Career change as a naturopath (Heilpraktiker)

Career change paths

• Lecturer at a Heilpraktiker school

  Also: Course leader for health education

  With on-the-job training

  At Heilpraktiker schools, adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) or training providers, you teach future Heilpraktiker (alternative practitioners) or give courses on health and naturopathy.

  What you bring:

  You know anatomy, pathology and naturopathic methods from training and practice and can teach them clearly.

  How to get there:

  Heilpraktiker schools usually use experienced practitioners as freelance lecturers. A course in teaching methods lasting a few weeks helps you get started. This route fits well alongside a practice of your own.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,166gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Editor for health topics

  Also: Medical journalist

  With on-the-job training

  As an editor, you write for health portals, trade publishers, customer magazines or pharmacy magazines and check content for factual accuracy.

  What you bring:

  You can explain health topics clearly and know what questions patients really ask.

  How to get there:

  Publishers and portals often take on experts with writing talent as freelance authors or through a traineeship (Volontariat). Writing courses and samples help you get started. Expect newsrooms to demand scientifically supported statements.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,728gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Customer advisor at a health insurance fund

  Also: Benefits clerk

  With on-the-job training

  At a health insurance fund, you advise insured people, review applications for benefits such as rehabilitation, aids or home nursing care, and work with doctors and service providers.

  What you bring:

  You know medical conditions, treatments and aids and can explain clearly to insured people what to expect.

  How to get there:

  Health insurance funds train career changers with health knowledge on the job in social law and software, often with internal courses over several months. For a longer-term career, the funds also offer internal further training.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Wellness masseur

  Also: Staff member in the spa and wellness area

  With on-the-job training

  In hotels, thermal spas and spas, you give wellness massages, baths and packs, advise guests on products and keep the area in order.

  What you bring:

  You know herbs, oils and treatments for well-being and treat people mindfully.

  How to get there:

  Private schools offer courses in wellness massage, and the duration depends on the provider; hotels and thermal spas then train you in their offer. You may not treat illnesses: that requires a licence as a doctor, a permit as an alternative practitioner (Heilpraktiker) or, as a masseur or physiotherapist, a doctor's prescription.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,174gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Nature and landscape guide

  Also: Environmental educator in a nature park

  With on-the-job training

  As a nature and landscape guide, you lead hikes, herb tours and workshops for guests, school classes and families.

  What you bring:

  You know wild plants, herbs and their uses and can pass on your knowledge vividly.

  How to get there:

  The certificate course to become a certified nature and landscape guide (Zertifizierte/r Natur- und Landschaftsführer/in), about 70 hours with an exam, is offered by the state nature conservation academies, often together with nature parks and spread over several weekends. The work is often freelance or part-time, with a focus on the summer months.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors
  View job

• Specialist consultant at a health food store (Reformhaus)

  Also: Sales assistant in natural food retail

  With on-the-job training

  In a health food store (Reformhaus), organic shop or drugstore, you advise on natural products, look after the range and work as an employee without needing a practice of your own.

  What you bring:

  You know herbs, teas, natural cosmetics and dietary supplements and can advise customers well.

  How to get there:

  Specialist shops train you in the store, and health food stores have their own training courses for specialist consulting. You may not treat illnesses or promise healing here either.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,155gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Nutrition counselor

  Also: Course leader for nutrition and weight loss

  With further training

  As a nutrition counselor, you support individuals or groups with weight loss, intolerances or healthy eating, in your own practice, for training providers or in companies.

  What you bring:

  You advise people on lifestyle, nutrition and health and know common medical conditions.

  How to get there:

  The title of nutrition counselor (Ernährungsberater) is not protected, but solid further training makes sense; how long it takes depends on the provider. For prevention courses that health insurance funds subsidize, the Central Prevention Testing Office (Zentrale Prüfstelle Prävention) checks your qualification against professional minimum standards. In the field of nutrition, you need a state-recognized vocational or university qualification for this, for example in dietetics (Diätassistenz) or nutrition science (Ökotrophologie).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
  View job

• Pharmaceutical sales representative (Pharmareferent)

  Also: Pharmaceutical advisor for natural medicines

  With further training

  In a manufacturer's field service, you present medicines to doctors, Heilpraktiker and pharmacies, explain how they work and how to use them, and organize further training.

  What you bring:

  You know medicinal plants, homeopathic and naturopathic preparations and know what practices and pharmacies need.

  How to get there:

  Anyone who informs health professionals about medicines as their main job needs the legally required expertise. Without a suitable degree, you get it through the exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) to become a certified pharmaceutical sales representative (Geprüfter Pharmareferent). The preparatory course comprises about 1,000 teaching hours as a guideline. You are admitted with recognized vocational training in a medical, scientific, health or commercial field plus two years of practice, or with five years of relevant work experience. The Heilpraktiker license is not a vocational qualification, so the IHK decides case by case.*Regulated by law (Medicinal Products Act (AMG) § 75).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Course leader for relaxation techniques

  Also: Yoga teacher

  With further training

  As a course leader, you give courses in yoga, progressive muscle relaxation or autogenic training in studios, adult education centers, companies or your own rooms.

  What you bring:

  You know body awareness, breathing and relaxation techniques and accompany people with stress and physical complaints.

  How to get there:

  Certified course leader training takes anywhere from a few weekends to over a year, depending on the method. The central certification office of the health insurance funds checks whether your prior training is recognized for prevention courses that the funds subsidize. Without recognition, you can offer courses for self-payers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €2,910gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau or Pflegefachmann)

  Also: Registered nurse in a hospital

  With vocational training

  As a registered nurse, you care for patients in hospital, elderly care or outpatient care, carry out medical orders and plan care.

  What you bring:

  You have basic medical knowledge and experience in dealing with the sick.

  How to get there:

  You need the generalist nursing training (generalistische Pflegeausbildung), which takes three years full-time and at most five years part-time. The responsible authority decides case by case, on application, whether prior knowledge is credited and shortens the training. There are also part-time positions.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG) § 1).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,421gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Prevention counselor

  Also: Health counselor in workplace health management

  With further training

  At health insurance funds, health service providers or in companies, you plan health days, courses and counseling services and evaluate them.

  What you bring:

  You know the connections between stress, exercise, nutrition and health and can motivate people toward a healthier everyday life.

  How to get there:

  Employers usually expect further training in workplace health management (betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement) at chambers or training providers, which takes a few months alongside work. At health insurance funds, such positions often also require a degree in the health field.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,955gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Pharmaceutical-technical assistant (PTA)

  With further training

  As a PTA in a pharmacy, you make ointments, teas and formulations, check medicines and advise customers under the supervision of the pharmacist.

  What you bring:

  You know medicinal plants, their active substances and preparations and like to advise people on health questions.

  How to get there:

  You train at a vocational school for PTA (Berufsfachschule), with 2 years of school and half a year of internship in a pharmacy. Admission is usually with an intermediate school certificate. Depending on the federal state and school, tuition fees may apply, and funding through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter approves it.*Regulated by law (PTA Professions Act (PTAG) §§ 1, 10, 11).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,300gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Masseur and medical bath attendant (Masseur und medizinischer Bademeister)

  With further training

  As a masseur and medical bath attendant, you treat patients on a doctor's prescription with massages, lymphatic drainage, baths and heat treatments.

  What you bring:

  You like working with your hands and with people and know wraps, baths and treatments from natural medicine.

  How to get there:

  You train at a state-recognised school: a 2-year course ending with a state exam, followed by half a year of practical work. Admission is with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) or completed vocational training of at least one year. Depending on the federal state and school, tuition fees may apply.*Regulated by law (Masseur and Physiotherapist Act (MPhG) §§ 1, 4, 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,435gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Medical assistant (Medizinische/r Fachangestellte/r)

  With retraining

  As a medical assistant, you receive patients in doctors' or natural medicine practices, assist with examinations, draw blood and handle billing and appointments.

  What you bring:

  You are interested in health and can deal with patients in a friendly and calm way.

  How to get there:

  You train to become a medical assistant, 3 years, or about 2 years as retraining (Umschulung), with an exam at the medical association (Ärztekammer).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,270gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.