German for pharmacists – preparation for the specialist language examination (FSP)
The role of pharmacists in healthcare
Pharmacists play a key role in the German healthcare system. They are not only responsible for dispensing and checking medicines, but also for providing professional advice to patients and working with doctors and nurses. These activities require precise specialist knowledge and confident linguistic skills.
For foreign pharmacists who wish to work in Germany, it is therefore essential to have a command of German technical language at C1 level and to be specifically prepared for the Fachsprachprüfung (FSP). A specialised German course teaches both linguistic structures and job-specific communication strategies.
Medication counselling and dispensing
A central exam topic in the FSP is patient counselling. Pharmacists must:
explain the indication, dosage and use of medications,
explain side effects and interactions in an understandable way,
respond to patients’ questions and answer them appropriately.
The course covers typical exam scenarios, such as counselling on a newly prescribed medication or dealing with over-the-counter medicines. The focus is on acquiring precise technical language, but also on the ability to communicate complex content in everyday language.
Responsibility in the supply of medicines
Pharmacists bear a high level of responsibility for drug safety. Topics that may also appear in the FSP include:
Checking prescriptions (formal and content checks)
Storage, shelf life and quality assurance of drugs
Legal principles such as the German Medicines Act (AMG) and the German Pharmacy Operating Regulations (ApBetrO).
A German course to prepare for the FSP therefore not only covers the relevant technical vocabulary, but also the linguistic structures necessary to communicate in a compliant and technically correct manner.
Communication with patients and doctors
The FSP not only tests specialist knowledge, but also communication skills in typical professional situations. These include:
consultations with patients (medical history, medication plan, instructions for use),
telephone or face-to-face conversations with doctors, for example when asking questions about prescriptions,
interdisciplinary cooperation in the healthcare sector.
Particular attention is paid to:
precision in technical language,
Empathy and clarity towards patients,
appropriate politeness and confident phrasing in medical communication.
The course includes role-plays, simulations and exam interviews that are directly based on the exam requirements.
Conclusion
The technical language exam for pharmacists requires not only a high level of language proficiency, but also the ability to communicate pharmaceutical expertise clearly, correctly and in a patient-oriented manner.
A C1 German course specially tailored to the FSP supports foreign pharmacists in
building up the necessary specialist vocabulary,
successfully mastering the communicative exam situations and
optimally preparing themselves for everyday working life in a German pharmacy.
This lays the foundation for a successful career in the German healthcare system.
