Apply for permission to practice medicine in the field of psychotherapy

• You submit the application for the practice of medicine including all required documents to the competent body.
• Written and oral examination participation or decision on the basis of the file.
• The competent body checks whether all requirements are met.
• If the examination is positive, you will be granted permission.

You must be

• be at least 25 years old
• have German citizenship
• have at least a secondary school leaving certificate or other equivalent school qualification,
• be physically and mentally fit to practice medicine and be able to prove their

be able to prove the required reliability by means of an official certificate of good conduct.

• Application,
• medical certificate,
• identity card or passport,
• in case of name change, a birth certificate/name change certificate,
• a curriculum vitae in tabular form,
• if necessary, a certificate of registration (if the identification document is not an identity card),
• information from the Federal Central Register (document type 0),
• a certified copy of proof of successful completion of school.

Additionally, if the verification is on file:

• a diploma or master's degree in psychology with a focus on clinical psychology,

a completed therapy training in a generally recognized method.

Is based on the respective administrative fee regulations of the state or on the fee statutes of the bodies responsible under state law.

There is no overarching deadline; individual deadlines result from testing dates and requirements for evidence, if applicable.

If you have applied for permission to practice, the responsible office will decide on this promptly. Please note that there is usually a waiting period between the application and the invitation to the examination. In the run-up to the examination, required documents are requested and invitations are sent out.

• § 1 paragraph 2 Heilpraktikergesetz

Objection (depending on state law, the objection may be excluded), administrative court action

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: No