Apply for admission to the state examination for child and adolescent psychotherapists

You must register for the state examination as a child and adolescent psychotherapist. To do so, use the form prescribed by the state authority responsible for you. Submit your application with the required documents to the state examination office responsible for you.

The examinations are taken before a state examination commission (examination board).

In order to be admitted to the examination for child and adolescent psychotherapists, you must

• have passed a final examination in psychology at a university or equivalent institution of higher education in Germany, including the subject of clinical psychology, or
• a final examination in education or social education passed in Germany at a state or state-recognized higher education institution, or
• completed an equivalent university degree abroad and
• have completed full-time or part-time training at one of the state-approved training institutes

have completed full-time or part-time training at one of the state-approved training institutes.

• birth certificate
• Marriage certificate, if applicable, and all other documents showing a subsequent change of name
• Proof of completed training in the degree program (officially certified copy in each case), certificate of participation in the training courses (original)
  • Psychology, which includes the subject Clinical Psychology
  • Pedagogy
  • Social pedagogy
  • or a certificate of training equivalent to the above
• Certificate of regular and successful participation in the training courses according to § 1 para. 4 KJPsychTh-APrV (Training and Examination Ordinance for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists) (sample according to Annex 2 of the APrV) in the original
• If applicable, certificates of equivalence of completed training in accordance with Section 5 (3) PsychThG (Psychotherapists Act) (if applicable)
• Two case presentations in accordance with § 4 Para. 6 in conjunction with § 7 Para. 2 No. 4 KJPsychTh-APrV

Free of charge

Following the reform of psychotherapeutic training, training as a child and adolescent psychotherapist can only be completed by September 1, 2032, provided that a course of study qualifying for participation in postgraduate training was started or completed before September 1, 2020. After September 1, 2032, only a license according to the Psychotherapists Act of November 15, 2019 can be obtained.

The legal basis does not provide for an explicit application deadline. The competent authorities usually set an application deadline of June 10 for examinations in the fall and January 10 for examinations in the spring. For further information, please contact the relevant state authority.

However, the candidate should be notified in writing of the admission and the invitation to the examination dates at least two weeks before the start of the examination.

• §§ 7-18 Training and Examination Ordinance for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists
• §§ Sections 2 and 5 of the Psychotherapists Act
• § 27 Psychotherapists Act

Appeal (depending on state law, an objection may be excluded), administrative court action

There is no standardized nationwide online service for admission to the state examination. Online services may have been set up by the relevant state authorities.

Further information can be found on the websites of the relevant state authorities.