Germany

In Germany, T&CM is not regulated as an independent profession under national law. Only licensed medical practitioners (physicians, dentists, psychotherapists) or state-licensed non-medical practitioners (Heilpraktiker) may legally provide T&CM services [1]. The training, scope, and recognition of T&CM vary depending on the pathway (medical additional qualifications, university degrees, or Heilpraktiker education) [2,3]. There is no single government-wide accreditation specifically for T&CM degrees or traditional medicine qualifications outside formal higher education accreditation structures [1].

Physicians in Germany can integrate T&CM into their practice by acquiring postgraduate additional qualifications in defined complementary fields which include acupuncture, naturopathy (Naturheilverfahren), manual medicine, and physical therapy. Physicians must first complete standard medical education and licensure (Approbation). Additional qualifications are regulated by professional bodies such as the Bundesärztekammer (German Medical Association) and the state medical chambers. These qualifications signal competency in T&CM techniques within the medical profession [4].

Universities and higher education institutions in Germany may offer Bachelor’s or Master’s programs that include T&CM content as part of health sciences, though these are not widespread and are not directly regulated as health professional licences. These degrees are part of the formal higher education system and subject to German/ European academic accreditation standards [5]. A degree does not automatically confer the legal right to practise medical treatments; practice rights depend on medical licensure or Heilpraktiker status [1]. Some public medical schools integrate elective modules on complementary medicine, but there is no standardized T&C curriculum [6,7].

A major route for non-medical practitioners to legally practise T&CM is via the Heilpraktiker license. Heilpraktiker is a legally recognized non-medical profession under German law [2,3]. Education is not government-regulated; many private schools offer preparatory courses for the licensing exam [2,8]. The state exam is administered by local health authorities (Gesundheitsamt) as required by the Heilpraktikergesets [1,9]. Licensed Heilpraktiker may practice various T&CM therapies, including TCM, acupuncture, and herbal medicine [1]. Some German medical schools include integrated T&CM topics however; these are not part of the core curriculum and vary between universities [9].

University degrees are accredited via German accreditation agencies such as AQAS, ACQUIN, and AHPGS, under the supervision of the German Accreditation Council. Accreditation confirms academic quality, but not legal practice rights [5]. Professional associations provide curriculum frameworks and circles but are not government-mandated accreditation [10].

Organizations involved for this country’s accreditation of courses currently in our database:

• German Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat) – https://www.akkreditierungsrat.de/

Oversees and authorises accreditation agencies for higher education programme accreditation and quality assurance in Germany.

• Agency for Quality Assurance through Accreditation of Study Programs (AQAS) – https://www.aqas.de/

Accredited by the German Accreditation Council; accredits Bachelor’s/ Master’s degree programmes at universities, including health fields.

•  Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN) – https://www.acquin.org/

Non-profit agency authorised to accredit degree programmes in Germany and internationally.

• Accreditation Agency in Health and Social Sciences (AHPGS) – https://www.ahpgs.de

Specialises in accreditation of study programmes in health and social sciences, which can include T/CM related academic degrees.

• Accreditation Agency for Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics (ASIIN) – https://www.asiin.de/

Authorised German accreditation body (coverage includes natural sciences and related disciplines).

• Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (ZEvA) – https://www.zeva.org

Another German accreditation body authorised by the German Accreditation Council.

• Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) – https://www.fibaa.com/

Accredited agency for higher education quality assurance (includes health/ management degrees).

• AGTCM e.V. – Arbeitsgemeinschaft für klassische Akupunktur & Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin – https://www.agtcm.de/

German professional association promoting TCM education standards and framework curricula for training – often linked to schools/ institutes of TCM.

• IQHP – Initiative für Qualitätssicherung im Heilpraktikerberuf – https://iqhp.de/

Advocates quality standards and training frameworks within the Heilpraktiker profession. 

• NATUM e.V. – Naturheilkunde, Akupunktur, Komplementär- & Umweltmedizin in der Frauenheilkunde – https://www.natum.de/

German professional association promoting TCM education standards and framework curricula for training – often linked to schools/ institutes of TCM.

• ANME – Association for Natural Medicine in Europe – https://www.anme-ngo.eu/

European NGO active in standardisation and visibility of natural and complementary medicine; collaborates with German stakeholders. 

References:

1. NAFKAM. Germany: Complementary and Alternative Medicine Regulation Overview [Internet]. Oslo: NAFKAM; [cited 2025 Dec 12].
2. Ernst E. (1996). Towards quality in complementary health care: is the German “Heilpraktiker” a model for complementary practitioners? International journal for quality in health care: journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, 8(2), 187–190. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/8.2.187
3. Joos, S., Rosemann, T., Szecsenyi, J. et al. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in Germany – a survey of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. BMC Complement Altern Med 6, 19 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-6-19
4. Valentini, J., Klocke, C., Güthlin, C. et al. Integration of complementary and integrative medicine competencies in general practice postgraduate education – development of a novel competency catalogue in Germany. BMC Complement Med Ther 21, 250 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03419-7
5. DAAD. Bachelor in Homoeopathy and Complementary Medicine, Private University of Applied Sciences North Hesse [Internet]. DAAD; [cited 2025 Dec 12].
6. European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association (ETCMA). Find a member – Germany [Internet]. ETCMA; [cited 2025 Dec 12].
7. Jeitler M, Ortiz M, Brinkhaus B, Sigl M, Hoffmann R, Trübner M, Michalsen A, Wischnewsky M and Kessler CS (2024) Use and acceptance of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine in Germany—an online representative cross-sectional study. Front. Med. 11:1372924. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1372924
8. Kiesewetter J, Eberhard J, Münch U. Naturopathy, and complementary medicine in undergraduate medical education in Germany. GMS J Med Educ. 2022;39: Doc1537.
9. Goethe – Institute, Sieber U. ANME-Symposium [Internet]. 
10. CAMbrella Consortium. CAM and Regulation in Europe: Germany Country Report [Internet]. CAMbrella; 2018 [cited 2025 Dec 12].