Approbation Erteilung Psychologische Psychotherapeutin oder Psychologischer Psychotherapeut aus Drittstaaten

If you would like to work as a psychological psychotherapist in Germany, you will need a license to practice.

In order to work as a psychological psychotherapist in Germany, you need a license to practice. Approbation is the state license to practice the profession. Approbation is necessary because the profession is regulated in Germany. This means that you are not allowed to work independently as a psychological psychotherapist without a license to practice.

You can also obtain a license to practice in Germany with a professional qualification from a so-called third country. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

You will be granted a license to practice by the competent authority if your training as a psychological psychotherapist is equivalent to German training. Equivalence is checked in the recognition procedure.

You must also meet other requirements to be granted a license to practice. For example, you must be in good health and have the necessary language skills.

If your professional qualification comes from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.

You can also apply for the procedure from abroad.

The responsible office will tell you which documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally

• Proof of identity (officially certified copy of identity card or passport)
• German-language CV in tabular form with your education and professional activities
• officially certified copy of your training certificate
• Proof of the content of your training:
  List of subjects and training hours that you have completed
• Certificate that you are authorized to work as a psychological psychotherapist in your country of training
• Proof of your relevant professional experience as a psychological psychotherapist
• Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin as proof of your worthiness and reliability (this proof must not be more than 3 months old at the time of application)
• Medical certificate of medical fitness (The certificate can be from an authority in your country of training. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application).
• Declaration that you have not yet submitted an application for a license to practice in Germany
• Certificate of registration or declaration that you wish to work in the country where you are submitting the application

The competent authority will tell you which documents you need to submit in the original or as a copy.

If your documents are not in German, you must submit German translations of your documents. The translations must be made by translators who are publicly appointed or authorized.

Please contact the HLfGP for the specific requirements. In general, the following requirements apply:

• You have a professional qualification as a psychological psychotherapist from a third country.
• You are in good health.
• You are reliable and worthy of working as a psychological psychotherapist and have no criminal record.
• You have the necessary knowledge of German for the job. These are general language skills at level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and medical language skills at level C2.

The procedure costs money. The responsible office will inform you of the costs. The costs generally depend on the time and effort required for processing.

Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations or certifications). These costs vary from case to case.

Application

You submit an application for a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist to the competent authority. The competent authority will check whether your training corresponds to the German training and whether all other requirements have been met. Approval can only be granted if your training from a third country is equivalent to German training.

Examination of equivalence

The competent authority will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a psychological psychotherapist. The competent body will check whether your professional qualification is equivalent. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Possible results of the examination

If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The authority can confirm the result in writing. You must still meet the other requirements and provide proof of your language skills. You will then be granted a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist.

If the competent authority identifies significant differences, you can compensate for the differences through your professional experience and other knowledge and skills (lifelong learning). You must provide evidence of your professional experience. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority in your country of origin.

However, this knowledge may not be sufficient. You will then not be able to compensate for the major differences. Your foreign professional qualification will then not be recognized.

The competent authority will inform you in writing of the significant differences and why you cannot compensate for the significant differences through your professional experience. The decision of the competent authority will also state the level of your training and the level required in Germany. You will then not be allowed to work as a psychological psychotherapist. However, the competent authority will offer you the opportunity to take a knowledge test. If you successfully pass the knowledge test (and meet all other requirements), you will receive your license to practice.

Knowledge test

If your professional qualification is not equivalent and you cannot compensate for the differences, you can take a knowledge test. The knowledge examination is based on the final examination as a psychological psychotherapist in Germany. The knowledge test consists of two oral examinations. The content and exact procedure of the examination are regulated by law. If you pass the knowledge examination, you will be granted a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist. You must also meet the other requirements and provide proof of your language skills.

Legal remedy

You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the responsible office before taking legal action against the decision.

The responsible office will confirm that your application and documents have been received after a maximum of one month. The competent office will inform you if any documents are missing.

If the documents are complete, the procedure will take a maximum of 4 months.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you must submit the documents. This may prolong the procedure.

• Proof of language skills
  General German language skills at level B2 are a prerequisite for licensure. You can also submit the required language certificate during the licensing procedure. You must also take a medical language test at level C2 during the licensing procedure.
  
• Professional license
  Before taking the knowledge test, you can apply for a temporary professional license. With a professional license, you may also work without a license (under the supervision of a licensed psychological psychotherapist). You must provide proof of language skills at level B2 and pass a specialist language test at level C2. The professional license is usually valid for 3 years. Your competent authority will inform you about this.
  
• Notification of equivalence
  In the licensing procedure, the equivalence of your training is checked (recognition procedure). You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.
  
• Electronic application
  You can also submit your application electronically.
  
• Procedure for ethnic German repatriates
  As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the law mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. Your responsible office will advise you on this.

You can appeal against the decision of the HLfGP within four weeks.

• To work as a psychological psychotherapist in Germany, you need a state license (Approbation).
• With a license to practice, you can work as a psychological psychotherapist.
• You can also obtain a license to practice in Germany with a professional qualification from a so-called third country. Third countries are all countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
• Responsible: Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP)

Please contact the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP).

The Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) has been responsible since 01.01.2023.

FAsk the responsible HLfGP for pre-printed applications / forms.