The Staatsexamen is a German government licensing examination that future doctors, teachers, pharmacists, food chemists, psychotherapists and jurists (i.e. lawyers, judges, tax advisors, public prosecutors, civil-law notaries) have to pass to be allowed to work in their profession. The examination is generally organized by government examination agencies which are under the authority of the responsible ministry. These agencies create examination commissions which consist of members of the examination agency, university professors and/or representatives from the professions.
Students usually study at university for 4–6 years before they take the first Staatsexamen. Afterwards teachers and jurists go on to work in their future jobs in a practical phase of two to three years. Then they are allowed to take the second Staatsexamen, which amongst others tests their professional skills in their respective jobs.
The first Staatsexamen examination is at a level equivalent to a master's degree, while the second Staatsexamen is roughly comparable to passing the bar exam or finishing one's residency.
Pharmacy students absolve 3 Staatsexamina. The first Staatsexamen after 2 years equals a bachelor's degree. The second Staatsexamen after 4 years is equal to a master's degree. And the third one equals the second Staatsexamen of jurists. Staatsexamen students can proceed to a doctorate.
In some cases, the second Staatsexamen can be a substitute for a doctorate when it comes to applying for certain jobs at a university (i.e. Akademischer Rat).