Career change as a dentist
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 8 with on-the-job training and 0 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Specialist advisor in the dental industry
Also: Product specialist for implantology
With on-the-job training
At manufacturers of dental products, you advise practices and labs, demonstrate products and give further training for dentists.
- What you bring:
- You know materials, implant systems and equipment from daily treatment and know what works in practice.
- How to get there:
- Dental manufacturers and suppliers give dentists product training over a few weeks. With your degree and the product training, you meet the expertise (Sachkenntnis) that the law requires for medical device consultants (Medizinprodukteberater). Expect travel and appearances at trade fairs and training events.*Regulated by law (Medical Devices Law Implementation Act (MPDG) § 83).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Dental consultant at a health insurer
Also: Expert assessor for dentures
With on-the-job training
At a health insurer, you review treatment plans and invoices, answer professional questions and advise insured people, without treating patients yourself.
- What you bring:
- You can professionally assess treatment plans and cost plans and know which care is appropriate.
- How to get there:
- Private and statutory health insurers hire experienced dentists and train them on the job in fee schedules and benefit review. You usually become an expert assessor in the contract dentist assessment procedure (vertragszahnärztliches Gutachterverfahren) alongside your own practice.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible -
Lecturer for dental continuing education
Also: Lecturer for dental assistants
With on-the-job training
At dental chambers or training providers, you teach dental assistants (Zahnmedizinische Fachangestellte) in advanced training such as prophylaxis or dental hygiene.
- What you bring:
- You can explain treatment procedures, hygiene and prophylaxis in a practical way.
- How to get there:
- Chambers and training providers mostly engage dentists as freelance speakers, often alongside their practice. You can use it to cut back on your own treatment time.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,140gross per monthMedian salary
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Medical director of a dental care center (MVZ)
Also: Head of dentistry for a group of practices
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
In a dental care center or a group of practices, you are responsible for quality, treatment standards and teams at several sites.
- What you bring:
- You know practice organization, people management and billing from your own experience.
- How to get there:
- Practice groups and providers fill such positions with experienced dentists, often from their own group. You gain knowledge of practice management and leadership in part-time courses if needed.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€14,269gross per monthMedian salary
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Practice consultant for dental practices
Also: Consultant for practice start-up and practice handover
With on-the-job training
As a consultant, you support colleagues with setting up, taking over, handing over or reorganizing their practice.
- What you bring:
- You know how a dental practice works economically and organizationally and how it can fail.
- How to get there:
- Dental suppliers, banks that focus on healthcare professionals, and consultancies train dentists on the job in financing, site analysis and practice valuation. If you go self-employed, you usually start with assignments from your network.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€6,768gross per monthMedian salary
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Clinical affairs manager in the dental industry
Also: Scientific officer for dental products
With on-the-job training
In dental companies, you plan and support clinical studies, evaluate data and provide scientific support for development and further training.
- What you bring:
- You can assess clinical studies and know what questions practitioners have about new materials and methods.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers hire dentists with an interest in research and train them on the job in study planning and medical device law. A doctorate or experience with clinical studies is an advantage.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€5,877gross per monthMedian salary
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Specialist author for dentistry
Also: Medical writer
With on-the-job training
As a specialist author or medical writer, you write articles, product texts and patient information for trade publishers, manufacturers and agencies.
- What you bring:
- You can present dental topics accurately and clearly.
- How to get there:
- Publishers and agencies often first commission dentists on a freelance basis, and there are also permanent editorial positions. Courses in specialist or medical journalism help you get started.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,083gross per monthMedian salary
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Regulatory affairs manager for dental products
Also: Approval officer for medical devices
With on-the-job training
In regulatory affairs, you prepare documents for the conformity assessment and monitoring of medical devices and stay in contact with notified bodies and authorities.
- What you bring:
- You know dental materials and implants from clinical use and know what risks they can have.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers train dentists on the job in medical device law, topped up with courses lasting a few days to a few weeks. The work is predictable and takes place in an office.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€7,039gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a dentist without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Specialist advisor in the dental industry, Dental consultant at a health insurer, Lecturer for dental continuing education, Medical director of a dental care center (MVZ), Practice consultant for dental practices, Clinical affairs manager in the dental industry, Specialist author for dentistry and Regulatory affairs manager for dental products.
What promotion options do I have as a dentist?
Promotions include, for example: Medical director of a dental care center (MVZ).
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Medical director of a dental care center (MVZ) (€14,269 gross per month), Regulatory affairs manager for dental products (€7,039 gross per month) and Practice consultant for dental practices (€6,768 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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