For psychotherapists
Your path to the Approbation as a psychotherapist
Understand individual recognition, language requirements and the licensing office. Personal roadmap coming soon.
Free, no account needed. Supported professions get a personalized roadmap; others can join the waitlist.
Plan your next steps
Your route to working in Germany
Explore the psychotherapist recognition guide now. Join the waitlist for a personal roadmap.
- 1
Prepare
Check your authority’s document list before paying for translations or certifications.
- 2
German & exams
Prepare the German certificate and any professional language test your authority accepts.
- 3
Recognition
Apply for recognition. If gaps remain, follow the exam or adaptation route in your decision.
- 4
Visa & arrival
If you need a visa, check which residence permit covers your recognition or employment.
- 5
First job
Apply for roles that match your current licence and permitted duties.
This is an overview. Check whether a personalised roadmap is available for your profession, or join the waitlist.
Check roadmap availabilityServices
Services for every profession
Get help with your document list, visa questions or German CV.
- Document Checkfrom 129 €Your document list compared with your recognition authority’s checklist, with missing items identified.Open
- Visa Consultationon requestA consultation on residence-permit options, required documents and application steps.Open
- CV & Career Check149 €A German CV in PDF and Word, with a hiring supervisor’s review and written feedback.Open
How the Approbation works for psychotherapists
Psychotherapy is regulated. Approbation is the full professional licence; the authority assesses foreign degrees and clinical training against the German requirements.
EU, EEA and Swiss qualifications are assessed individually. If the authority finds substantial differences, it states the applicable compensation measure. Third-country qualifications also undergo equivalence assessment and may require a knowledge test.
Approbation also requires German, personal reliability and health fitness. Kassenzulassung for statutory-insurance care is a separate step.
Documents and German-language evidence
Your authority gives the binding document list. Prepare:
- Degrees, transcripts and evidence of psychotherapy training: treatment methods, clinical placements, supervised patient work and the duration of each part.
- Professional registration and practice evidence where applicable.
- Identity, personal-reliability and health documents requested by the authority.
- B2 general German; the federal portal usually lists a C2 specialist language examination, subject to local rules and exceptions.
- Certified copies and translations in the format the authority requests.
How long the Approbation takes and what drives the cost
The assessment period begins once the file is complete. The federal portal generally lists up to four months for a decision, with extensions possible in specific cases.
The written decision tells you whether your qualification is equivalent or a compensation measure is needed. Costs depend on state fees, translation, language evidence and any required measure.
- Decision period
- Usually up to 4 months; extensions possible
- German
- B2 general; specialist language exam usually C2
- Compensation
- Set out in the authority’s decision if needed
Which office decides in your state
The competent licensing authority depends on the federal state. Confirm its current requirements before applying.
| Federal state | Recognition office |
|---|---|
| North Rhine-Westphalia | Bezirksregierung MünsterMünster |
| Bavaria | Regierung von OberbayernMünchen |
| Baden-Württemberg | Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart - Referat 98 - Landesanerkennungsstelle für GesundheitsberufeStuttgart |
The professional chamber and statutory-insurance admission are separate from the Approbation decision.
Working while you wait: the Berufserlaubnis
A temporary Berufserlaubnis may be possible under conditions set by the authority, including supervision. Availability depends on your case.
Check both professional permission and residence or work-permit rules before taking clinical work.
Packages & pricing
Compare individual checks and packages, including what each service covers.
Get it funded
Check eligibility for recognition-cost support, placement vouchers and funded training.
The funding page is in German.
Questions we hear most
Check your roadmap
Check availability for your profession. Build a free roadmap where supported, or join the waitlist.
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