Recognition of Professional Qualifications - FAQ

Association of German Professional Psychologists

Frequently Asked Questions about the practice of psychology
http://www.bdp-verband.org/psychologie/faq_recognition.htm

European and international degrees

  1. Can anyone call themselves a "psychologist" in Germany, or are only certain people allowed by law to use this professional title?
  2. Where can I go to get my academic qualifications or professional title approved
  3. How can I use a degree title awarded in another country when I am in Germany?
  4. I was awarded a degree in psychology in Poland or Russia and the word "Diplom" is printed on the margin of the certificate. Am I entitled to call myself a psychologist?
  5. I have been awarded the degree of "Magister Soziale Verhaltenswissenschaften. Am I entitled to call myself a psychologist?
  6. I have studied psychology as a minor subject. Am I entitled to call myself a psychologist?
  7. What qualifications does the Open University "conversion course" provide and are they recognised in Germany?
  8. Where can I find information about the equivalence of the educational qualifications I have obtained outside of Germany with German "Diplom" degrees?
  9. What regulations govern the recognition of foreign degrees in Germany?
  10. What do I have to do in order to begin work as a psychologist in Germany with a qualification I have obtained in another country?
  11. What is a certificate of assessment of an educational qualification obtained abroad ("Zertifikat zur Bewertung eines ausländischen Bildungsabschlusses")?
  12. "Certificate of professional qualification" – Assessment of the professional qualification status of German degrees abroad.
  13. How do British and American bachelor's/master's degrees compare with the German "Diplom"?
  14. How do bachelor's/master's degrees taken in Germany compare with the German Diplom?
  15. If I hold a bachelor's degree in psychology, how can I go on to obtain a Diplom degree?
  16. What is the structure of degree courses leading to the qualification of "Diplom-Psychologe" in Germany?
  17. Which universities offer Diplom degrees in psychology?
  18. Does a degree which I have gained outside of Germany qualify me to take a doctoral degree in Germany?
  19. What are the career prospects in Germany for graduates holding a bachelor's or master's degree?
  20. Can anyone call themselves a "psychotherapist", or are only certain people allowed by law to use this professional title?
  21. What requirements must be met before someone can practice psychotherapy in Germany?
  22. What requirements must be met before a license can be granted to a psychological psychotherapist or child and youth psychotherapist?
  23. What documents must be submitted with an application for a license to practise as a psychological psychotherapist / child and youth psychotherapist?
  24. What entry qualifications are required in order to train as a psychological psychotherapist or child and youth psychotherapist?
  25. Where is it possible to train to become a psychological psychotherapist or child and youth psychotherapist?
  26. What is the difference between a psychological psychotherapist and a child and youth psychotherapist?
  27. What requirements must be met before a limited licence to work as an alternative non-medical practitioner in the field of psychotherapy can be granted?
  28. I have found training institutes on the internet which prepare applicants for the examination in alternative non-medical practice and consequently for legal authorisation to practise as a psychotherapist. Which of these institutes could you recommend?
  29. Is it worth training to become a "psychological counsellor" and what are the career prospects of such professionals?
  30. I would like to do my practical placement in another country, such as Austria or Switzerland. Is this possible?
  31. Important links