Executive Summary:
The OT Around The World (OTAW) program is a professional, holistic program, that helps Occupational Therapists from all countries and walks of life to find work and immigrate to Germany. To this day, more than 16 OTs from countries, such as Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Iran, India, Philippines, have found work in Germany through our help. OTAW includes finding an employer, managing the recognition of your OT-qualifications, a professional, 1:1 German language course, and management of the visa process. The typical time duration from starting the program to starting work in Germany is 9 months. The OT Around The World program is a program by Hire Worldwide, a company providing job coaching and recruitment services for the acquisition of specialized talent to clients in Germany, Canada, USA and Vietnam.
Steps & Program Timeline:
Important Information:
How long does it take until I can go to Germany?
The average program duration is 36 weeks (9 months). It may be as fast as 6 months, or as long as 12 months. The major factors determining how long it takes for you to start in Germany are:
1. The time it takes you to get to B1 level German,
2. The time it takes you to collect and prepare your documents for recognition, and
3. How quickly the recognition department processes your application
Should your process take longer, don’t worry, we will stay with you until you are in Germany and have started your employment. Even then, you can always reach out to us for ongoing support.
Can I hear from an OT that has done this program?
Yes. Please find below a detailed 45-minute video interview with an OT from Greece who learned German, immigrated, got her recognition and is now working in Germany as a pediatric OT.
What are the salaries in Germany?
The average OT salary for clinics in our program is 3.100€. It will vary based on experience, role and of course, the clinic. This is a gross salary (“brutto”). The net (“netto”) salary will be approximately 2.100€.
What about taxes (“brutto/netto”) and health insurance?
A detailed briefing on taxes and health insurance will be provided to you in one of our 1:1 weekly progress-check meetings. For now, just be aware that you are automatically health insured through your employment contract. Approximately 1.000€ will be deducted from your monthly gross (“brutto”) salary and it will cover health insurance, taxes, unemployment insurance, pension and care insurance. You receive the net pay (“netto”) on your bank account every month.
What if I am not happy with my clinic in Germany – Can I switch?
Switching clinics is possible, though difficult. We want to offer you the program for the lowest fee possible and for this, we must enter agreements with clinic owners that support you in your journey of going to Germany. They are both financially contributing, as well as with their time for regular check-ins with you, as well as through assistance in finding an apartment. They have a long waiting period and pre-investment until you start in their clinic. Once you are there they invest in onboarding and training you, as well as support you in getting your full recognition papers as an OT (health check, background check, possible training measures). So, it would be very bad if you were to leave their clinic within a short time. Of course, no one expects you to work in a place where you do not feel comfortable, so changing clinics is possible. The details depend on the individual employment contract you have, as some clinics require a minimum stay. The best action we can take is to prevent that you are starting at a clinic that is not a good match for you. Therefore we get to know you and your work style before introducing you to any employer. All employers undergo the same vetting process, so we can ensure that all clinics that are introduced to you, are professional, successful Occupational Therapy businesses with a good reputation.
What does life as an OT in Germany look like?
Germany has one of the best health care systems in the world and that extends to occupational therapy. There is a high demand for OTs, due to many patients being on waiting lists. Sometimes children wait up to 3 years for pediatric treatment! In private practices, which are the ones we work with, generally patients from all treatment areas are treated and OTs can focus on 1-2 areas of specialization.
What are the requirements to join this program?
Most importantly, you must have a genuine passion to work as an OT in a high-paced clinic environment treating about 6-8 patients per day. You should have a strong interest in further development as OT in one of the best health care systems in the world and be excited to embark on the adventure/challenge of learning a new language and setting up a second home in a new country. You should want to stay in Germany for a minimum of 2 years. The financial aspect of earning a higher salary is important for almost all our applicants, however it should not be your main motivation. Having a driver’s license is helpful to be able to do outpatient visits. Flexibility in what patients you are treating is valuable for the clinic owner, because this allows you to become an essential team member that keeps the practice running – the kind of patients that apply are not in the control of the clinic, so it is helpful if you are flexible. Typically, OTs have one main area (e.g. 80% pediatric treatment) and a secondary area (e.g. 20% neurological patients).
Can I work anywhere in Germany?
Yes. We work with clinics all across Germany. You have free choice in which clinic you want to apply to. Should you want to work for one particular clinic that we do not yet work with, you have our full support for this as well. We will establish contact with the clinic owner and open negotiations on your behalf.
How can I find an apartment in Germany and how much does it cost?
An apartment in Germany for 1 person will cost about 450€ – 800€ – mainly depending on location and size. A room in a shared flat will be around 350€ – 600€. We will assist you in finding housing.
What are the cost of living in Germany?
One of the biggest expenses is rent, which are described above. Food is another big expense – assuming a routine around primarily home-cooked meals, and occasional restaurant visits, you should plan for around 450€ food budget per month. The Deutschlandticket makes travel in and between German cities with the public train network “Deutsche Bahn” inexpensive and widely accessible.
Is there ongoing support once I’m in Germany?
Yes. We will stay in close contact with you, especially in the first 3 months after your arrival in Germany and offer our assistance in adapting to the new culture. This includes guidance on topics such as important nuances in German social situations, how to make German friends, how to connect with other expats, how to travel around Germany and even a guide on Germany has one of the best health care systems in the world and that includes occupational therapy. There currently is a high demand for good OTs. There are many patients on waiting lists. Salaries are about 3.100€ / month, sometimes lower for beginners and higher for more experienced OTs, especially those that take on leadership positions. In private practices, patients of all treatment areas are treated. There is also OT in hospitals and rehab clinics.
Official Sources:
We understand that going abroad can seem scary. To give you more certainty, we have listed official sources below, so you can verify all information that we’ve given you regarding the process of going to Germany as an OT yourself. We deal with the DVE (Deutscher Verband für Ergotherapie – German OT association), municipal governments, recognition departments, official German translators, as well as embassies on a regular basis. We don’t receive any funding from them. We believe in equal opportunity – no matter where you’re from, in the OTAW program everyone is treated the same. We move as fast as possible to create progress in your journey to Germany. We follow up regularly on your application/process status, we work on weekends, we are available to you 7 days per week and we use modern technology to keep overhead and costs low. This wouldn’t be possible as a governmental agency. This is why we work with the government, not for them.
Here are some of the most important, official websites that cover the German immigration process for international professionals:
