Department of Health, Social Affairs and Integration

Single point of contact for professional recognition in psychotherapy: General information

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for contacting the Single Point of Contact.

The following requirements must be met for your professional qualification to be recognized:

• They want to work in the field of psychotherapy in Germany.
• They have a comparable professional qualification from abroad
• Their professional qualifications are equivalent.
• The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification.

Documents required

• Application
• Declaration regarding pending criminal and investigative proceedings
• A short, complete CV with date and signature, including a summary of professional experience.
• Birth certificate
• Proof of identity (e.g., identity card, passport, travel document)
• Official certificate of good conduct of document type 0, which must not be older than three months at the time of granting the license to practice.
• Medical certificate
• Training certificates
• Proof of authorization to practice as a psychotherapist without restrictions in the home country, issued by the competent authorities there (for example, a diploma)
• Overview of subjects and hours (per semester), which shows the subjects and hours actually taught, the hours of practical training completed, and the content of the state final examination.
• Proof of general German language skills (passed exam at level B2) and passed specialist language exam at level CEFR – C2 or proof of dispensability (native speaker, education in German, 10 years of German schooling)
• Proof of employment or letter of intent

If applicable:

• Marriage certificate or extract from the family register
• Professional qualification certificates from other countries
• Other professional licenses previously granted in the Federal Republic of Germany.
• Proof of previous professional experience
• Evidence of professional development courses

Official documents issued outside of Germany must be authenticated by an apostille or legalization. Foreign certificates must be submitted with certified translations from state-sworn translators.

Please note

For the recognition of your foreign professional qualification, you can either contact the Single Point of Contact or the relevant authority directly. Further information can be found under "Links".

As a rule, for training in so-called third countries, a request for information from the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) in Bonn is required.

Deadlines

For the application process: None

Procedure

• You compile your documents and submit them with the application in the required form to the single point of contact.
• The single point of contact will forward your application to the relevant department.
• The responsible authority will check whether you meet all the requirements.
• The responsible authority will compare your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification.
• If your qualifications are deemed equivalent, please submit proof of your health, language skills, and personal suitability.
• If your qualifications are not recognized as equivalent, you will complete an adaptation measure in the form of an aptitude test or an adaptation course. The responsible authority will provide you with more detailed information.

Processing time

The duration of the procedure depends on the individual case.

Fees

120.00 EUR - 850.00 EUR

Payment methods available

• Bill

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Psychotherapist Act (PsychThG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/psychthg_2020/BJNR160410019.html


Licensing regulations for psychotherapists (PsychThApprO)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/psychthappro/BJNR044800020.htm l