The veterinary training programme

Veterinary training is regulated in the Ordinance on the Licensing of Veterinarians (TappV) - Federal Law Gazette 2006, Part I, No. 38. The standard period of study is five years and six months (11 semesters) in accordance with § 1 Para. 2 No. 3 TAppV.

It includes the following examinations:

    the veterinary preliminary examination
    Pre-physical = scientific section and
    Physikum = anatomical-physiological section
    the veterinary examination

The preliminary veterinary examination:

The preliminary veterinary examination consists of two sections, a first scientific section (examinations after the 1st and 2nd semesters) and a second anatomical-physiological section (examinations after the 3rd and 4th semesters).

Scientific-theoretical part of the preliminary veterinary examination:  

Scientific section of the preliminary veterinary examination (pre-physical course) with the examination subjects:

1. physics including the basics of physical radiation protection
2. chemistry
3. zoology
4. botany of forage, poisonous and medicinal plants

The associated courses are offered in the first year of study. Prior to the pre-physical course, students must provide evidence of having acquired the "Kleines Latinum" or regular and successful participation in a course on medical terminology.

Anatomical-physiological section of the veterinary preliminary examination (Physikum) with the examination subjects:

1. anatomy
2. histology and embryology
3. physiology  
4. biochemistry
5. animal breeding and genetics including animal assessment

The corresponding courses are offered in the first and second year of study. Practical part of the veterinary preliminary examination:

     70 hours on an educational property on agriculture, animal breeding and animal husbandry

The veterinary examination:

The veterinary examination consists of 20 examinations, which take place in semesters five to eleven and are completed after the 11th semester.

Scientific-theoretical part of the veterinary examination:

1. animal husbandry and animal hygiene
2. animal welfare and ethology
3. animal nutrition
4. clinical propaedeutics
5. virology
6. bacteriology and mycology
7. parasitology
8. animal disease control and infection epidemiology
9. pharmacology and toxicology
10. drug and anaesthetic law
11. poultry diseases
12. radiology
13. general pathology and special pathological anatomy and histology
14. food science including food hygiene
15. meat hygiene
16. dairy science
17. reproductive medicine
18. internal medicine
19. surgery and anaesthesiology
20. forensic veterinary medicine, professional and ethical law

The corresponding courses are mainly offered in the third, fourth and fifth years of study.

Practical part of the veterinary examination:  

    150 hours (within 4 weeks) in a curative veterinary practice or veterinary clinic, in accordance with §57 Para.1 TAppV
    75 hours (within 2 weeks) in hygiene control, food monitoring and testing, in accordance with §55 Para. 1 TAppV
    100 hours (within 3 weeks) in ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection (slaughterhouse), in accordance with §55 Para. 2 TAppV
    75 hours (within 2 weeks) in public veterinary services (veterinary administration offices), in accordance with § 61 TAppV
    700 hours (within 16 weeks) in a curative veterinary practice or veterinary clinic; of which up to 350 hours (8 weeks) can be completed as an elective internship, in accordance with §57 Para. 2 TAppV

This practical part of the programme is mainly carried out in the fifth year of study as part of the practical year.