The German pension scheme for psychotherapists (Versorgungswerk für Psychotherapeuten) is the old-age provision for chamber members. In North Rhine-Westphalia it is called PTV, the pension scheme of the Psychotherapeutenkammer NRW. The situation is special, because the statutory exemption from statutory pension insurance requires a chamber obligation that existed before 1995. This guide explains what applies to self-employed and employed psychotherapists and where the limits lie.
Short answer: Psychotherapists who are chamber members in North Rhine-Westphalia belong to the PTV. According to the chamber (March 2025), employed psychotherapists there cannot be exempt from statutory pension insurance. Contributions follow the bylaws of the scheme. Last updated: October 2026.
The Essentials at a Glance
- Responsibility: In North Rhine-Westphalia the PTV is the scheme for members of the Psychotherapeutenkammer NRW.
- Self-employed: Old-age provision is based on compulsory membership in the scheme.
- Employees: According to the chamber’s position paper (March 2025), exemption is not possible because the scheme was founded after the 1995 pension reform.
- Legal framework: Section 6 SGB VI requires a chamber obligation that already existed at the place of work before 1 January 1995.
- Contributions: The amount is not in the position paper but in the bylaws of the scheme.
Who Must Join the PTV?
The PTV describes itself as the old-age provision for psychotherapists in North Rhine-Westphalia who belong to the chamber. Compulsory membership is linked to chamber membership. If you are a member, the bylaws apply to you, and the chamber clarifies questions about membership in individual cases.
Employed or Self-Employed: What Applies to Your Pension?
For self-employed chamber members, the scheme is the intended old-age provision. For employees, the position is stricter. According to the chamber’s position paper (March 2025), employed psychotherapists cannot be exempt from statutory pension insurance in favour of the PTV. The chamber justifies this with the 1995 pension reform, which no longer provides this option for schemes founded later.
This fits the requirement in section 6(1) sentence 1 no. 1 letter a SGB VI, under which the chamber obligation must have existed at the place of work before 1 January 1995. Before taking any employment, check whether an exemption is possible at all.
| Situation | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Self-employed, chamber member in NRW | Compulsory member of the PTV | PTV position paper, March 2025 |
| Employed, chamber member in NRW | No exemption from statutory pension insurance according to the chamber | PTV position paper, March 2025 |
| Psychotherapist in another federal state | Rules of that state apply, ask the chamber | Section 6 SGB VI and state law |
| Contributions | Set by the bylaws of the scheme | Bylaws of the PTV |
How Is the Scheme Financed?
According to the position paper, the PTV is financed by member contributions and investment income, and no tax money is used. Benefits rest on full funding, meaning capital is saved rather than paid out of current contributions. Additional contributions during the saving phase increase the later pension, according to the paper. Because the paper promotes the advantages of this system, read the bylaws before you decide.
When Does the Scheme Fit, and When Not?
For self-employed psychotherapists in North Rhine-Westphalia, the scheme is the intended old-age provision, and the question of alternatives mainly concerns contributions and benefits. For employees hoping for an exemption, it does not fit, because the chamber says exemption is not possible. If you want to build your pension through the statutory pension insurance or may switch between the two routes, get your situation assessed first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be exempt from statutory pension insurance as an employed psychotherapist in NRW?
According to the chamber’s position paper (March 2025), no. The chamber justifies this with the 1995 pension reform. Before you decide, confirm the current legal position with the chamber and with the statutory pension insurance carrier.
Is there a PTV in other federal states?
No, the PTV is the scheme for North Rhine-Westphalia. According to the Bundestag research paper (June 2025), there is generally one scheme per federal state and profession. Ask the psychotherapists’ chamber of your state whether a scheme exists for you and how it works.
Do I need extra disability insurance?
Section 6 SGB VI requires contributions to secure benefits for reduced earning capacity. The bylaws set the level of these benefits. If you want extra cover, compare what a private disability insurance (in German) pays.
Where can I get reliable figures on contributions?
The contribution amount is in the bylaws of the PTV and not in the position paper. The law requires income-related contributions that take the contribution assessment ceiling into account. You can get the current bylaws and contribution rules directly from the scheme.
Next Steps
- Check with the psychotherapists’ chamber whether you are a member and which scheme applies.
- Request the current bylaws and contribution rules directly from the scheme.
- Before each employment, find out whether an exemption is possible and get the answer in writing.
- Compare the scheme with your pension provision through statutory pension insurance and with private options.
Related Guides
- Versorgungswerk für Tierärzte: Pflicht, Beitrag und Befreiung (in German)
- Versorgungswerk für Rechtsanwälte: Pflicht, Beitrag und Befreiung (in German)
- Versorgungswerk für Architekten: Pflicht, Beitrag und Befreiung (in German)
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany (English)
Sources: § 6 SGB VI, gesetze-im-internet.de (retrieved October 2026); PTV position paper, Psychotherapeutenkammer NRW (March 2025); German Bundestag Research Services, WD 6-3000-004/25 (30 June 2025).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
