When choosing a course to become a psychological counselor, it is worth paying attention to the details and recommendations of independent specialist institutions.
Michael Klitzsch
The Essentials in Brief
- The job title “Psychological Counselor” is not protected. Therefore, there is a large variance in the training in terms of duration, price and quality.
- There is a certificate from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for the completion of the further training “Psychological Counselor (IHK)”, not the state-recognized Chamber of Industry and Commerce professional qualification.
- When choosing a course to become a psychological counselor, it is worth paying attention to the details and recommendations of independent specialist institutions.
In Germany, anyone can theoretically call themselves a psychological counselor. The professional title is not protected – and that has consequences: Training as a psychological counselor is therefore not regulated by the state and varies greatly in quality, depth, duration, and price. They also do not bring a state-recognized professional qualification certificate.
This is important to note. Because during further training to become a “Psychological Advisor (IHK)” from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, you could quickly come up with this idea. After all, the public body representing the interests of all commercial companies in Germany awards the so-called IHK degrees for legally recognized training occupations. But the IHK certificate that comes at the end of further training to become a “Psychological Advisor (IHK)” has nothing to do with these qualifications.
Is there training as a psychological counselor at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce?
No, there isn’t in that sense. The psychological counselor with an IHK certificate is not an IHK training course, as there is for other legally recognized professions, but it is a non-state-regulated course that is offered by private providers in cooperation with the IHK. And in the end, with a certain participation rate, you usually receive an IHK certificate. This is not to be confused with an IHK test certificate, which you receive according to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG) after completing the test for a training occupation.
How recognized is the IHK certificate for psychological counselors?
You do not only receive an IHK certificate after completing a course to become a psychological counselor, it is available for numerous seminars/courses that are not state-regulated. The range of seminars offered by the IHK is very extensive and can be viewed on the website wis.ihk.de. Currently (as of November 2021) you can find over 86,000 entries under the search term “IHK certificate”. So there are numerous different seminars that advertise with an IHK certificate. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether this is actually a seal of quality for psychological counselors.
A problem that people who are interested in further training as a psychological counselor encounter: Unfortunately, there are quite dubious or qualitatively insufficient courses on the market. Getting to a course that is too short, incomplete in content, or too expensive – even a promised IHK certificate does not protect against this. Especially in a job like that of a psychological counselor, which primarily deals with sensitive issues and personal problems of the clients, it is important to strive for a well-rounded education.
That means taking a close look at the course structure and the content taught.
It is also worthwhile to consult independent training tests and certifications of the courses and to compare the offers with each other.
What alternatives to the IHK are there?
Even if the certificate from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce has little significance: there are definitely indications and seals of approval that say something about the quality of further training to become a psychological counselor. This includes cooperation, certification, or recommendations from professional associations. For example, the training center for therapeutic professions (btb.info), which also offers training for psychological counselors, cooperates with the German Society for Health and Prevention (DGGP). This training is also certified by the State Central Office for Distance Learning and tested by the Fachverein Quallianz eV.
Frequently asked questions about the training ” Psychological Counselor”
Is Psychological Counseling a recognized profession?
No, everyone in Germany can call themselves a psychological consultant, it is not a protected professional title. Accordingly, training to become a psychological counselor is not regulated by law.
How much does a training course to become a psychological counselor cost?
Total costs of around 1,300 to 3,000 euros must be expected for training as a psychological counselor, which means around 75 to 250 euros a month.
How long does a training course to become a psychological counselor take?
Approximately one to one and a half years must be allowed for the training. If the standard period of study is exceeded, a few months can usually be added free of charge.
