Login/Create Account
Final practical year – Praktisches Jahr (PJ)
It is the last bridge before graduation and obtaining medical licensure (Approbation).
Below is a comprehensive and well-structured explanation of its division and professional tips for choosing the three rotations (Tertiale):
What is PJ?
-
A full year of clinical practical training (12 months)
-
A mandatory part of the Second State Examination (Zweites Staatsexamen)
-
Completed in university hospitals or approved teaching hospitals (Akademische Lehrkrankenhäuser)
How is the year divided?
The year is divided into 3 main parts called Tertiale, each lasting 16 weeks:
| Mandatory rotation | Duration |
|---|---|
| Internal Medicine (Innere Medizin) | 16 weeks (mandatory) |
| Surgery (Chirurgie) | 16 weeks (mandatory) |
| Elective (Wahltertial) | 16 weeks (student’s choice) |
The elective rotation (Wahltertial) can be:
-
Pediatrics
-
Neurology
-
Gynecology
-
Family medicine
-
Or any recognized clinical specialty
How to choose the elective wisely (Wahltertial):
Think strategically:
| If you’re considering… | Choose this in the elective |
|---|---|
| Specializing in pediatrics later | Pediatrics – early hands-on experience |
| Going into family medicine | General practice – helps later applications |
| Applying for a rare specialty | Choose a field rarely available in Famulatur |
| Studying/working abroad | Choose a globally transferable field (e.g., Gyn, Neuro) |
Don’t waste the opportunity repeating a Famulatur field if you’re not professionally interested.
Can part of PJ be done abroad?
Yes—this is called an Auslandstertial.
-
Often available in the elective, sometimes in Surgery or Internal Medicine
-
Requirements:
-
Hospital must be recognized (PJ-anerkannte Einrichtung)
-
Must provide an official certificate (Tertialschein)
-
Must be approved by your university in advance (forms & approval)
-
When to start preparing for PJ?
| Item | Ideal timing |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Semester 10 or 11 |
| Hospital booking | 6–9 months before start |
| Abroad paperwork | At least 10–12 months in advance |
| Internal applications | Some universities use an online matching system |
Practical tips for choosing departments and hospitals:
-
Pick a department with real supervision—ask senior students about the environment.
-
Choose a place with varied cases—avoid low clinical activity departments.
-
Keep balance—don’t choose all rotations in the same area.
-
Gain experience in a rare field—e.g., anesthesia, oncology, psychiatry.
-
Learn tangible skills—blood draws, ECG, interpreting images.
Expected tasks as a PJ student:
-
Participate in rounds (Visite), emergency care, and surgeries
-
Write patient summaries (Epikrisen)
-
Communicate with patients and staff
-
Some universities require a logbook documenting skills
Assessment at the end of each Tertial:
-
Signed certificate (Tertialschein) from the supervisor
-
Evaluation of practical performance and knowledge
-
Required to register for the final practical exam (M3)
Official documents you need:
-
University contract / PJ assignment (PJ-Zuteilung)
-
Logbook
-
Health insurance (Krankenversicherung)
-
Vaccination proof (Impfstatus)
-
PJ certificate at the end of each tertial (PJ-Bescheinigung)
Summary:
PJ is more than training—it’s a real-world test of your career decision.
Plan wisely and distribute the three rotations to match your goals and CV.
And remember: networking during PJ can open doors to your future specialty training!
ـ* The team of writers and editors on the website strives to provide accurate information through extensive research and reviewing multiple sources when writing articles; however, some errors may appear or some information may be unconfirmed. Therefore, please consider the information in the articles as an initial reference and always refer to the competent authorities to obtain confirmed information.
