Apply for a license to practice as a psychotherapist

• You submit the application for licensure with all the necessary documents to the competent licensing authority.
• The licensing authority
  • checks whether the documents submitted are complete and meet the legal requirements.
  • asks you to submit any missing or incomplete documents.
  • checks the licensing requirements.
• If you pass the examination, you will receive a license to practice.

• You have successfully completed your studies, which are a prerequisite for obtaining a license to practice as a psychotherapist.
• You have passed the psychotherapeutic state examination.
• You are medically fit to practise the profession.
• You have the necessary knowledge of the German language to practice the profession.
• You have not behaved in such a way that you are considered unworthy or unreliable to practice the profession, for example you have no relevant criminal record.

• Proof of identity
• brief curriculum vitae
• official certificate of good conduct, which must not be older than one month
• officially certified copy of the university certificate (Master's certificate)
• Examination certificate confirming that you have passed the psychotherapeutic examination
• Declaration that you are not the subject of any criminal proceedings or investigations by the public prosecutor's office
• Medical certificate, which must not be older than one month, stating that you are medically fit to practise the profession
• Proof of the German language skills required for practicing the profession.

If you have not completed your training in Germany:

• Proof of identity
• Curriculum vitae showing previous training and employment
• Certificate that you are authorized to work in the same profession in your country of origin
• Certificate from your country of origin regarding the level of training and the rights and equal status acquired with the training certificate
• Proof of appropriate German language skills
• Proof of your other qualifications, for example further vocational training

There are no costs.

There is no deadline.

• § 2 Gesetz über den Beruf der Psychotherapeutin und des Psychotherapeuten (Psychotherapeutengesetz - PsychThG)
• §§ 59 und 60 Approbationsordnung für Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten

There are no indications or special features.

14.08.2025

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.