Psychotherapist; application for a license to practice if trained in Germany

Psychotherapists can apply for a license to practice if they have completed their psychotherapeutic training in Germany and wish to practice their profession in Bavaria.

Anyone wishing to work as a psychotherapist in Germany requires a special professional license - the Approbation. Training to become a psychotherapist is completed as part of a Bachelor's and Master's degree course at a university and concludes with a state examination, the psychotherapeutic examination.

Once you have successfully completed your studies, you can apply for a license to practice as a psychotherapist. This license allows you to practice the profession of psychotherapist in Germany independently and on your own responsibility.

You will receive a license to practice for an unlimited period of time. It is valid for the entire Federal Republic of Germany.

Your license can be withdrawn if you are no longer reliable to practice the profession. This may include violating professional regulations or committing a criminal offense. Your license can also be revoked if you have health problems that are relevant to practicing the profession of psychotherapist.

• Birth certificate/parentage certificate or extract from the parents' family register

  (certified copy)

• if the name used differs from that on the birth certificate: proof of a change of name (e.g. marriage certificate)

  (certified copy)

• valid proof of identity (e.g. passport)

  (certified copy)

• complete and personally signed curriculum vitae

  (tabular and chronological list of the training courses completed and the relevant gainful activities pursued, stating the periods (month/year) and enclosing the relevant supporting documents)

• Medical certificate (original)

  This must be issued and signed by a general practitioner or internal medicine practitioner established in Germany or another signatory state to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland and stamped with a practice or clinic stamp. If the practice or clinic stamp is not in German, a German translation of the stamp is required.

• Certificate of good conduct of document type "O
  • If the applicant has already stayed in Germany for more than six months in the past or has had or still has a residence in Germany.
  • In Germany, this must be applied for at the registration office of the place of residence, stating the purpose "Approbation as a psychotherapist". The certificate of good conduct is sent directly to the competent authority by the Federal Office of Justice.
• Proof of your completed training (certified copy, will be sent directly to the professional licensing office by the State Examination Office for training in Bavaria).
  • In the case of training in Bavaria, this is sent directly to the Berufszulassungsstelle by the Landesprüfungsamt.
  • In the case of training in an EU member state, an EEA member state or in Switzerland: proof of training such as diploma or, if applicable, further country-specific proof in accordance with Annex 5 of Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications.

You will receive your license to practice as a psychotherapist under the following conditions:

• You have completed the prescribed psychotherapeutic training and passed the state examination.
• You have completed your professional training in Germany.
• You have not been guilty of any conduct that makes you unworthy or unreliable to practise the profession.
• You are medically fit to practise the profession.
• You have the necessary knowledge of the German language to practice your profession.

Administrative court action

You must submit the application for a license with the required documents to the competent authority.

The application for approval is not subject to a time limit.

A fee of EUR 200 must be paid for the license to practice in Germany.