DGfI Academy of Immunology

Certificate 'Certified Immunologist DGfI'
and institutional authorization DGfI Academy of Immunology

The DGfI regards the continuous further training of its members as one of its core tasks. For this reason, the Further Education Commission was founded in 2000. It now coordinates all further education activities of the Society within the DGfI Academy of Immunology.

Our aim is to provide the experts in our field with visible evidence of their expertise. In Germany there is still no specialist training in immunology. Therefore the DGfI developed its own training program, which enables both physicians and natural scientists to obtain such proof of qualification.

The society first awarded the Certificate ‘Certified Immunologist DGfI’ in 2002. We use this legally protected designation to identify qualified persons who represent immunology in science and medical application at the highest level.

Unfortunately, there is still no specialist training in immunology as such in Germany. However, thanks to many years of effort by the DGfI and thanks to the training we have established, immunology was included in 2018 as an additional further training in medical further training (MWBO).

Prerequisites

The certificate can be obtained by all DGfI members, regardless of their primary university studies (natural sciences, medicine). The DGfI has created standards for a comprehensive, subject-specific further education at institutions specifically recognised for this purpose. The conditions for obtaining the certificate are laid down in the further education guideline (see below). An essential prerequisite for the application is the continuous immunological research activity documented by publications.

The schools of the DGfI Academy of Immunology are an ideal addition to your own research, as they cover the entire spectrum of the subject. Your visit will be recognized with 6 months per school (max. 1 year) on the required further education period of 5 years.

For clinically active immunologists, a diagnostic qualification in 5 different fields can be certified upon request. This is an important qualification for work in accredited diagnostic units.

Certifiate 'Certified Immunologist DGfI'

For all immunologists working in basic research as well as in the clinical area

Prerequisites:

Degree in medicine, veterinary medicine or life sciences
5 years immunological work in an institution recognized by the DGfI as a training institution
Continuous research activity in immunology documented by publications
collegial expert discussion

Institutional authorization

For all institutions of basic research and clinics active in the field of immunology

Prerequisites:

At least 2 specialist immunologists active
scientific activity demonstrated by publications
comprehensive proof of the clinically immunological/immunodiagnostic profile in case of application for diagnostic qualification (also possible in a local network)

Application for the certificate

‘Certified Immunologist DGfI

– For persons –

Prerequisites: These can be found in sections A and B and in Annex 1 and Annex 4 of the Further Education Guidelines.

Application procedure:
According to the guidelines for further education, the application for recognition as a Certified Immunologist DGfI must be submitted informally to the Secretary General of DGfI, Prof. Carsten Watzl (Leibniz Institut für Arbeitsforschung, at the TU Dortmund – IfADo, Ardeystrasse 67, D-44139 Dortmund, watzl@dgfi.org). The application must be signed and submitted in simple written form as well as electronically in a single PDF document (size should not exceed 10 MB). It is also possible to apply for diagnostic qualification (currently 5 different areas).

Application for the

‘Institutional authorization for further education in immunology’

– For scientific institutes/clinics –

Prerequisites: Parts A and C as well as Annex 4 of the Further Education Guidelines are binding for the granting of an institutional authorization.

Application procedure:
An application for an institutional authorization for further education in immunology can be submitted informally to the Secretary General of DGfI, Prof. Carsten Watzl (Leibniz Institut für Arbeitsforschung, at the TU Dortmund – IfADo, Ardeystrasse 67, D-44139 Dortmund, watzl@dgfi.org) (in one single copy in writing and in one single pdf document electronically). A diagnostic qualification (currently 5 areas) can also be applied for if the requirements are met.

Downloads

If the PDFs are not displayed correctly, simply reload the page or download the documents here (Further Education Guidelines, Application form (for applications as Certified Immunologist only))

Further education guidelines (currently in German only)

Application form as Certified Immunologist DGfI (currently in German only)