Recognition as an occupational therapist in Germany: step by step to the licence
Occupational therapy is a regulated profession in Germany. We explain how the state authority assesses your degree, which documents count and how you compensate differences.
Free pre-check of your documents on WhatsApp
What recognition means
The title “Ergotherapeutin” or “Ergotherapeut” is protected in Germany by the Occupational Therapists Act (ErgThG). To use it and practise, you need a state licence from the competent state authority. For qualifications from abroad, this authority checks whether your training is equivalent to the German one (§ 2 ErgThG).
German training lasts three years and comprises around 2,700 hours of theory and 1,700 hours of practice in motor-functional, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, psychosocial and work-therapy treatment approaches. Your degree is compared with these contents, not by title or duration alone.
The three outcomes of the recognition procedure
Full equivalence
Your training corresponds to the German one. With German B2, a police clearance certificate and a medical certificate you receive the licence directly and work as a recognised occupational therapist.
Substantial differences
The authority issues a deficit notice. You compensate the differences through an adaptation period or a knowledge test. During this time you already work in Germany, usually as a therapist in recognition.
No equivalence
Rare, for example with short courses only. Then new training in Germany is required. We tell you this before you apply so you do not pay fees for nothing.
Documents for the application
What you need
- Diploma or Bachelor certificate and subject or hours overview (transcript) in certified translation
- Proof of placements and work experience (references)
- Licence to practise in your home country, if any
- Passport, CV, birth certificate
- German certificate (telc, Goethe, ÖSD), B2 for the licence
- Declaration that no application has been filed in another federal state
What DIH ProErgo takes care of
- Pre-check of your documents before filing: we tell you what is missing and what the authority will query
- Choice of the competent authority according to your future place of work
- Coordination of certified translations and apostilles
- Communication with the authority when documents are requested
- Linking with the accelerated skilled-worker procedure under § 81a so that recognition and visa run in parallel
Competent authorities and duration
The authority of the federal state where you will work is responsible, not the one where you live. In Baden-Württemberg this is the Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart, in Hesse the Hessian State Office for Health and Care, in North Rhine-Westphalia a district government. Because your place of work determines responsibility, we file the application once the employer is confirmed. That avoids duplicate procedures.
| Phase | Typical duration | Who is active |
|---|---|---|
| Collecting, translating, certifying documents | 4 to 8 weeks | You, with our checklist |
| Assessment by the state authority | 2 to 4 months after completeness; 2-month deadline in the § 81a procedure | Authority, we handle queries |
| Compensation after deficit notice | Knowledge test: preparation 2 to 4 months · adaptation period: usually 6 to 12 months | You, school, employer |
| Licence to use the professional title | 2 to 6 weeks after passing the test or finishing the period | Authority |
Durations are experience values from procedures since 2020. The information of the competent state authority is binding; the official portal “Anerkennung in Deutschland” names the authority for every place of work.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for recognition from abroad?
Yes. The application can be filed from your home country. The authority usually requires a binding job offer or an employment contract in the respective federal state. That is why we place the employer first and then file the application.
What does the recognition procedure cost?
State authority fees are usually between €100 and €600, plus certified translations (€200 to €600 depending on volume) and the language certificate. The federal recognition grant can reimburse part of it; we check that with you.
Is the recognition valid throughout Germany?
Yes. The licence to use the professional title is valid nationwide, even though it is issued by a state authority. Moving to another federal state later does not require a new procedure.
Is the placement really free for occupational therapists?
Yes. Applicants pay DIH ProErgo no placement fee. The employer in Germany pays our fee, success-based after the contract is signed (employer-pays principle). Translations, authority fees and language exams are costs within the process; we tell you in advance which ones apply and which subsidies exist.
How much German do I need as an occupational therapist in Germany?
The state authorities usually require German B2 for the professional licence. For entry into the adaptation period many authorities accept B1 if the path to B2 is documented. We assess your level in the first conversation and plan your language course with you.
Have your documents pre-checked for free
Send us your diploma and subject overview on WhatsApp. Within 48 hours you will receive an assessment of whether equivalence is realistic.