Service Finder
Service Description
The profession of speech therapist is regulated in Germany. This means that in order to work as a speech therapist in Germany, you need a state permit. With the permit, you may use the professional title "speech therapist" and work in the profession.
Even with a professional qualification from the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you can obtain the state permit from the competent body in Germany.
To obtain the permit, you must have your foreign professional qualification recognized.
In the recognition procedure, the competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification and checks the equivalence. The equivalence of the professional qualification is an important prerequisite for the granting of the state permit.
In addition to the equivalence of the professional qualification, you must fulfill other requirements for the issuance of the permit. Further requirements are, for example, sufficient German language skills and health suitability.
If your professional qualification does not originate from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, other regulations apply.
You can also submit the application for the procedure from abroad.
Process flow
Application
You submit an application for permission to use the professional title of "speech therapist" to the competent authority. You can hand in the application with the documents to the competent body or send it by mail. Do not send originals. Sometimes you can send the application electronically. The competent office will inform you.
Checking the equivalence
The competent body will then check whether you meet all the requirements. An important requirement is the equivalence of your professional qualification. The competent body compares your professional qualification from abroad with the German professional qualification as a speech therapist. The professional qualification is equivalent if there are no significant differences between your foreign professional qualification and the German professional qualification.
Possible results of the examination
If your professional qualification is equivalent, your foreign professional qualification will be recognized. The competent body can confirm the result to you in writing. You still have to fulfill the other requirements. Then you will receive permission to use the professional title "Logopaedin" or "Logopäde".
Are there any significant differences between your professional qualification and the German professional qualification? Perhaps you can compensate for the differences through your professional practice, other knowledge or skills (lifelong learning). You have to prove the professional practice. Knowledge and skills must be certified by an authority of the state in which you acquired the knowledge or skills.
However, it may be that the essential differences cannot be compensated by this knowledge. Then your foreign professional qualification will not be recognized. You will then not be allowed to work as a speech therapist in Germany.
However, the competent body will tell you the essential differences and why you cannot compensate for the essential differences through your professional practice.
In most cases you can make a compensatory measure. This will allow you to compensate for the substantial differences.
Compensatory measures
There are several compensatory measures:
- Adaptation course: the adaptation course lasts a maximum of three years.
- Aptitude test: In the aptitude test, only those areas in which significant differences have been identified are tested. The aptitude test consists of a practical examination.
You can choose between an adaptation course or a proficiency test.
If you successfully complete the compensatory measure and meet all other requirements, you will receive permission to use the professional title "speech therapist".
Who should I contact?
Please contact the Thuringian State Administration Office.
Requirements
- You have a professional qualification as a speech therapist from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
- You want to work as a speech therapist in Germany.
- Personal suitability: You are reliable for the work as a speech therapist and have no criminal record.
- Health suitability: You are mentally and physically able to work as a speech therapist.
- You have German language skills at the required level. This is usually language level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Which documents are required?
The responsible office will tell you what documents you need to submit. Important documents are generally:
- Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
- Marriage certificate (if your name has changed due to marriage)
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of your professional qualification (for example, certificates, professional certificate)
- Proof of education
- Proof of your relevant professional experience as a speech therapist
- Proof of further relevant knowledge for your work as a speech and language therapist
- You do not yet live or work in Germany? Then you may need to provide evidence: You want to work in the profession in Germany. Evidence includes, for example, applications for a job, invitations to interviews, personal statement
You usually hand in these documents later. The responsible office will inform you when to hand in the documents:
- Proof of your personal suitability: criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct from your country of origin. The proof must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
- Proof of your health suitability: Medical certificate. The certificate must not be older than 3 months at the time of application.
- Proof of your German language skills: Language certificate
The responsible office will inform you which documents you have to submit as a simple copy, as a certified copy or as an original.
What are the fees?
The procedure costs money. The responsible office will inform you about the costs. The costs generally depend on the effort required for processing.
The fee range is at least 80.00 euros to 590.00 euros.
Additional costs may arise (e.g. for translations, certifications or compensatory measures). These costs vary individually.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
There is no deadline.
Sometimes documents are still missing from the procedure. The responsible office will then inform you by when you have to submit the documents.
Processing duration
Processing Time: 4 MonthsThe responsible office will inform you if any documents are missing. If the documents are complete, the procedure takes a maximum of 4 months.
Legal basis
What else should I know?
Freedom to provide services
You would like to offer services in Germany only sometimes and for a short time? Then you usually do not need the state permission. You must meet these requirements:
- You must be established in another state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- You must prove your professional qualification.
- You must notify the competent body of your activity in writing.
The competent body will inform you whether you are allowed to provide services or whether you have to pass an aptitude test.
Equivalency notice
The equivalence examination (recognition procedure) also takes place in the permit procedure. You can apply for a separate decision on the result of the examination.
Procedure for late repatriates
As a late repatriate, you can either go through the recognition procedure according to the laws mentioned here or according to the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide this yourself. The competent office will advise you which procedure suits you.
Further Information
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.
Technically approved by
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Federal Ministry of Health
Professionally released on
07.12.2021
Source: Zuständigkeitsfinder Thüringen (Linie6Plus)
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