Apply for permission to practice medicine in the field of psychotherapy

If you wish to practice medicine limited to the field of psychotherapy and do not have a license to practice as a psychotherapist or a license to practice as a doctor, you must apply for a permit to do so.

Psychotherapy may only be practiced by persons trained for this purpose. You can practise it if you have a license to practice

• as a psychotherapist or psychotherapist or
• as a medical doctor.

If you do not have this license, you can also work as a non-medical practitioner in psychotherapy. For this you need

• an unrestricted license or
• a license limited to the field of psychotherapy

As a non-medical practitioner in the field of psychotherapy, you can help people in various crisis situations.

However, the following are not permitted

• the dispensing of pharmacy-only medicines
• the prescribing of prescription medicines
• issuing medical certificates or sick notes

The professional title "psychotherapist" is protected. As a non-medical practitioner, you are not permitted to use this title.

Local health authorities

You must

• be at least 25 years old
• have at least a secondary school leaving certificate or another equivalent qualification
• be physically and mentally fit to practise medicine
• be able to prove the required reliability by means of an official certificate of good conduct
• provide proof of having passed the knowledge test

• Appeal (depending on national law, the appeal may be excluded)
• Administrative court action

• You submit the application to practise medicine with all the necessary documents to the competent body.
• The competent authority will check whether all requirements have been met.
• If you pass the examination, you will be granted a license.

There is no deadline.