The SystCert certificate for systemic consultants

Certification is carried out by recognized certification bodies based on the following criteria:

Professional aptitude

1.1 Academic degree and at least 1 year of professional experience in the context of counseling
or
1.2 Completed vocational training in the psychosocial, educational, or healing field and at least 1 year of professional experience in the context of counseling
or
1.3 Completed vocational training in any field plus completed advanced training* and at least 1 year of professional experience in the context of counseling 
or
1.4 Completed vocational training in any field and at least 4 years of professional experience in the context of counseling. 

Completed systemic training courses

2.1. t least one successfully completed training course in systemic counseling. The minimum requirements for this training are listed below.

SystCert final examination

Depending on professional qualifications, training institute, and existing association recognition, this is carried out as follows:

3.1 Issuance of an equivalent certificate without further examination under the transitional arrangement until December 31, 2028, if the continuing education qualification has already been certified by one of the following systemic associations: DGSF; SG or DGSP **
or 
3.2 Document review of entry requirements and systemic training qualification if the systemic training was completed in a SystCert-recognized training program
or
3.3 Oral competency assessment in addition to the document review (see point 3.2) lasting at least 30 minutes online or in person based on a case report submitted during the training. (for a non-recognized training institute)

When the certificate is issued, the specialist area covered in the systemic training is also entered as the main focus of work.

Special needs

If the criteria for ‘professional competence’ and the minimum requirements for ‘completed systemic training’ are not met, an application for special needs can be submitted, provided that the processing of the application is reasonable for the certification body. The certification body is entitled to impose additional requirements for the issuance of a certificate and to charge an expense-based fee for the additional work involved.

*e.g., IHK certificates, master craftsman's examination

** DGSF: German Society for Systemic Therapy, Counseling, and      
  Family Therapy e.V.
  SG: Systemic Society e.V.
  DGSP: German Society for Systemic Pedagogy e.V.

The following minimum requirement applies for SystCert certification:

A total training scope of 570 teaching units (TU), of which 420 TU must consist of synchronous instruction.

The synchronous instruction must include a balanced proportion of theory and methodology, professional reflection (at least 50 TU), and supervision (at least 70 TU), and must comprise at least 80 TU of in-person attendance.

Time spent on intervision, video-based learning, literature study, and counseling practice may be credited in addition to the synchronous instruction.

Furthermore, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• 1 case presentation during training — conducted live or through a video or audio excerpt
• 2 case reports recognized by the training institute, documenting completed counseling processes with a description of their progression**
• 1 reflective report on the participant’s systemic personal development throughout the course of the training**

Completed core training programs are recorded on the SystCert certificate as corresponding fields of expertise.

3–Pathways to the SystCert Specialist Certificate

The training requirements for the SystCert Specialist Certificate can be fulfilled through the following options:

• A multi-year comprehensive training program that covers the entire scope of required training, or
• 2 core trainings of at least one year, or
• at least one year of core training combined with additional training modules.

Comprehensive Training Program

The comprehensive training program meets the minimum training requirements described above within a single course of study.
It is recorded on the SystCert certificate as a specialization or field of expertise.

Core Training Program

The core component consists of the successful completion of a curricular systemic training program with a minimum duration of one year and comprising at least 300 teaching units (TU). Of these, 200 TU must be conducted as synchronous instruction, with at least 40 TU delivered in person.

In addition, one case report recognized by the training institute, documenting a completed counseling process with a description of its progression; and one reflection report on the participant’s systemic personal development during the training have to be delivered.

The completed core training program is recorded on the SystCert certificate as a field of expertise.

Supplementary Training Modules

The difference between the required total training scope and the completed core training may be demonstrated through freely selectable training activities (such as seminars, advanced courses, or continuing education programs) that are thematically related to the field of expertise of the core training program.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The minimum overall training requirement for systemic training, as described above, must be fulfilled in total.

Supplementary training modules can only be recognized after the start of the core training. (Exception: curricular training modules comprising at least 200 teaching units (TU) of synchronous instruction.)

Additional fields of expertise may be added to the SystCert certificate either concurrently or at a later stage.

* TU = training unit of 45 minutes
** Alternatively, a fee-based examination by SQCert can be taken if the training institute does not offer this service.

The fields of expertise of systemic therapists are complex and also vary greatly in terms of target groups and assignment contexts. For this reason, competencies should be classified according to areas of specialization, similar to medical professionals with their specialist training.

The main areas of systemic activity are categorized as follows and are entered according to the training course completed:

• Systemic Counseling, focus: psychosocial counseling
• Systemic Counseling, focus on counseling in the context of the working world
• Systemic Couples Counseling
• Systemic Trauma Counseling
• Systemic Grief Counseling
• Systemic Therapy*
• Systemic Sex Therapy*
• Systemic Child and Adolescent Therapy*
• Systemic Hypnotherapy*
• Systemic Constellation Work
• Systemic Group Dynamics
• Systemic Supervision
• Systemic Corporate Management
• Systemic Coaching
• Systemic Organizational Development
• Systemic Mediation
• Systemic Health Coaching
• Systemic Expert Practice in Family and Child Law
• Systemic Pedagogy

A description of the minimum training requirements can be found in the section “Minimum Scope of Training.”

*Recognition in these training programs requires prior SystCert eligibility for certification as a systemic practitioner.

Recognition of Counseling Association Certificates

Our mission is to acknowledge competencies, regardless of the training path through which they were acquired. Therefore, the following equivalency rules apply:

• Certificates issued by the systemic professional associations DGSF, SG, and DGSP are fully recognized and lead to immediate recognition as a systemic consultant, including the registration of the field of expertise corresponding to the completed training program. Only the certification fee is payable.
• Certificates from the professional association DGfS “Systemic Constellation Work” are also fully recognized. Any missing training units (TU) required to meet the minimum systemic training requirement may be compensated through individual systemic seminars. Following completion, certification as a systemic consultant is granted, with a specialization in the field of Systemic Constellation Work.
• Certificates from the professional association DGSv “Supervision” are fully recognized, provided that the applicant can demonstrate explicit systemic content in their counseling training history equivalent to at least a core training (200 TU of synchronous instruction). Certification is then granted as a systemic consultant specializing in Systemic Supervision.

• Provided the corresponding conditions are met, specialized counseling competencies confirmed through association certificates in the following areas may also lead to SystCert certification as a systemic consultant:

  • Trauma Counseling – Association certificates issued by DeGPT and the Professional Association for Trauma Education and Counseling (Fachverband Traumapädagogik)
  • Grief Counseling – Association certificate issued by the Federal Association for Grief Counseling (Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung) - only the comprehensive training program
  • Group Dynamics – Association certificates issued by the DGGO (German Association for Group Dynamics and Organizational Dynamics), the ÖAGG (Austrian Association for Group Therapy and Group Dynamics), and the FNHW – CAS Team Dynamics
  • Mediation – Association certificate issued by the BM – Federal Association for Mediation (Bundesverband Mediation)

   

  These training programs are recognized as core training programs. Only an additional one-year systemic core training focusing on “Systemic Thinking and Action Principles” must be completed. Afterward, certification as a systemic practitioner is granted, with specializations in both completed fields of expertise.

A review of professional suitability is always required for certification applications submitted under items 2–4.

Additional counseling associations that will enable an easier pathway to certification as a systemic consultant with field specialization are currently under review and will be approved shortly by the Scientific Advisory Board.

The SystCert certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue.

To ensure that certificate holders continue to provide advice in accordance with current professional standards, they must provide evidence of 50 TU* of continuing education units in a registered field of expertise during this period. For each additional field of expertise, a further 10* TU must be provided.

Proof of this is provided by certificates of participation showing that the holder has undergone further training in systemic content in their field of expertise. There are no restrictions on which provider this further training was attended with.

To renew the certificate, these certificates of participation must be uploaded by the applicant, and the new certificate will be sent automatically after verification.

* TU = training unit of 45 minutes

1. For applicants who have completed systemic training programs at institutes not recognized by SystCert, who do not hold an accredited association certificate, and who are therefore required to undergo an oral competency examination:

Initial certification: 
Certification including 1 field of expertise: € 999.00 
Each additional field of expertise: € 449.00

Extension certification:  € 349.00 per field of expertise:

2. For applicants who, on the basis of a recognized association certificate, have completed a SystCert-certified systemic core training and are only required to undergo a document review:

Initial certification: 
Certification including 1 field of expertise: € 299.00, 
Each additional field of expertise € 99.00

Extension certification: € 99.00 per field of expertise

3. For applicants who have completed systemic training (1 SystCert-certified program or 2 core training programs) at a training institute recognized by SystCert and are only required to undergo a document review:

Initial certification:
Certification including 1 field of expertise: € 199.00
Each additional field of expertise: € 99.00

Extension certification: € 99.00 per additional field of expertise

4. For applicants under the transitional arrangement for association certificates issued by DGSF, SG, and DGSP, requiring only a certificate check - valid until December 31, 2028:

No document review is required here; issuance is automated.

Initial certification including all fields of expertise: € 49.00

Extension certification per field of expertise: € 49.00

Renewal certification for 5 years at a time:

Renewal including 1 field of expertise: € 99.00, 
each additional field of expertise: € 49.00.
 

Additional service

If SQCert has to review case reports for recognition as part of the application process, an expert fee of € 200 per case report will be charged (only necessary if the training institute does not offer this service).

All prices include VAT.