[The German medical specialist board examination-status quo]

After several years of development, a new model regulation of continuing specialist medical education for residents was adopted in Germany in 2018 by the Chamber Assembly of the German Medical Associations (Bundesärztekammer), which was implemented in the following years by the Federal State Medical Associations (Landesärztekammer). It continues to prescribe an oral examination at the end of residency lasting at least 30 min and involving three examiners (at least two colleagues from the related specialist field). Further regulations regarding the examination procedure which would serve to increase the validity, reliability, transparency, and objectivity of the exam are only possible in internal statutes prescribed by the respective State Medical Associations or, in some cases, have been imposed by the examining bodies themselves. There certainly appears to be a need for nationwide improvement in this regard. This could also include training examiners in acquiring modern examination-related didactic knowledge. A look at the situation in neighboring Western and Central European countries shows that the spectrum of procedures for obtaining specialist qualifications varies. Some states do not provide for an examination at the end of the continuing education period at all. Here, the responsibility for achieving the required level of residents' knowledge and expertise is placed entirely in the hands of the continuing education providers during the time of residency. Other countries have also incorporated written examinations (possibly together with oral examinations), proof of practical skills, or production of a scientific theoretical essay into their examination concepts. In this paper, the status quo of German specialist training is presented, quality criteria and potential errors in oral examinations are discussed, a survey of German state/district medical associations addressing the on-site situation is presented, and the German approach to the examination of specialist candidates is examined in the context of the procedure in the neighboring countries.