Ausübung der Heilkunde Erlaubnis auf dem Gebiet der Psychotherapie

If you wish to practice medicine in the field of psychotherapy, you must apply for a permit.

The practice of psychotherapy is Heilkunde in the sense of the Heilpraktiker law and can be practiced by physicians and other persons who have a license under the Psychotherapists Act.

Other persons who do not possess this license require either an unrestricted license as a non-medical practitioner or a license as a non-medical practitioner (psychotherapy) limited to the field of psychotherapy in accordance with the Non-Medical Practitioners Act in order to practice psychotherapy.

• Application,
• medical certificate,
• identity card or passport,
• in case of name change, a birth certificate/name change certificate,
• a curriculum vitae in tabular form,
• if necessary, a certificate of registration (if the identification document is not an identity card),
• information from the Federal Central Register (document type 0),
• a certified copy of proof of successful completion of school.

Additionally, if the verification is on file:

• a diploma or master's degree in psychology with a focus on clinical psychology,

a completed therapy training in a generally recognized method.

You must be

• be at least 25 years old
• have German citizenship
• have at least a secondary school leaving certificate or other equivalent school qualification,
• be physically and mentally fit to practice medicine and be able to prove their

be able to prove the required reliability by means of an official certificate of good conduct.

Is based on the respective administrative fee regulations of the state or on the fee statutes of the bodies responsible under state law.

• You submit the application for the practice of medicine including all required documents to the competent body.
• Written and oral examination participation or decision on the basis of the file.
• The competent body checks whether all requirements are met.
• If the examination is positive, you will be granted permission.

If you have applied for permission to practice, the responsible office will decide on this promptly. Please note that there is usually a waiting period between the application and the invitation to the examination. In the run-up to the examination, required documents are requested and invitations are sent out.

There is no overarching deadline; individual deadlines result from testing dates and requirements for evidence, if applicable.

Objection (depending on state law, the objection may be excluded), administrative court action

• Practice of medicine Permission in the field of psychotherapy
• Persons who do not have a license under the Psychotherapists Act require either an unrestricted license as a Heilpraktiker (non-medical practitioner) or a license limited to the field of psychotherapy as a Heilpraktiker (psychotherapist) under the Heilpraktiker Act in order to practice psychotherapy.
• Responsible: Depends on the respective state law

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: No