What Grades and Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Perfusionist in Germany?

Hi!

In Germany, the role is usually called Kardiotechniker/in or clinical perfusionist. There is no single “school + direct training” route like in some other healthcare professions. Most perfusionists work in cardiac surgery and have a background in healthcare – usually as nurses (with specialisation), medical technicians, or other related roles.

A very relevant private-study option is the dual Bachelor Cardiovascular Perfusion B.Sc. at Akkon University in Berlin, offered in cooperation with the Heart Center of Charité. It is a foundational Bachelor’s degree in this field, but not a classic “straight from school” programme: it is aimed at people with prior training in a healthcare or medical assisting profession, for example nursing, paramedics, medical-technical assistance, OTA or ATA. You also need a dual practice partner, usually a cardiac surgery clinic or medical centre. Important: the programme is planned to start in October 2026, is still in the accreditation process, and teaching is expected to be in German.

Physician Assistant can be an alternative route into clinical medicine. Bachelor programmes such as Physician Assistant B.Sc. at SRH University or Physician Assistant B.Sc. at Medical School Berlin can build a broad medical foundation at the intersection of human medicine and nursing. Later specialisation is possible, for example through the SRH Master Physician Assistant – Kardiologie und Kardiochirurgie (Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery). This does not make you a perfusionist automatically, but it can be a strong route into cardiology/cardio-surgery-related clinical work.

There is usually no fixed GPA requirement. Strong grades in biology, chemistry, physics and maths are useful, but universities and clinics will focus more on your formal eligibility, practical suitability and motivation for working in a high-responsibility operating-room environment. On the long run, what matters most is a suitable medical or technical background, practical clinical experience and, in many cases, a cooperation or employment contract with a clinic for your studies.

Public university options also exist, mainly as technical or postgraduate routes: Hochschule Furtwangen offers Medizintechnik – Klinische Technologien B.Sc. with links to OP engineering/cardiotechnics, and FH Münster offers Cardiovascular Perfusion M.Sc. plus a certificate route in clinical perfusion/cardiotechnics.

So, these are just some options: To start with a healthcare qualification, a medical-technology degree, Physician Assistant, or full medical studies.

Kind regards