⚖️ Legal notice

This article is intended solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. All information has been carefully researched but is not intended to be exhaustive or legally binding. Binding information on individual cases can be obtained from the relevant public health authorities or specialist legal bodies.

Anyone opening a practice for physiotherapy, occupational therapy or naturopathy must consider more than just equipment, contracts with health insurance funds and patient marketing.

A key – and often overlooked – requirement is the obligation to register with the public health authority.

In this article, you will find out why this requirement exists, what deadlines apply, what documents you need and what the consequences are if you fail to comply.

🔍 Why is registration mandatory?

The registration requirement for healthcare professions serves the purposes of regulatory quality assurance and patient protection.

Public health authorities are tasked with ensuring that therapeutic services are provided only by professionally qualified and legally authorised individuals. In Germany, this requirement is not uniformly regulated by federal law,

but is laid down by the state health laws of the respective federal states. This means that the exact requirements may vary slightly from region to region.

🩺 Who is affected?

In principle, all self-employed members of non-medical healthcare professions are required to register, in particular:

• physiotherapists

• Occupational therapists

• Podiatrists

• Speech and language therapists

• Masseurs and medical spa therapists

• Alternative practitioners – including sector-specific practitioners (physiotherapy, psychotherapy)

Salaried therapists are not required to register, as they work under the practice owner’s registration.

💡 Group practices:

If several therapists share premises but operate as independent businesses, each person must register their practice separately.

⏰ Deadlines & jurisdiction

Deadlines vary between the federal states:

The public health authority at the practice’s location is always responsible.

If there are multiple locations, registration is required in each district. Those who offer home visits exclusively must register with the public health authority in their place of residence. Many local authorities now allow online registration, e.g. Cologne, Düsseldorf, Offenbach or Marburg-Biedenkopf.

📋 What documents are required?

The following documents are usually required for registration with the public health authority:

• A copy of your identity card

• Professional qualification certificate or state authorisation to use the professional title

• Practice address and contact details

• Date of commencement of work

• Where applicable, proof of professional indemnity insurance

Alternative practitioners must also submit:

• Licence to practise as a naturopath (in accordance with Section 1 of the HeilprG)

• Proof of additional qualifications (if applicable) (e.g. acupuncture, injections)

• for sector-specific alternative practitioners: certificate of sector-specific authorisation

In some cases, public health authorities may request additional documents, e.g. a certificate of good conduct or details of hygiene facilities.

💶 Costs and fees

Registration itself is free of charge in most federal states.

However, if written confirmation is required – for example, for health insurance funds or professional associations – small fees may apply:

• Hesse: approx. €15

• North Rhine-Westphalia: approx. €25

• Saxony-Anhalt: approx. €46

• Bavaria: depending on the local public health authority

⚠️ Consequences of non-compliance

Failure to comply with the registration requirement constitutes an administrative offence.

Possible consequences:

• A fine of up to €3,000 (e.g. Section 21 of the Hesse Public Health Act (HGöGD))

• For breaches of the Infection Protection Act: up to €25,000 (Section 73 IfSG)

• In the event of a repeat offence: prohibition from practising the profession

In addition to financial risks, failure to register may also have professional disciplinary consequences – for example, during inspections by supervisory authorities or health insurance funds.

💡 Common mistakes when registering a practice

1. Registration only after the practice has opened:

   Many practice founders wait until everything is in place – yet the notification must be submitted before commencing operations.

2. Incorrect public health authority:

   The relevant authority is the one for the practice’s location, not the founder’s place of residence (except in the case of mobile practices).

3. Incomplete documentation:

   Copies of certificates or professional licences are often missing – these must be submitted in full.

4. Group practice not registered individually:

   In a group practice, each partner must register separately.

✅ How to make it stress-free

• Contact the relevant public health authority well in advance

• Request the forms or download them online

• Check and copy all documents

• Request confirmation (optional) and file it away

• Notify them of any changes (such as a move or the closure of a practice) in good time

💬 Tip:

Many public health authorities provide information sheets and checklists – for example:

• Paderborn District – Information sheet on registration procedures

• Munich District – Registering healthcare professions

📚 Sources

1. Section 1a of the North Rhine-Westphalia Health Professions Act (GBerG NRW) – recht.nrw.de

2. Section 12 of the Hessian Act on the Public Health Service (HGöGD) – Lahn-Dill District information sheet

3. Art. 10 Health Services Act (GDG Bavaria) – Roth District Office

4. Alternative Practitioners Act (HeilprG) – gesetze-im-internet.de

5. Paderborn District – Information sheet on registration procedures for healthcare professions (2024)

6. Munich District – Registering and deregistering healthcare professions (2023)

7. Federal Ministry of Health – Healthcare professions in general (2024)