Erlaubnis zur Ausübung der Heilkunde beantragen

If you wish to practice medicine without being a licensed physician or holder of a permit within the meaning of Section 2, Paragraph 2 and Section 10 of the German Medical Code (Bundesärzteordnung), you require a permit in accordance with the Heilpraktikergesetz (Heilpraktiker Act). Part of the procedure is a medical examination.

The permit entitles you to use the professional title "Heilpraktiker" or "Heilpraktikerin".

The practice of healing is any professional or commercial activity to determine, cure or alleviate illness, suffering or physical injury in humans, even if it is performed in the service of others.

For the large Heilpraktiker examination:

• identity card or passport
• proof that at least secondary school has been successfully completed
• official certificate of good conduct, which must not be older than three months
• a medical certificate, not older than three months, stating that there are no indications that the applicant lacks the necessary aptitude to practice the profession due to a physical ailment or due to weakness of his mental or physical powers or due to addiction
• Evidence of training courses for curative activities
• Information whether a general Heilpraktiker license or a license limited to curative psychotherapy is being applied for
• Address of the intended place of establishment (practice)
• Residence permit (for nationals from countries outside the European Economic Area) and work permit (for intended practice)

For the Sectoral Heilpraktiker, the required documents are to be obtained from the competent health office.

Information on the procedure can be obtained from the relevant health department.

The Heilpraktiker license exclusively in the field of psychotherapy ("small Heilpraktiker") may differ in the scope of the knowledge examination. If the applicant proves that he/she has obtained a diploma degree in psychology or a master's degree at a domestic university or at a foreign university recognized as equivalent, and if the subject "clinical psychology" was also the subject of the final examination pursuant to Section 15 (2) sentence 1 of the Framework Act for Higher Education, the required knowledge shall be deemed to have been proven.

In the case of applicants who provide evidence of completed training for the medical profession, but at least of passing the second section of the medical examination in accordance with the Approbationsordnung für Ärzte (Regulations on the Approval of Doctors) or of an equivalent degree from a foreign medical school, but who have not been admitted to practice medicine, a special form of knowledge review shall also apply.

Sectoral Heilpraktiker Verprüfung:

An application may be made for permission to practice medicine without a certificate limited to the fields of psychotherapy, physiotherapy and podiatry. The prerequisite is at least four years of professional activity as a psychotherapist, physiotherapist or podiatrist.

The application is submitted to the health offices of the respective district administrative authority (district office/town) that is responsible for the location of the future medical activity.

can be requested from the health department