Prerequisites
The prerequisites for registration are personal suitability and reliability, theoretical and practical expertise, and professional liability insurance (Section 12 (1) RGD).
Theoretical expertise must be proven to the competent body by means of certificates. As a rule, practical expertise requires at least two years of professional practice under supervision or practical professional training. As a rule, twelve months of this must be spent in Germany in the case of the intended provision of debt collection services and 18 months in the case of the intended provision of pension consulting services.
If the applicant is authorized to provide debt collection services or pension consulting services or to exercise a comparable profession in a member state of the European Union, another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland, the expertise can also be proven by an adaptation course of at least six months. The prerequisite for this is that the applicant can present proof of training or qualification within the meaning of Art. 11 letter b, c, d, or e of the EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. The competent office will provide information on the details of this.
Processing time
The competent authority shall decide on an application for registration under the Legal Services Act no later than three months after receipt of all required application documents. In individual cases, the processing period may be extended if necessary.