Heilpraktiker Act

The Heilpraktikergesetz (Healers Act) regulates by law who is allowed to work as a Heilpraktiker under which conditions.

Hildegards Tipp:

• Valuable Bitter Substances According to Hildegard von Bingen
• A recipe based on 800 years of monastic knowledge
• Used by 4,000 alternative practitioners
• The Best in Natural Medicine: Organic & Vegan

Since February 17, 1939, the Heilpraktikergesetz, officially abbreviated as HeilprG or HeilpraktG, has determined who in Germany is permitted to practice as a Heilpraktiker. Since then, the law has undergone numerous reforms. The most recent amendment was in 2016. It is supplemented by implementing regulations.

The Heilpraktikergesetz provides the legal basis for practicing the profession. It defines the admission requirements for Heilpraktiker and restricts the scope of their activities. The legislator sees this as necessary because there is no uniform regulation for admission to this profession.

Heilpraktiker try to alleviate physical and psychological ailments using naturopathy and other alternative methods. In this way, they form a kind of counterpoint to conventional medicine and approach treatment holistically – in the tradition of Hildegard von Bingen.

In Germany, no medical license (Approbation) is required to practice as a Heilpraktiker. This alone distinguishes Heilpraktiker from doctors and psychotherapists under the Heilpraktikergesetz. Those who are not doctors and therefore do not have a medical license but want to practice naturopathy may only call themselves Heilpraktiker. Other titles are prohibited by the Heilpraktikergesetz and may only appear as additional designations on the practice sign, for example, to further specify the specialty.

To practice as a Heilpraktiker, a permit is required according to the law. This is granted after passing a state-regulated examination conducted by the public health offices.

The Heilpraktikergesetz defines the activities that a Heilpraktiker is allowed to perform and thus sets a framework for treatment.

A Heilpraktiker is authorized to conduct examinations, make diagnoses, and treat physical and psychological illnesses.

For patient treatment, the law allows freedom of therapy. The Heilpraktiker can use both conventional medical and naturopathic or holistic methods for treatment. However, the Heilpraktikergesetz prohibits prescribing prescription drugs and narcotics.