).

It is 2 tier exam: 2x150 MCQ (written) & 12 short cases of history & exams (OSCE).

Detail about Staatsexamen: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home...ntent_par_tabs

Upon successful completion of the license exam, Swiss medical students are automatically registered get an GL or global location number + degree as well as a official medical title { med.pract. }.

(Unlike in India, one gets < Dr. > title after successful completion of 5.5yrs of MBBS & registration with MCI. In Switzerland, in order to get { Dr. } title, medical students undertake a thesis work during their 3rd-4th year of medicine).

Upon completion of both thesis and Staatsexamen (license exam). The title changes to { Dr.med. }

2. Direct (facilitated) recognition (for medical degrees from EU/EFTA countries)

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home...r-eu-efta.html

Diplomas from the EU / EFTA can be recognized in accordance with the bilateral Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons with the EU and EFTA States. The 90-day or lesser service providers are required to initiate a special "notification procedure" .

Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (FZA)

According to the Federal Act of 23 June 2006 on the Medical Professions (MedBG) , foreign diplomas are only recognized if there is an agreement on the mutual recognition of diplomas with the respective state . Such agreements have been in force since June 2002 with the EU (Free Movement of Persons Agreement, FTA) and EFTA. With regard to diploma recognition, the FZA refers to the EU directive. The recognition applies to the professional diplomas with regard to admission to the profession, but does not refer to the academic titles.

Recognition or notification procedure?

The recognition procedure is initiated by EU medical degree holders who wish to engage for professional purposes in Switzerland ( for more than 90days ), regardless of whether they are living in Switzerland (also considered or called as border workers). The period of validity of a recognition is not limited to timeframe or location (canton).

The notification procedure must be compulsorily initiated by EU / EFTA diploma holders who maintain their main occupation and residence in one of the EU / EFTA member states but wants to work also in Switzerland for a maximum of 90 days per calendar year . In the fields of human medicine, in addition to a qualifying diploma, an eligible specialist title is required. The notification procedure must be renewed for each calendar year.

Cost amounts between CHF 800 - 1,000 for the review of medical degree by MEBEKO and an additional CHF 800 - 1,000 for specialist titles

Requirements for this recognition:

• The applicant has the nationality of Switzerland or of a Contracting State of Switzerland (EU or EFTA) or the spouse has the nationality of one of these states;

• The diploma submitted (including any additional certificates that may be required) must correspond to EU Directive 2005/36 / EC or in the EFTA Convention;

• The diploma (including any additional passes) was issued by the authority mentioned in the EU Directive or the EFTA Convention.

Anyone wishing to pursue a medical profession in Switzerland must have the requisite language skills in the official language (german/French or Italian) of the canton in which the profession takes place. The proven language skills can be entered in the medical profession register (Swiss Medical register, mentioned in step 2). For information about the submission of applications, prerequisites for entry, fees / procedure and other important information, see: www.spracheintrag.admin.ch

DEGREE FROM OUTSIDE SWITZERLAND or EU/EFTA COUNTRIES

3. Indirect recognition (for non EU/EFTA medical degrees, but recognised in EU countries)

As per email reply from MEBEKO under this recognition:

Requirements:

1) The applicant is Swiss or an EU/EFTA national OR is married to a Swiss OR an EU/EFTA citizen

2) The degree has been obtained or recognized in an EU/EFTA country according to Article 2 alinea 2 and to Article 3 alinea 3 of the European Directive 2005/36/ EC. (no idea: what that is..!);

3) The applicant has at least 3 years of clinical experience in the EU/EFTA country which has recognized the medical diploma OR in Switzerland.

4) The applicant has to be fluent in one of Switzerland national languages: German, French or Italian.

5) Swiss Medical Registration (MedReg) for GL number (as mentioned in step 2).

Documents required for this recognition:

• Curriculum Vitae,

• a certified copy of your passport, and – if not Swiss or EU/EFTA national- then a certified copy of your wife/ husband's passport (Swiss or EU/EFTA national), as well as a certified copy of your marriage certificate (with a certified copy of a translation, if not in English, German, French or Italian);

• a certified copy of your medical diploma (& a certified copy of an official translation, if not in EN, DE, FR, IT).

• a certified copy of the diploma’s recognition made in an EU/EFTA country, with a certified copy of an official translation of the recognition (if needed),

• the proof of work experience from Switzerland or in a EU/EFTA Member State, stating the dates when you started and ended working, your job title and working rate. You should have an equivalent of 3 years of full time clinical experience within last 5 years.

• a proof of language proficiency (level B2) in French, German or Italian (as mentioned in step 2).

• if available, document stating GL number (Swiss Medical Registration as mentioned in step 2).

4. Registered but unrecognised degrees (all the degree from non EU/EFTA countries).

This process of recognition is called: ACQUISITION Of SWISS FEDERAL MEDICAL LISCENSE

License to practice a medical profession in Switzerland is granted by cantonal authorities. Foreign medical doctors without diploma’s recognition can sometimes be authorized by cantonal authorities of public health to work in a dependent position (e.g. as a collaborator in a hospital). For that they need:

a)the permission to enter the country

b) the working-permit

Both are established by cantonal authorities on request of the future employer. To work as independent or do an Specialisation course as Assistenzarzt, a doctor needs the Federal medical diploma/license (or a recognised foreign diploma) +/- a postgraduate title (Swiss or recognised foreign title).

All those who can’t get their medical degree recognised through ANY one of processes mentioned above, fall under this type of recognition.

Foremost important & compulsory step is get oneself registered in Swiss medical register (MedReg). It’s mentioned in detail under step 2. End registration date is 31.12.2019.

3 Options/Possibilities under this recognition:

OPTION 1° - Study three years of in one of the swiss medical colleges (associated with Swiss universities at Basel, Bern, Zürich, Freiburg, Lausanne, Geneva, Neuenburg, Svizzera Italiana and ETHZ (Fall 2019 onwards). Admissionn is solely based on the discretionary power of each individual university. A decision from the MEBEKO about the conditions under which one can obtain the Federal medical liscense, doesn’t give right to a study place: one have to check with the university if you can obtain a study place. Each one of them have their own criteria of acceptance. For example: Uni Bern accepts directly to masters, if one has lived in Switzerland for 5yrs (it was in 2016’s criteria’s list)

- Pass all the examinations of these 3 years of Masters.

- Pass the Staatsexamen/ Federal Licensing Examination (FLE).

In my opinion, it’s almost impossible way to get a medical seat at university..!

OR

OPTION 2° - Work three years full time (100% Pensum) in Switzerland as an Assistenzarzt/ JR(India) / Resident doctor (US)/ House officer (UK) and then pass both the steps of FLE.

[I] Most of the doctors choose the pathway..![I/]

OR

OPTION 3° - Work five years full time (100% Pensum) in Switzerland as an Assistenzarzt/ JR(India) and then pass written part of the FLE.

Documents required for this recognition:

- a Curriculum Vitae,

- a copy of your passport

- a copy of your high school diploma, with translation in English, German, French or Italian

- a copy of the medical diploma from the university, with translation in EN, DE, FR, IT.

- a copy of your university medical transcript stating all the exams you took during your university studies, with translation in EN, DE, FR, IT.

- Proof of work experience in Switzerland stating the dates when you started and ended working, your job title and working rate.

- language proficiency certificate of german/French or Italian B2 level, depending in canton of your workplace.

- Swiss Medical register with GL Number

Upon receipt of all required documents, the Commission on Medical Professions will grant you permission, if needed- take any prerequisite courses or examinations for the FLE, as well as the permission to take the FLE.

Fees:

> Documents evaluation & concluding decision: CHF 680.

> Registration for the exam and the diploma (at MedReg): CHF 1700.

If you have to study or do prerequisite course, you must also add some study costs.

(Plz check for latest charges, mentioned above charges were in 2016)

Alternatives:

All those doctors, who have valid scores or have qualified USMLE (step 1&2 – CK,CS) or UK's PLAB as well as MRCP or AMC or any other national licensing exam, please contact MEBEKO directly. (I haven’t met someone in such scenarios, but heard, that these are also alternative ways to get your medical degree recognised, bypassing above mentioned recognition types). For English speakers (still in process to get B2 level): find a professor or consultant (Oberarzt/Oberärztin) for thesis work >> register yourself to a university, which (s)he recommends. Details in future step 6: Getting into Doktorarbeit/Promotion/ Thesis work for <> .

Steps to swiss medical Residency/ Specialisation

Level 6: Getting job as Resident Doctor in Kanton Bern/ Swiss

Steps to Swiss medical Residency/ Specialisation

Step 1: Learning Swiss language up to B2 (below).

Step 2: Registering oneself into Swiss Med-Register & acquiring GL Number.

Step 3: Getting in contact with MEBEKO regarding Degree recognition.

Step 4: getting a job as Intern +/- Resident doctor.

to be followed:

Step 5: Organising visa and accommodation.

Step 6: Getting into Doktorarbeit/Promotion/ Thesis work for <> .

Step 7: Preparing for Staatsexamen.

Step 8: Working further to complete remaining specialisation years to become a specialist.

Step 9: Preparing for Federal Specialist exam.

Step 10: Continuing further medical education.

Step 4: getting a job as Intern/ Resident doctor.

For recognition of EU or non EU graduation degrees (equivalent Indian MBBS/ or European Master of medicine), one needs to contact MEBEKO, mentioned in Step 3.

For all those having a degree equivalent to specialisation in any particular branch, need to contact SIWF of FMH directly.

AND

For those pursuing to specialise in Switzerland:

Whom to contact:

(Parent Organisation: FMH –Foederatio Medicorum Helveticorum/ Swiss Medical Association )

SIWF- Schweizer Institut für ärztliche Weiter- und Fortbildung

Elfenstrasse 18, Postfach 300

3000 Bern 15

Tel +41 31 359 11 11

Fax +41 31 359 11 12

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

www.fmh.ch

Structure of Medical Residency (WEITERBILDUNG ZUM FACHARZT) in Switzerland:

The duration of specialisation program in Switzerland could vary between 4-7 years depending on branch & different conditions. Generally, it is of 5-6 years duration for most of the branches. Details on www.fmh.ch for each branch (in german/french).

For eg: for Internal medicine is 5 yrs. Out of which is 3 yrs. in core branch & 1+1yr in two different – self chosen medical branches (details on www.fmh.ch ).

In Switzerland, a resident doctor works 48hrs per week (on paper, rather more in reality), of which 3 hrs are included for specialisation lectures. All the hospitals are fully funded through Ministry of Health (Bundesamt für Gesundheit/BAG) to promote the internal & external specialisation programs among their employed resident doctors/Assistenzärte . As per rule, the specialisation starts with a job position as AssistenzarztIn & requirements varies depending on individual settings of each specialisation branch.

For e.g. no. of each intervention/surgeries in acute- chronic settings in General Surgery; posting duration in ambulatory – ward settings or emergency dept. in Int. medicine, psychiatric or psychotherapeutic counselling/interviews in Psychiatry, categories of hospital etc. It’s individualised for each branch:

https://fmh.ch/siwf/siwf/weiterbildu...hwerpunkte.cfm

How to start:

Things to keep in mind while applying for jobs as Resident doctors:

For non EU doctors without working exp. in Switzerland or EU countries are generally offered a position as Intern/Unterassistent (arzt) , which is meant for Students in 3-4th Year of Medicine. It could be the first step towards entering the medicine field (usually in order of vacancies available: Psychiatry >> Internal Medicine>> Paediatrics etc) . The clinical responsibility is very limited, whereby one initially shadows the consultant/Oberarzt as observer & learns the process until successive limited clinical involvement. It should normally last for 3-6months as probationary phase for judging the clinical abilities of employed intern. Intern for this post are paid 1500/month (private clinics/hospital: 10-1200). Next step, which some hospital might offer as ā€œArzt in Praktikumā€, also intern ́s post with more direct patient contact/ responsibilities (2-5 patients normally at any given time; but due to scarcity of resident doctors or depending on individual clinical settings or if most of the AA go holidaying together etc., one maybe be alone just with Chef-/Oberarzt & looking after all the patients of his/her ward(s)..!!!!). This position offers better salary (30-3550/month) than as Unterassistent. In my opinion, the position is usually end up like an exploitation because one works & learns fully as Resident doctor/ Assistentzarzt, but receives half the salary and the work contract extends every 3-4 month for non-ending period (at excuse/pretext of improving language skills) till such Chefarzt is satisfied. So, in such situation: better keep changing hospitals every 3-4 months till you are resident doctor. 

For the working posts mentioned above, one has to apply initially for the post of Assistenzarzt. During job interviewing, one might land up getting these posts/ job offers.

As I mentioned in Step 3: A position as Unterassistent or Arzt im Praktikum wouldn ́t be taken into consideration for recognition of your non EU medical degrees! So, the faster one acquires a job position as Assistenzarzt/ Resident doctor, the lesser one losses time & lesser debts, as well as the faster one can start the specialisation program..!

How & where to find a job:

FYI: RAV & BIZ have no to very very limited experience dealing with the process of job counselling or finding a job as AA respectively.

If one hasn ́t worked in Switzerland for 1 year within 2 yrs. time period duration, the applicant is not entitled to get RAV financial benefits, BUT they could help you to some extend in organising your CV-Bewerbungsschrieben, free access to online job portal etc.

for non EU doctors as beginners in Switzerland:

- Start looking for branches with max. vacancies: (usually: Psychiatry >> Internal Medicine>> Paediatrics etc).

- Search on job-portals (mentioned below):

o http://www.fmhjob.ch/

o www.aerzte-jobs.ch

o www.medicjobs.ch

o www.jobs.ch

• for more links, google it.

Documents needed for first job (in German/FR/IT or English for medical degrees/docx etc.):

- CV of 2 or max. 3 pages. (Don ́t include irrelevant things in detail like Poster Presentation/ Congress or Seminar attended etc.). For a draft for CV for DE version : https://lebenslauf.com/

- Job application letter/ Cover letter/ Bewerbungsschreiben: customised for the mentioned post & department in DE or FR (depending on region). It should be well formatted as well as without grammatical mistakes. Take help for it: from german teacher/ native friends/ (in worst case: german translator: eg: Caritas)

- Work experience certificates/Arbeitszeugnisse: from Switzerland or EU countries, if any

- Medical Degree: translated version if not in DE/FR/IT or at least in English.

- Medical Transcript: mentioning whole medical course (clinical & non clinical branches) in hours, if some hospital demands for it.

- Swiss Medical Register: mentioning individualised Global Locator Number (GLN)

- Language competency Certificate: from Goethe Institut or TELC etc. min up to B2.

- Resuscitation certificate: from AHA or ERC, if any available.

- Resident Permit/ Aufenthaltsbewilligung: , if already living in Switzerland

- Passport: if needed/asked

Less relevant documents:

- Letter of Recommendation/Empfehlungsschreiben: if separately available (work experience certificates) but not so relevant in Switzerland.

- Others/ Misc.: which I have forgotten to mention.

What to do next?

Wait & pray for an interview call. Usually, it could take a while as well as effort to get the very first interview.

My experience (Oct - Dec 2016): I was then Indian doctor with no hands-on hospital experience in Switzerland or in Europe. Also, my degree was not recognised and still not! Around that time, I completed and passed my B2 German certification exam & was pursuing C1 course from Alemania, Bern.

It was time full of frustration and depression as I had applied almost 72 applications and at the end got 5 interview calls (just 2 good one). More to it, nobody (including myself and all the interviewers) knew then how a non-EU doctor can integrate into Swiss medical specialisation as well as working environment – with an unrecognised degree. After multiple enquiries from MEBEKO, I gather all the necessary Infos about it & at last, I got job as unterassistent in psychiatry department in SO.

Assistenzarzt interview tips:

I have merged the inputs from "doropfiz" & mine mentioned in this link:

https://www.englishforum.ch/employme...iew-tipps.html

For my first Interview (things, which I didn ́t do/ added infos are written in bracket):

Appearance:

> Be clean, well-groomed, shaved (or well-maintained beard), normal haircut - (1 or 2 days before would be better), nails trimmed, (ears/ nose hairs trimmed- if you have).

> (No bright Make-up or jewellery).

> Check that your teeth are clean, just before the interview.

> (If you wear glasses, makes sure they are clean).

Clothing:

> formal light blue full shirt with a collar, without perfume/ Deodrant/ aftershave + formal dark charcoal grey pant + formal shoes (no tie/ suit/ Blazer/sport jacket). I wore in Oct-Dec 2016 just a casual winter jacket, which I handed over to Secretary Office, just before my interview.

> (No T-shirts or flashy jackets or sneakers).

> You might consider a suit and tie, but only if you know that you can feel comfortable dressing it. (My exp.: I wore suit at one interview & I was not selected there. So far, I haven't seen any JR/ junior resident/ Assistenzärzte in suit during last 2.5 year). So, I think suit or sport/casual blazer with tie would be exaggerating, but personal choice..!)

> Any decent clothing will do. Just be neat & tidy, organised and well presentable with smile.

The Content of Interview:

> In most of the cases (90-99%), Interviewers would be consisting of Chefarzt and one of the Leitender Ärzte during your Interview. Normally, you will get the names of the Interviewers from secretary office through email correspondence. Oberarzt are normally not entitled to conduct the job interviews of Assistenzarzt in Uni-hospitals or clinical departments, (rather a direct assessment during & after probationary period provided they are direct superior/in-charge).

> If you have interest, you can read about their research papers/presented med. Symposium etc. of interviewers - just show that you are smart. Normally they will however not ask you so high and so pin-pointed specific researched things. I had not done it so far because each one of them had around 250-300 articles (including relevant and irrelevant researches etc.)

> Read your CV and job application/Bewerbungsschreiben +/- all other documents which you have submitted. In Switzerland, they ask you mostly, what you have done so far or past job profiles and positions looking at your CV. Prepare all the possible answers about these things.

In my case, half of the Interview duration was almost always dedicated to Swiss law/rules and regulations about "how to work or to have an Assitenzarzt/ JR place with an unrecognised medical degree. For this purpose, I always use to keep a handy tablet with open webpages of Bundesamt für Gesundheit >> MEBEKO mentioning the recognition processes of non EU degrees.

> In my case so far, they didn't ask anything about medical / situational-fictional cases. (They can ask you very grossly about something but unlikely. Rather, it is more likely in Germany or in India. For eg: If you are going to Internal Med. interview: how do you treat or role of Antiplatelets/ Antithrombotics in a patient with MI with DIC etc.)

> Don't be lousy at any given moment after meeting the interviewers, as they are more interested in know your capabilities, motivation and how can clinic/ hospital benefit from you (in short, you are best for the mentioned position..!). For this, I guess - one doesn't have to put so much of an extra effort or exaggerate.

> be loud and clear, what one speak in standard german. Ask to repeat the question without hesitation, if you don ́t understand something. In an interview, you will be expected to speak in German (but not swiss german), as in future - you will have to deal with the patients directly in all clinical branches. They all (= 90-99% in German speaking area) can speak Standard German/ Hochdeutsch.

> One has enough fluency in german (if one has passed Telc/Goethe certification exam) because MEBEKO has a regulation requisite of minimum up to B2 for all working EU as well as non-EU doctors & for recognising non-EU degrees.

(If they feel that your German is not good enough or because of no clinical experience, they sometimes also offer you paid Unterassistent position for 3-4 months and subsequently upgrade you to Assistenarzt position. I think in such situation, one should immediately agree for first job as Unterassistenz because it is giant leap to start with medical career in CH as well as they might also organise half or fully funded "C1 kommunikationkurs für Mediziner" from local Volkhochschule & at the end, one gets work experience certificate).

Misc. general points:

> Most important of all Sleep really well a night before your interview.

> Most important of all - be punctual: Be at the reception at least 15-20mins, even if you have to wait there. Punctuality is regarded as very important in Switzerland.

> Mobile or anything electronic that can disturb/beeps should be off or not in the room. Don't take a watch, either, that receives electronic signals or transmits beeps or lights.

> Do wear a watch, so you might track how the conversation is developing. If you are asked to speak about yourself, don't talk for less than 1 or longer than 3-5 minutes at a time. In general, try to answer any question from different perspective.

> Read up about all the departments of the hospital & in particular in which you have applied.

> See your hospital/ exact building location at least on google map and how to reach there, a day before. I had to go for my 1st one in SO. So, I saw on google maps than a personal visit!

> Keep all your documents (physically & electronically) available. I had it always- once during my 3rd interview, some documents were not printed but were mentioned in my Job application/Cover letter. They asked me a copy of it and I showed them the physical original ones and my application email as well.

In almost in all interview, I had to show the Swiss laws for non-EU doctors

So, my point: keep all docx in mute laptop/tablet + 1 set in pen drive/ Harddisk/ on cloud storage for immediate transfer/print out.

> Prepare your own list of questions, and be sure to ask at least something intelligently during the interview, to show that you are interested.

(Questions about salary should not be at the top of your list. In Switzerland, basic salaries are fixed for Assistenzarzt & even Oberarzt but could vary on individual basis depending clinical experiences, papers published etc.)

Upon successful job placement, if one doesn ́t already live in Switzerland. Your future employer will register you for your Resident Permit at local migration office. One receives normally "L Permit" as resident doctor, if there is no family reunion or previous residence history in Schengen as well as EU region.

after 1-2 yrs of work experience :

- Apart from fulfilling the above mentioned criteria (earlier blogs: Step 1-3) and having experience in Switzerland, one should start applying for job in the interested branch or in which one wants to specialise. As per the requirement of specialisation through FMH: one has to choose the categorised & dedicated training hospital for specialisation/ Weiterbildungsstätten in nearby area, where (s)he wants to work or nearest to his/her residence, through https://www.siwf-register.ch/ (in order to fulfil the requisites) & apply online through individual hospital webpages.

or lateral entry into preferred branch/ department (if already working in general hospitals), in which one want to specialise.

I guess I have written all that I followed or had experienced during my interview.

I wish you good luck for your interview & do let us know: how it was..!

You don't get tired of repeating yourself ?

just copy pasted separately..!

might help somebody

If I were a doctor from abroad, trying to work in Switzerland, I would want to meet you, buy you dinner and bow down before you in gratitude. Your systematic development of this thread is a work of art, and a great gift to others who may follow in your footsteps, and also to Switzerland which, in some areas, has a lack of doctors... relatively speaking, when compared to other countries of course, but some of the gaps are large enough to hurt. So thank you!

Hello doropfiz

Thanks for encouraging compliment..

I understand what you mean..! I am working currently in one of the remote areas of central Switzerland..

Thanks again n have a great day

Remo

Thank you very much for this helpful post.

I have one question tho.

So if I understood correctly as long as I have job offer from one of the hospitals in Switzerland I can immediately start with my specialisation?

Then u do the Diploma recognition and and get the Doctor license later down the road after finishing 3 years working as Assistenarzt?

Hey cuttingedge

You're welcome.

It goes in this order:

I don't know your scenario clearly, whether you posses EU or non EU degree. I assume, you have a non EU degree then:

Work for min. 3yrs as Assistenzarzt Ā» pass the federal license exam (both- MCQ & OSCE parts) Ā» apply for recognition at MEBEKO. I have written detailed version under step 3 (for degree recognition).

Secondly, you should know your recognition status before applying for a position. Having an EU degree makes way ahead slot easier.

Literally yes in most of the basic branches (but depends on few branches, where one has to complete 1-2yrs of internal medicine or general surgery).

Have a nice weekend

Khalid

Hey, I’m a second year student from Brazil with EU citizenship and I plan to validate my diploma in Italy as it is a simpler process, so I think I lay on the third type of recognition. The thing is that I won’t have the three years clinical experience, so should I start as médecin assistant in Switzerland instead of Italy? After finishing the three years experience am I automatically able to get the FML? I’m already B1 in french and started learning german and italian. Would an exchange internship in Switzerland with a letter of recommendation help you to enter the desired residency? (I have no idea if chirurgie it's a competitive specialisation).

I apologize for the number of questions, but your article is very complete and the more information, the more questions you have.

Hey drremobond007,

I'm a non-EU citizen with EU (italian) degree, i didn't really understand the process in this case, if it's even possibile to apply with a non-EU citizenship. can you please give more details about this issue

Thanks

Hi everybody.

Medical residency is paid in Switzerland, right? I haven't seen this info anywhere. And just out of curiosity- how much are you paid?

Thank you.

Hey there

In Kanton Bern (in german):

https://vsao-bern.ch/de/themen/gesam...gehaltssystem/

Have a nice day

R

Firstly I don’t know what is the degree recognition process in Italy.

Secondly, if it happens to be the same process- you will have to fulfill the conditions under ā€œindirect recognitionā€. Hence, you need to have B2 level of the region, where you want to work in Switzerland. If your degree gets recognized in Italy & subsequently in Switzerland. Then you don’t have to sit for federal medical License exam/FML. Try to contact MEBEKO directly for further queries.

Internship are usually given to prospective ā€œresident doctorsā€ during first 3 month probation period. LOR are generally preferred from Europe particularly from Switzerland. (They are not given separately here, rather mentioned within work experience certificate). I have them too, around 9-10 from my college professors as well as consultants/HODs from last hospitals but doesn’t play any significant role.!!

Without language competency, I think it would be hard to get an internship position. But try to find out at individual hospital from this official weblink/ list:

https://www.siwf-register.ch/

I hope, it would help in some way

R

Hey there

It might be processed through ā€œdirect facilitated recognitionā€, as you possess an EU degree (But masters or facharzttitel?). As I don’t know someone in similar scenario. So, try contacting MEBEKO directly for further queries & do let us know here.

Almost similar case: non EU doctor + facharzttitel (Int. Med.) from DE + Romanian wife = recognised degree in CH

Have a nice day + good luck

R

Hello drremobond007,

Thanks so much for such a thorough post! I am an EU MD currently undergoing MEBEKO recognition of my diploma to start the residency in the french part of Switzerland.

Would you know if I should apply to resident jobs while the recognition of my diploma is processed or wait until it is completed? On average, how long does it usually take to get the first job as resident being language proficient?

Thank you again!!

Irene

Walaikum assalam

I’m based in Bern and not in Germany, if you aren’t here.!

I just applied in mostly smaller hospitals (to KAntonsspital) or bigger private clinics meant for specialisation. So, far, I have no experience at private practices/ GPs.

If house job experience acquired in non EU countries, then it’s even not considered as work experience. Here, it’s mostly preferred from German speaking areas/countries. Assistenzarzt = junior resident (mostly meant to be in residency program); Unterassistent = intern or apprenticeship during medical training/study.

For CV or Bewerbungsschrieben, try out www.lebenslauf.com (from Xing.com). It organises automaticatily + has different type of formats & samples over there, as you type in your letters/ CV.

Hopefully, it could help you in some ways.

Best Regards

R

Hello Irene

Firstly, I have very less idea about French part/hospitals over there.

You can start applying for vacancies that interests you.. In your CV, you can mention your GL Number & your recognition status: you could mention in your application letter or during Interview. Being proficient in French with recognised degree would get you a job very fast. The duration of getting a job in french part is hard to say, as I’ve never applied there.

Have a nice weekend.

R