Heilpraktikererlaubnis beantragen

If you wish to practise medicine without being licensed as a doctor or holding a license as defined in Section 2 (2) and Section 10 of the Federal Medical Practitioners' Act, you require a license in accordance with the Heilpraktikergesetz. Part of the procedure is an official medical examination.

The license entitles you to use the professional title "Heilpraktiker" or "Heilpraktikerin".

The practice of medicine is any professional or commercial activity to diagnose, cure or alleviate illness, suffering or physical injury in humans, even if it is carried out in the service of others.

For the major alternative practitioner examination:

• identity card or passport
• proof that you have successfully completed at least secondary school
• official certificate of good conduct, which must not be older than three months
• a medical certificate, which must not be older than three months, stating that there are no indications that the applicant lacks the aptitude required to practice the profession due to a physical ailment or weakness of their mental or physical strength or due to addiction
• Proof of training for curative activities
• Information as to whether a general Heilpraktiker license or a license limited to therapeutic psychotherapy is being applied for
• Address of the intended place of establishment (practice)
• Residence permit (for nationals from countries outside the European Economic Area) and work permit (for intended practice)

For the sectoral alternative practitioner, the required documents must be obtained from the competent health authority.

Information about the procedure can be obtained from the responsible health authority.

The alternative practitioner license exclusively in the field of psychotherapy ("small alternative practitioner") may differ in the scope of the knowledge test. If the applicant can prove that they have obtained a degree in psychology or a Master's degree from a German university or a foreign university recognized as equivalent and that the subject "clinical psychology" was also the subject of the final examination in accordance with Section 15 (2) sentence 1 of the Framework Act for Higher Education, the required knowledge is deemed to have been proven.

Applicants who can prove that they have completed training for the medical profession, but have at least passed the second section of the medical examination in accordance with the licensing regulations for doctors or an equivalent degree from a foreign medical degree program, but are not licensed to practice medicine, are also subject to a special form of knowledge verification.

Sectoral alternative practitioner examination:

An application can be made for permission to practise medicine without a license limited to the fields of psychotherapy, physiotherapy and podiatry. The prerequisite is at least four years of professional experience as a psychotherapist, physiotherapist or podiatrist.

Applications must be submitted to the health authorities of the respective district administrative authority (district administration office/district-free city) that is responsible for the location of the future curative activity.