Your recognition procedure as Psychotherapist (m/f)
in Berlin

This procedure is called: Granting of approbation (in German: “Erteilung der Approbation“).

Please note: Approbation is the unrestricted authorisation to practise a medical profession for which an academic qualification is required.

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• Personal aptitude
• Medical fitness
• Knowledge of German

• You require knowledge of German at level B2 of the Common European Reference Framework for languages.
• You are also usually required to complete the specialist language examination at level C2. There are some exceptions: then you might not need to take the specialist language examination. The competent authority will inform you.
• You are not required to provide a language certificate when applying. You can provide evidence of knowledge of German at a later point in time.

• You require knowledge of German at level B2 of the Common European Reference Framework for languages.
• ou are also usually required to complete the specialist language examination at level C2. There are some exceptions: then you might not need to take the specialist language examination. The competent authority will inform you.
• You are not required to provide a language certificate when applying. You can provide evidence of knowledge of German at a later point in time.

• One month at the latest following receipt of your application by the competent authority: The competent authority will notify you of receipt of the documents. They will inform you if documents are missing. The procedure begins when the documents are complete.
• After 4 months at the latest you will receive notice containing the result. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure.
  

• Approbation: €100 to €430
• There may be additional costs, e.g. for certifications, reports from the Central Assessment Agency for Healthcare Professions (GfG) or compensation measures

It may be possible for costs to be paid via financial support. Here you can find more information. You can apply for financial support if you live in Germany. Important note: You must first apply for financial support and then apply for recognition.

• Approbation: €100 to €430
• There may be additional costs, e.g. for certifications, reports from the Central Assessment Agency for Healthcare Professions (GfG) or compensation measures

It may be possible for costs to be paid via financial support. Here you can find more information. You can apply for financial support if you live in Germany. Important note: You must first apply for financial support and then apply for recognition.

• Application form from the competent authority

• If there is no application form, then apply without a standard application form

• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or personal identification)

• Evidence of the change of name (e.g. marriage certificate, if your name has changed through marriage)

• Curriculum vitae

• Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement)

• Evidence of your professional experience in this profession (e.g. employment references)

• Intention to start work: You may have to prove that you want to work in Germany.

• Information about an application for recognition already submitted. In this case state to which authority you applied.

In most cases these documents are submitted later. The competent authority will inform you as to when you should submit the documents.

• Evidence of your personal aptitude: Certificate of good conduct from Germany and your country of origin (e.g. criminal record extract, certificate of good standing). The documents must be no more than three months old when the application is submitted.
• Evidence of your medical fitness: doctor's certificate from Germany and from your country of origin. The documents must be no more than three months old when the application is submitted.
• Evidence of your knowledge of German: language certificate

• Application form from the competent authority

• If there is no application form, then apply without a standard application form

• Proof of identity (e.g. passport or personal identification)

• Evidence of the change of name (e.g. marriage certificate, if your name has changed through marriage)

• Curriculum vitae

• Evidence of your professional qualification (e.g. certificates, certificate of entitlement)

• Evidence of your professional experience in this profession (e.g. employment references)

• Intention to start work: You may have to prove that you want to work in Germany.

• Information about an application for recognition already submitted. In this case state to which authority you applied.

In most cases these documents are submitted later. The competent authority will inform you as to when you should submit the documents.

• Evidence of your personal aptitude: Certificate of good conduct from Germany and your country of origin (e.g. criminal record extract, certificate of good standing). The documents must be no more than three months old when the application is submitted.
• Evidence of your medical fitness: doctor's certificate from Germany and from your country of origin. The documents must be no more than three months old when the application is submitted.
• Evidence of your knowledge of German: language certificate

The competent authority will inform you as to which documents you must produce as originals or submit as copies. Some copies must be officially certified. We recommend that you do not send originals by post.

You must submit your documents in German. Sworn or authorised translators must prepare the translations. Contact the competent authority to find out whether they also accept translations from abroad.

You may also apply if you are not yet living in Germany.

• You can submit your application online. You will then leave our information page. For your application, you need to upload your documents. A tip: Collect your documents first. Then start the application.
• You can also hand in the application with the documents to the competent authority. You can also send the application to the competent authority by post. Do not send originals! In this case,use the application form.
  

You may also apply if you are not yet living in Germany.

• You can send the application by post to the competent authority Do not send originals.
• You may be able to send the application via email. Ask your competent authority before you do. Later on in the recognition procedure, you may be required to submit original copies or certified copies of the documents.
  

The competent authority receives the application. After one month at the latest, it will confirm that the application has arrived. Once the competent authority has received all the documents from you, it processes your application.

The competent authority carries out an equivalence assessment: It compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification. As part of this, the competent authority takes into account your professional experience, other certificates and other qualifications.

The competent authority then checks other requirements. This includes, e.g. your personal aptitude, your medical fitness and your knowledge of German.

The procedure takes a maximum of 4 months. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure. At the end, the competent authority sends you a notice containing the result.

Following your application for recognition, the competent authority can register you for the specialist language examination. In most cases the respective federal state Chamber of Psychotherapists is responsible for the specialist language examination.

The competent authority receives the application. After one month at the latest, it will confirm that the application has arrived. Once the competent authority has received all the documents from you, it processes your application.

The competent authority carries out an equivalence assessment: It compares your professional qualification with the German professional qualification. As part of this, the competent authority takes into account your professional experience, other certificates and other qualifications.

The competent authority then checks other requirements. This includes, e.g. your personal aptitude, your medical fitness and your knowledge of German.

The procedure takes a maximum of 4 months. In specific cases the competent authority may extend the procedure. At the end, the competent authority sends you a notice containing the result.

Following your application for recognition, the competent authority can register you for the specialist language examination. In most cases the respective federal state Chamber of Psychotherapists is responsible for the specialist language examination.

Outcome: Recognition

Your professional qualification and the German professional qualification are equivalent. You receive the approbation. You receive a certificate for this. You also meet all further requirements. Your professional qualification is recognised.

Professionally you have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Outcome: No recognition because the professional qualification is not equivalent.

There are substantial differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification. You are not able to compensate for these differences with your professional experience and other knowledge of the profession. Your professional qualification is therefore not equivalent to the German professional qualification. Your professional qualification is not recognised. You do not receive approbation.

In most cases you are able to complete a compensation measure. This allows you to compensate for the substantial differences.

Outcome: No recognition because you do not meet all the requirements.

Your professional qualification is equivalent. However, you do not meet all other requirements for the granting of approbation (licence to practise medicine). You may still need to provide evidence that you e.g. are personally apt or have knowledge of German. The competent authority will inform you of which evidence is missing.

You are able to take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. Details on this procedure can be found in the legal redress advice (German: “Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung”) at the end of your notice. We recommend that you speak to a counselling centre first before challenging the decision or taking legal action.

Compensation measures

If your professional qualification is not equivalent you can complete a compensation measure. A compensation measure allows you to compensate for substantial differences. Substantial differences are listed in your notice.

There are a range of compensation measures:

• Adaptation period
  
• Aptitude test
  

If you successfully complete the compensation measure, you receive a certificate. You submit this certificate to the competent authority. The competent authority checks the certificate and all other requirements (e.g. personal aptitude or medical fitness). If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. You receive the approbation. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Do you come from a third country? You are permitted to enter Germany for a compensation measure. Please seek advice if you have questions, or find out more about entry e.g. via the hotline “Working and Living in Germany”

Counselling

If you do not meet all requirements, you can find out from the competent authority about the options available to you. Were you not able e.g. to provide evidence of your personal aptitude or your knowledge of German? The competent authority can help you with this.

Knowledge test as a compensation measure

If your professional qualification is not equivalent, you can take a knowledge test. A knowledge test allows you to compensate for substantial differences. Substantial differences are listed in your notice.

If you successfully complete the knowledge test, you receive a certificate. You submit this certificate to the competent authority. The competent authority checks the certificate and all other requirements (e.g. personal aptitude or medical fitness). If you meet all requirements, your professional qualification is recognised. You receive the approbation. Professionally, you then have the same rights as a person with the German professional qualification.

Do you come from a third country? You are permitted to enter Germany for a knowledge test. Please seek advice if you have questions, or find out more about entry e.g. via the hotline “Working and Living in Germany”

Counselling

If you do not meet all requirements, you can find out from the competent authority about the options available to you. Were you not able e.g. to provide evidence of your personal aptitude or your knowledge of German? The competent authority can help you with this.

Do you need recognition in order to work in Germany? You can also apply for recognition after entering the country. For this you need a recognition partnership with your future employer in Germany.

The following requirements apply to a recognition partnership: 

• You have completed training of at least two years or a degree. 
• Your qualification is recognised by the state in the country of training. The Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) will confirm this for you.
• You need German language skills at least at level A2 of the Common European Reference Framework for languages.
• You have found an employer.

You may also be able to work in a non-regulated profession in Germany without recognition: 

• This is possible, for example, with completed training and professional experience. What's also important is how much you earn, whether you have a contract of employment, whether you speak German and how old you are. We recommend that you complete the Quick-Check here, this will provide all the information: Make-it-in-Germany.com.
• This is possible, for example, with a higher education qualification: Find out whether it is comparable to a German higher education qualification. There are two ways of checking this. 
• anabin database: You will find universities in the database. Your university must be recognised in the database (H+). AND your higher education qualification must be assessed as equivalent. This then means that your qualification is equivalent to a German higher education qualification. Save as a PDF. This is evidence. Further information and a guide is available at Make-it-in-Germany.com.
• Statement of Comparability: What if your university or qualification are not in anabin? In this case you can apply to the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB) for an individual statement of comparability. The statement of comparability is a document that confirms the equivalence of your higher education qualification with a German higher education qualification.

There are two ways of working in the profession without recognition of your professional qualification:

Authorisation to practise a profession

Did you complete your professional qualification in the third country? If so, you are able to work for a limited period without approbation. For this, you are able to apply for the so-called authorisation to practise a profession. Authorisation to practise a profession permits you to work under the supervision of a person with approbation. You may then only be permitted to carry out activities in a specific area of work. You need to meet the following requirements for authorisation to practise a profession:

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• Personal aptitude
  
• Medical fitness
  
• Knowledge of German

You can apply for authorisation to practise a profession from the competent authority.

You may also be able to use the authorisation to practise a profession to prepare for a compensation measure for recognition.

A professional qualification from the EU, EEA or Switzerland rarely provides you with authorisation to practise a profession.

Partial access to the profession

Did you complete your professional qualification in an EU country, the EEA or in Switzerland? Under certain conditions you are then able to work for an indefinite period and without recognition in the profession. For this you are able to apply for the so-called partial access to the profession. However, partial access to the profession does not permit you to perform all activities in the profession.

You need to meet the following requirements for partial access:

• With your professional qualification, you are able to work in your country of training in this profession.
• Your professional qualification is only partially equivalent to the German professional qualification. The differences compared to the German professional qualification relate to specific activities which are necessary for the profession in Germany.
• Your professional qualification must be equivalent to one specific activity in the German professional qualification.
• Personal aptitude
  
• Medical fitness
  
• Knowledge of German

You must apply for partial access to the profession from the competent authority.

Authorisation to practise a profession

Did you complete your professional qualification in the third country? If so, you are able to work for a limited period without approbation. For this, you are able to apply for the so-called authorisation to practise a profession. Authorisation to practise a profession permits you to work under the supervision of a person with approbation. You may then only be permitted to carry out activities in a specific area of work. You need to meet the following requirements for authorisation to practise a profession:

• Equivalence of your professional qualification
• Personal aptitude
  
• Medical fitness
  
• Knowledge of German

You can apply for authorisation to practise a profession from the competent authority.

You may also be able to use the authorisation to practise a profession to prepare for a compensation measure for recognition.

A professional qualification from the EU, EEA or Switzerland rarely provides you with authorisation to practise a profession.

Do you only wish to offer services in Germany occasionally and for short period? In this case you do not generally require recognition. You must meet these requirements:

• You must be resident of another country of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland.
• You must provide evidence of your professional qualification.
• You must inform or register your activity in writing with the competent authority.

As an Ethnic German Resettler, you can select between two procedures for vocational recognition:

• You apply for the procedure described here.
• You apply for the procedure under Section 10 of the Federal Expellees Act (German: “§10 Bundesvertriebenengesetz, BVFG”).

You can decide this. Your competent authority will advise you.

Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advise! You will find your councelling centre one step back under Counselling offers.

• Do you have any questions? Do you need help with the application? Seek advice! You will find your councelling centre one step back under Counselling offers.
• Do you have questions regarding entry or residence? For more information see Make-it-in-Germany.com.
  

• FAQ about Recognition of Professional Qualifications by The Association of German Professional Psychologists (BDP)
  
• Information on the application
  

• FAQ about Recognition of Professional Qualifications by The Association of German Professional Psychologists (BDP)
• Information on the application
  

• DIRECTIVE 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications
  
• Psychotherapeutengesetz - PsychThG (in German)
• Approbationsordnung für Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten (PsychoThApprO) (in German)