Psychology is not a degree with a single career goal. Anyone who later wants to work as a psychotherapist goes through a separate, legally regulated training route. Anyone going into research, business or counselling does not need it. For disability insurance during psychology studies that decides how the target profession is described; the general mechanics are in the guide for students.
Short answer: According to the notes of the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf (as of 16 April 2026) the bachelor in the programme under the new law takes three years and the master two. State examination, licensure (Approbation) and five years of further training follow. What is special for disability cover lies in the health questions, which often cover mental illness and treatment (as of October 2026).
The Most Important Points
- The route to licensure follows the Psychotherapeutengesetz: bachelor, master, state examination, licensure, further training.
- Not every psychology degree leads onto this route; clarify this with the university.
- Psychologists without licensure have a very different activity profile from psychotherapists.
- Questions on mental illness and therapy are common in questionnaires, even if you only used counselling.
- An anonymous risk enquiry can make the assessment easier before applying.
How Is Training Structured Under the New Law?
The notes of the Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf describe training as a psychotherapist under the Psychotherapeutengesetz (PsychThG) and the licensing regulations for psychotherapists. They apply to North Rhine-Westphalia; the competent authority differs by state. The programme may only be offered at universities or equivalent institutions (sections 7 and 9 PsychThG).
| Stage under the new law | Duration or detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor, polyvalent, with practical placements | three years | Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, notes (16 April 2026) |
| Master, recognised for professional purposes | two years | Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, notes (16 April 2026) |
| Completion | state examination under section 10 PsychThG | Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, notes (16 April 2026) |
| Licensure | application to the competent authority | Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, notes (16 April 2026) |
| Further training after licensure | five years | Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, notes (16 April 2026) |
The notes state the duration in years, not semesters. Whether your degree leads onto this training depends on the programme at your university.
Which Occupational Pictures Must the Contract Distinguish?
Licensed psychotherapists work in conversation with patients, often in individual sessions requiring high concentration and responsibility. Psychologists without licensure work in research, human resources, market research, counselling or administration, with a different strain profile. For disability cover it matters that the two routes do not describe the same occupation. A contract that says “psychologist” leaves open whether the therapeutic activity is meant.
Stiftung Warentest advises that in degrees with many job options it should be possible to state the target profession in the contract (press release of 21 August 2018, in German). Here that advice carries particular weight. Record in writing which occupational picture you mean, and whether a later move between the two changes the classification.
What Is Special About Health Questions in Psychology Studies?
The duty of disclosure under section 19 VVG (in German) is the same for every subject; only questions in text form count. What is special is the subject matter: questionnaires often cover mental illness, psychotherapy and counselling, within periods that each insurer sets itself. If you dealt with personal issues during your studies, for example at a counselling service, check carefully whether the questionnaire covers those contacts.
Answer every question fully and exactly as it is put. Counselling is not the same as treatment; the wording decides whether it falls under the question. If you are not sure of the answer, ask before signing. More on cover for psychotherapy during studies: private health insurance and psychotherapy.
What Does an Anonymous Risk Enquiry Achieve?
In a risk enquiry an intermediary asks several insurers, without giving your name, whether and on what terms they would accept you. The result indicates what to expect before an application leaves traces in the records. It is worth considering when treatment lies in the past and it is unclear how it will be assessed. Academycon offers a personal consultation on this: How we work.
What Influences the Premium in Psychology Studies?
We do not state premiums of individual insurers. According to Stiftung Warentest, age and health strongly affect the price. An early start is therefore usually cheaper, but with existing conditions it can bring surcharges or exclusions. The cost logic and the right starting point are in the general guide.
Example. Assumption: a contract excluding mental illness costs less than one without the exclusion. In a claim the exclusion would affect exactly the area in which psychologists are often strained because of their work. The lower premium and the extent of cover must therefore be assessed together.
What Happens After Your Studies?
After the state examination you apply for licensure with the competent authority. The five-year further training follows, as described in the Bezirksregierung’s notes. During that time you are usually employed, and the contract should clearly cover the activity. Anyone who later works in a practice of their own needs to check whether the contract includes self-employment. Related questions for another degree with a state career are covered in the guide on disability insurance for teaching students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is psychotherapy my target profession if I study psychology?
That depends on the programme. The notes on the new law describe a route to licensure; whether your degree provides for it you clarify with the university.
Do I have to state earlier counselling sessions?
Only if the questionnaire asks. Counselling is not automatically treatment; the wording in text form decides (section 19 para. 1 VVG).
What happens if I forgot an answer?
Whether withdrawal is possible depends on how the breach is assessed: intentional, grossly negligent or slightly negligent (section 19 VVG). Contact the insurer promptly and have the correction confirmed in writing.
Is the enquiry worthwhile without a prior condition?
It is mainly worthwhile when you are unsure about past treatment. Without anything unusual the application can be made directly.
What to Do Now
- Clarify with the university whether your degree leads to licensure.
- Decide which occupational picture the contract should describe.
- Review past counselling and treatment and consider an anonymous risk enquiry.
- Compare tariffs on exclusions and total cost.
Related Reading
- Disability Insurance for Students: Costs and Start
- Pharmacy practical year: insurance and career paths
- Private Health Insurance and Psychotherapy: Costs
- Teacher Disability Insurance: Occupational vs. Inability to Serve
Sources: Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, state examination office for medicine, psychotherapy and pharmacy, notes on the programme under the new law (in German) (16 April 2026); Insurance Contract Act section 19 (in German) (accessed October 2026); Stiftung Warentest, press release on disability cover for trainees and students (in German) (21 August 2018).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
