If you work in a licensed health profession or another liberal profession, you will often come across the term professional pension fund (Versorgungswerk) early on. Many dentists, physicians, lawyers, engineers or tax advisers are compulsory members of such a fund. This guide explains how the exemption from statutory pension insurance works, which deadline applies and what you should watch out for.
Short answer: If you are a compulsory member of a chamber and its professional pension fund, you can apply to be exempted from statutory pension insurance. If you submit the application within three months, the exemption takes effect from the point at which the conditions are met. Contributions and benefits follow the bylaws of the fund. Stand: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- A professional pension fund is an occupational pension scheme. It pays an old-age pension and often also disability and survivors’ benefits.
- The exemption from statutory pension insurance is not automatic. It is a right to apply under section 6 of Social Code Book VI (SGB VI).
- The application and its three-month deadline determine from when the exemption takes effect.
- Contributions and benefits differ from fund to fund and are set out in the bylaws.
- An exemption only applies to the activity for which it was granted.
What a professional pension fund is
Professional pension funds are occupational pension institutions. A chamber, for example a medical chamber or a bar association, sets one up for its members. Members pay contributions and in return acquire entitlements to an old-age pension, often also to disability and survivors’ benefits. The organisation, contribution level and benefits are governed by the bylaws (Satzung) of the respective fund, which are set at state level.
Because each chamber has its own rules, there is no uniform model. If you are interested in dentists or physicians, you will find different structures depending on the federal state. An overview of individual funds is provided in the guide Versorgungswerk für Zahnärzte: Duty, Contributions and Exemption, and further examples are in the guides for individual professions.
When the exemption from pension insurance applies
Under section 6 SGB VI, employees and self-employed persons can be exempted from compulsory statutory pension insurance if they are compulsory members of a pension institution and of a chamber as required by law. Three conditions set out in the provision must be met. The exemption applies only to the respective activity. If it extends to another compulsory activity, this only applies if that activity is limited in time from the outset and the pension scheme secures entitlements (section 6 (5) SGB VI).
You will not be exempted automatically. You submit the application to the pension institution, which forwards it electronically to the pension insurance carrier (section 6 (2) SGB VI). The decision is made by the pension insurance carrier. For compulsory memberships under number 1, this is the German Pension Insurance Bund (Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund, section 6 (3) SGB VI).
The deadline: when the exemption takes effect
The deadline is where many career starters lose time. If you apply for the exemption within three months, it takes effect from the point at which the conditions are met. If the application is submitted later, the exemption only takes effect from the date the application is received (section 6 (4) SGB VI). For deadlines, what counts is the date your application is received by the pension institution, not the day you wrote it.
Note the start date of your chamber membership in your calendar right away. If you are not sure whether the obligation already applies, clarify this with the responsible chamber before the deadline passes.
What the exemption means for statutory pension
An exemption means that you no longer pay compulsory contributions to statutory pension insurance and no longer collect new pension points there. In return, you acquire entitlements in the professional pension fund. Whether this exchange is advantageous for you depends on the contributions, the scope of benefits and the pension formula of the fund. If you have prior insurance periods in statutory pension insurance, check these entitlements before you apply.
Professional pension fund and statutory pension compared
Statutory pension insurance has uniform basic rules for all employees. The contribution rate for 2026 is 18.6 percent, and the general contribution assessment ceiling is 8,450 euros a month (status October 2026). A professional pension fund works under its own rules. The following overview shows the differences on the most important points.
| Feature | Professional pension fund | Statutory pension insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | State law and the bylaws of the fund | Social Code Book VI |
| Contribution | Set by the bylaws, varies by fund | 18.6 percent up to the contribution assessment ceiling (2026) |
| Benefits | Old-age pension, often disability and survivors’ benefits | Old-age pension, reduced earning capacity pension, survivors’ pension |
| Access | Compulsory chamber membership, exemption on application | Compulsory insurance or exemption under section 6 SGB VI |
| Current figures | Bylaws and contribution regulations of the fund | Contribution rate notice and calculation parameters |
The table does not replace a comparison using the actual figures of your fund. You will find these in the current bylaws or contribution regulations. Where the bylaws do not give reliable figures, it is worth asking the pension fund directly.
Typical pitfalls
- The deadline is missed. Without an application within three months, the exemption only takes effect from the date the application is received.
- Parallel contributions: if you pay contributions to statutory pension insurance alongside the fund, coordinate this with the pension fund.
- Change of activity: the exemption only applies to the activity for which it was granted. A move into employment without chamber membership can trigger new checks.
- Disability: the benefits of the fund are not always sufficient. Check whether you need separate cover, more on this in the guide Disability Insurance for Academics: What Is Different.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to join a professional pension fund if I am an academic?
No. Not every academic activity leads to membership of a professional pension fund. The obligation arises from membership of a chamber, which is tied to certain professions and activities. Whether you are affected is for the responsible chamber to clarify. A degree alone does not create membership.
Can I combine a professional pension fund with statutory pension insurance?
If you are exempted, you do not pay new compulsory contributions to statutory pension insurance. Whether you can pay voluntary contributions instead depends on your situation and should be clarified with the pension insurance carrier. Entitlements you acquired earlier remain in place.
What happens if I move to employment without a chamber obligation?
The obligation to be a member of the fund then generally ends, and statutory pension insurance applies again. The exemption only applies to the activity for which it was granted. Entitlements already acquired generally remain in place. The exact rules are set out in the bylaws.
Is the professional pension fund enough for retirement?
That depends on contribution years, income and the bylaws. A pension statement from the fund shows the current position. Many working professionals supplement the fund with their own retirement provision. Whether that makes sense for you is a question of overall planning and should be worked through with the figures of your fund.
Are the contributions fixed?
Contributions depend on your income and the rules of the bylaws. Some funds have minimum and maximum contributions. The current figures are set out in the bylaws or on the fund’s website. These details change over the years, so always read the version that is currently valid.
What to do now
- Ask your chamber whether you will become a compulsory member of the professional pension fund, and from when.
- Submit the application for exemption within three months through the pension institution.
- Review the bylaws, contribution regulations and benefits of the fund for the points that matter to you.
- Clarify with a tax adviser or in a personal consultation how old-age, disability and survivors’ protection fit together. A personal consultation at Academycon is described under So arbeiten wir (in German).
Related reading
- Doctors in Postgraduate Training: PKV, Pension Scheme and Disability Cover
- Versorgungswerk für Zahnärzte: Duty, Contributions and Exemption
- Lawyers’ Pension Scheme: Membership, Contributions, Exemption
- Pension Insurance for Students in Germany: Rules
- Disability Insurance for Academics: What Is Different
Sources: Social Code Book VI, section 6 (exemption from compulsory insurance), status October 2026; Social Code Book VI, section 2 (self-employed persons), status October 2026; German Pension Insurance, contribution assessment ceilings (status October 2026).
Stand: October 2026. This guide is general information and not individual advice.
