Apply for a Heilpraktiker licence
Anyone wishing to practise medicine without being a licensed doctor requires a licence in accordance with the Heilpraktikergesetz (Heilpraktiker Act).
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.
It is possible to apply for a general Heilpraktiker licence or a Heilpraktiker licence restricted to the field of psychotherapy, podiatry or physiotherapy.
Responsible department
The regional council responsible for your location
Details
Prerequisite
- Knowledge check
- Minimum age 25 years
- at least secondary school leaving certificate
- no serious criminal or moral misconduct
- health suitability
Procedure
Apply for a Heilpraktiker licence at the competent office.
They will examine your application and issue the licence.
A prerequisite for the granting of the licence is the passing of the written and oral knowledge examinations.
The application should only be submitted when participation in the next written knowledge examination is certain.
Deadlines
as a rule, 4 - 8 months before the examination date.
Depending on the health authority, applications can only be submitted at certain times. Please contact the responsible office for more information.
Required documents
- curriculum vitae in tabular form
- Identity card or passport
- School leaving certificate (at least secondary school leaving certificate or equivalent)
- medical certificate of suitability for the proper exercise of the activity of a non-medical practitioner, which is not older than 3 months at the time of submission of the application
- official confirmation that a police certificate of good conduct of document type O ("for submission to an authority" according to § 30 Para. 5 BZRG) has been applied for; this must not be older than 3 months at the time of application
If you apply for a non-medical practitioner's licence, limited to the field of physiotherapy or podiatry, additional documents are required:
- Certificate of completion of training as a physiotherapist/podiatrist
- Certificates of education and further training
In the case of persons who have successfully completed a psychology degree and meet the other requirements according to the administrative regulation (LINK), it is possible to waive the knowledge check in whole or in part within the framework of a case-by-case decision.
You will receive a confirmation of receipt of your documents. However, this is not yet a confirmation of completeness.
Costs
the costs are to be inquired at the health office
Miscellaneous
Knowledge check
Those who intend to establish themselves as non-medical practitioners in the respective administrative district and provide proof of this can also apply for a non-medical practitioner's licence during the application period already mentioned.
If you apply for a general Heilpraktiker licence, the knowledge examination consists of 60 multiple choice questions, of which 75% (45 questions) must be answered correctly within 120 minutes.
If you are applying for a Heilpraktiker licence limited to the field of psychotherapy, the knowledge examination consists of 28 multiple choice questions, of which 75% (21 questions) must be answered correctly within 56 minutes.
Passing the written examination is a prerequisite for admission to the oral examination. The oral examinations begin approx. 5 - 6 weeks after the written examination. As a rule, the oral examination does not last longer than 45 minutes.
The written and the oral part of the knowledge review constitute one unit. If you fail the oral examination, you must therefore also take the written examination again.
If you apply for a Heilpraktiker licence, limited to the field of physiotherapy/podology, then only an oral knowledge examination is conducted.
Residence
In order to obtain a Heilpraktiker licence, it must be proven that the main place of residence is in the competent district. It is also possible to submit suitable proof that the Heilpraktiker profession will be practised in the competent district after passing the examination (signed rental contract for practice rooms, confirmation from a practice owner that the applicant has been accepted after passing the examination or similar)
Postponement of the examination
The examination can only be postponed once to the next examination date. If this date is also not taken, the application will be rejected and a fee will be charged.
Release note
22.05.2023 Sozialministerium Baden-Württemberg