Apply for a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist

If you have successfully completed your training in Hessen and would now like to practice your academic health profession in Germany, you must apply to the HLfGP for a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist.

Once you have successfully completed your training at a state-recognized training center for psychological psychotherapy in Hesse, you can be granted a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist. You must submit a corresponding online application to the HLfGP to obtain your license to practice.

The application and the Training and Examination Regulations for Psychological Psychotherapy (PsychThAPrV) list in detail which evidence and information must be enclosed with the application. If the requirements are met, the HLfGP will issue you with the requested license in the form of a certificate.

Once you have been granted a license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist, you are entitled to practice the profession of psychological psychotherapist in Germany independently and on your own responsibility.

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

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

• Application for license to practice medicine
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form and signed
• Birth certificate, for married persons also the marriage certificate
• Proof of identity
• Official certificate of good conduct, not older than one month
• Declaration in the application as to whether criminal proceedings or a public prosecutor's investigation are pending against the applicant
• Medical certificate (form), which must not be older than one month, stating that the applicant is not medically unfit to exercise the profession

• Forms: Application form
• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance required: no

• The license to practice as a psychological psychotherapist is granted upon application if the applicant
  • has completed the prescribed training and passed the state examination
  • has not been guilty of any conduct which would render him/her unworthy or unreliable to practise the profession
  • is not unfit in terms of health to practise the profession
  • has the knowledge of the German language required to practise the profession

Objection & legal action (WVwVfG, VwGO)

• The application for licensure must be submitted online
• A confirmation of receipt will be sent by e-mail immediately after submitting the online application
• If you need to submit additional documents, these should be submitted to the HLfGP within one month of submitting your application
• The certificate can only be sent to you personally by post
• If you are absent for a longer period of time, it is therefore recommended that you nominate an authorized recipient

Due to the time limit (validity period) of individual documents to be submitted, it is advisable to submit the application at the earliest 2 weeks before the last examination date.

Once all the necessary documents have been submitted, the license can be issued within a few days (usually 1 to max. 2 weeks).

• Fixed costs: Administration fee EUR 180.00";
• Expenses (postage costs etc.): "EUR 6.25"
• Subject to change without notice