17.1 What are regulated professions?

As a rule, many professions cannot be practised on the basis of a university degree alone, but are subject to a wide range of other requirements under professional licensing law. All of these professions are referred to as “regulated professions”. In everyday language, study programmes that (also) lead to these professions are often referred to in simplified terms as “regulated study programmes”, even though this glosses over nuances of meaning. The correct, albeit longer, term is “study programmes […] which also prepare students for a regulated profession” (Section 31 (3) sentence 1 MRVO).

For each regulated profession, there is a professional licensing body that is authorized to make binding statements about the professional qualification of the study programme in question.

An example: According to § 10ff. of the Seafarers’ Qualification Ordinance, a seafaring-related study programme can be designed in such a way that the degree is also assessed as a professional entrance examination for the officer’s career on merchant ships. In accordance with the Regulation, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency is the professional licensing authority.

It is not possible to provide an even remotely complete list in view of the professional, regional and structural diversity.

The respective legal regulations are decisive in determining whether a profession is regulated.