Short answer
Germany's federal Recognition Finder identifies Psychologe/Psychologin as non-regulated, whereas practising as Psychotherapeut/in requires Approbation. A psychology-degree comparison alone cannot authorise protected psychotherapy.
Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
Who decides
For Psychotherapeut/in the competent German federal-state authority decides professional qualification recognition and Approbation. General psychologist employment is a separate recipient/employer question.
Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
Check this before paying
Compare the official Psychologe/Psychologin profile with the Psychotherapeut/in entry, then use the Recognition Finder for the intended federal state.
Open the primary source ↗Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
When this applies
Psychotherapist Approbation requires review of the foreign professional training and other conditions, including language and fitness as specified by the state authority. Specialist psychotherapy recognition follows Approbation; it is not a substitute.
Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
Which document
The foreign professional qualification and training records, and further documents specified by the competent federal-state Approbation authority. General psychologist jobs may have different academic hiring evidence.
Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
Avoid the wrong purchase
Do not buy a general ZAB degree comparability statement expecting it to become psychotherapy Approbation. A non-regulated psychologist profile is not permission for protected psychotherapeutic practice.
Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
What this does not do
The comparison concerns professional titles and recognition, not individual psychotherapy eligibility, psychiatry, a universal German-state fee or a fixed deadline. Berlin is an illustration only.
Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
Your next official step
Clarify the protected activity, find the correct federal-state authority and follow its foreign-trained psychotherapist Approbation instructions before purchasing evaluations.
Continue to the official guidance ↗Sources: Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB)
Psychologist is not interchangeable with psychotherapist
The federal German occupational profile explicitly lists Psychologe/Psychologin as not regulated. The separate Psychotherapeut/in overview states that state-issued Approbation is needed for this protected psychotherapeutic practice.
A university degree comparison may assist an employer but cannot itself be a licence to deliver regulated psychotherapy.
Sources: Psychologist occupation is not regulated · Psychotherapist requires Approbation
What an example Approbation procedure considers
The federal Recognition Finder's Berlin example includes foreign professional qualification equivalence, personal and medical fitness and German-language requirements. Relevant evidence and possible compensation measures are determined by the responsible authority.
Berlin illustrates a procedure and should not be promoted as the mandatory uniform fee or timeline for all German states.
Sources: Psychotherapist recognition in Berlin, illustrative state route
Specialised psychotherapy remains a further decision
The federal guidance distinguishes ordinary psychotherapist Approbation from subsequent recognition of specialised psychotherapy credentials. Medical psychiatry is another regulated medical profession and is not covered by this guide.
Sources: Psychotherapist requires Approbation
DiploWay psychology title check
Write down whether the intended work is generic psychologist employment or protected psychotherapy.
Record the Bundesland and the official competent authority's documents.
Before buying a report, ask whether the recipient needs academic comparability for employment or professional Approbation.
Related decisions for this process
Explore another use for the same qualification
Sources and scope
- Psychologist occupation is not regulated
Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · checked 2026-10-14 (UTC date)
- Psychotherapist requires Approbation
Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · checked 2026-10-14 (UTC date)
- Psychotherapist recognition in Berlin, illustrative state route
Federal German Recognition Finder (BIBB) · checked 2026-10-14 (UTC date)