PhysioCum Laude

What PhysioCum Laude does

PhysioCum Laude e.K. (PCL) is a state-recognized private vocational school for physiotherapy located on the third floor of Eduardus-Krankenhaus at Custodisstraße 3–17 in Cologne, Germany. Founded in 1995 by Hubert Döpfer and legally structured as a sole proprietorship (e.K., HRA 31272, Amtsgericht Köln), it delivers a three-year, six-semester full-time Ausbildung comprising 4,500 hours of theoretical and clinical instruction, capped at 24 students per cohort. The school is a member of the broader Döpfer Group, alongside ErgoCum Laude (ergotherapy), HSD Hochschule Döpfer (university), Döpfer Akademie (continuing education), and Döpfer International, which gives PCL access to dual vocational-academic study pathways (B.Sc. Angewandte Therapiewissenschaften, B.Sc. Physiotherapie via THIM Utrecht) and a continuing-education catalog spanning manual therapy, sports physiotherapy, animal physiotherapy and taping.

The core Ausbildung is tuition-free (schulgeldfrei) under German vocational-training rules; revenue is generated instead by a one-time 360 EUR exam fee, charges for work clothing and teaching materials, and tuition on supplementary modules. Two additional regulated revenue lines extend the platform: the Anpassungslehrgang (Anpassungsqualifizierung) for internationally trained physiotherapists pursuing German recognition, and a six-month HZA-certified preparation course for the Kenntnisprüfung Pflege, both funded via Bildungsgutschein issued by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit. The school's AZAV certification (Certuria, DAkkS-accredited) and state recognition (Bezirksregierung Köln, per PhysTh-APrV / MPhG) are the regulatory entitlements that make the voucher-funded streams viable and the diplomas EU-equivalent.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: prospective students apply through the website's online portal, with year-round intake culminating in a September 1 academic start, supported by on-site Infotage (information events) and Schnupperunterricht (trial lessons), plus organic social presence on Instagram and Facebook. Practical training is delivered through a network of 12+ named partner hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and therapy practices across NRW and beyond. The firm operates with 1–10 employees and is not publicly listed; no funding rounds, M&A activity, or revenue figures are disclosed.

Name

PhysioCum Laude

Legal name

PhysioCum Laude e.K.

Website

https://pcl-koeln.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PhysioCum Laude is a Cologne-based, state-recognized private vocational school (sole proprietorship, est. 1995) that trains cohorts of 24 physiotherapists per three-year Ausbildung and runs regulated adaptation and nursing-exam prep courses, all anchored in the Döpfer Group's university and continuing-education ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Healthcare Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Phlebotomy & Specimen Collection (EDAOAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD)

Keywords

• Physiotherapy vocational training
• Healthcare education services
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing medical education
• International qualification recognition

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vocational Training in Physiotherapy: State-recognized 3-year full-time vocational training program in physiotherapy. Training is tuition-free (schulgeldfrei), with revenue generated through one-time exam fees of 360 EUR and charges for work clothing and teaching materials.
2. Adaptive Courses for International Therapists: Adaptive courses for internationally trained physiotherapists seeking professional recognition in Germany. Includes theoretical-practical instruction and practical training at partner facilities.
3. Preparation Courses for Knowledge Examination: Six-month certified preparation courses for knowledge examinations in nursing and therapy, funded through education vouchers from the Federal Employment Agency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PhysioCum Laude is a state-recognized private vocational school for physiotherapy offering a three-year (six-semester) full-time training program totaling 4,500 hours of theoretical and practical instruction. The program is tuition-free, capped at 24 students per cohort, and includes integrated practical phases at partner healthcare facilities plus optional dual study pathways with partner universities. Complementary offerings include adaptation courses for internationally trained therapists and HZA-certified exam preparation courses for nursing professionals.

Product overview

PhysioCum Laude is a state-recognized private vocational school for physiotherapy located in Cologne, Germany. The institution operates a unified educational platform offering a three-year physiotherapy training program as its core product, supplemented by international adaptation courses for foreign therapists, exam preparation courses for nursing professionals, and continuing education modules. The school also facilitates access to dual study programs through partnerships with HSD Hochschule Döpfer and THIM University in the Netherlands. Programs are delivered through classroom instruction, practical clinical training at partner facilities, and block-model continuing education courses. The institution is AZAV-certified enabling education voucher funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physiotherapie-Ausbildung (Physiotherapy Training Program) State-recognized three-year (six-semester) full-time vocational training program totaling 4,500 hours of theoretical and practical instruction, covering anatomy, physiology, pathology, massage, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and physiotherapy methods. Class sizes limited to 24 students per cohort; tuition-free with 360 EUR exam fee. Leads to state-recognized physiotherapist qualification equivalent across the EU.
• Anpassungslehrgang (Adaptation Course for International Therapists) Certified adaptation program for internationally trained physiotherapists seeking professional recognition in Germany. Provides individualized theoretical-practical instruction based on Bezirksregierung requirements and supervised clinical practice. Fundable through Bildungsgutschein from the Federal Employment Agency.
• Vorbereitungskurs zur Kenntnisprüfung Pflege (Preparation Course for Knowledge Examination in Nursing) Six-month HZA-certified preparation course for international nursing professionals preparing for the official knowledge examination in nursing care. Delivered in a block model alternating between classroom instruction and practical training. Fundable through Bildungsgutschein from the Federal Employment Agency.
• B.Sc. Angewandte Therapiewissenschaften (Dual Study Program with HSD Hochschule Döpfer) Dual study program offered in cooperation with HSD Hochschule Döpfer combining the vocational physiotherapy training with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Therapy Sciences over nine semesters, enabling students to obtain both a vocational qualification and a university degree.
• B.Sc. Physiotherapie (Dual Study Program with THIM Netherlands) Dual study program in cooperation with THIM University in Utrecht, Netherlands, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy alongside the German vocational training program, accessible via Döpfer International.
• Fort- und Weiterbildung (Continuing Education) Continuing education offerings provided through partner Döpfer Akademie including manual therapy, manual lymph drainage, sports physiotherapy, fitness training, animal physiotherapy, and taping courses for PCL students and international professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• State-recognized diploma equivalent to other EU countries

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HSD Hochschule DöpfercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner offering dual study programs combining vocational training with bachelor's degrees (B.Sc. Angewandte Therapiewissenschaften and B.A. Medizinpädagogik). Enables students to obtain both vocational qualification and university degree.
• THIM (Therapeutic Institute for Higher Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch university partner in Utrecht offering B.Sc. Physiotherapie through Döpfer International. Allows students to obtain international bachelor's degree alongside German vocational qualification.
• ErgoCum Laude (ECL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for ergotherapy, sharing campus facilities and promoting interdisciplinary thinking between physiotherapy and occupational therapy students.
• Döpfer AkademiecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContinuing education provider offering additional courses for PCL students (manual therapy, lymphatic drainage, etc.) and international professionals.
• Therapie am RotkreuzplatzminorOthersPhysiotherapy practice as cooperation partner for practical training placements.
• Therapiezentrum DüsseldorfminorOthersPhysiotherapy center partnership for student internship placements.
• Therapiezentrum EßkuchenminorOthersPhysiotherapy center partnership for student internship placements.
• Therapie in der Residenz am DomminorOthersPhysiotherapy center partnership for student internship placements.
• Logopädie im WestendminorOthersSpeech therapy practice cooperation partner.
• Logopädie in RheineminorOthersSpeech therapy practice cooperation partner.
• Eduardus-KrankenhauscoreOthersHospital housing the school facilities at Custodisstraße 3-17, providing proximity to healthcare environment for training.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Döpfer Schulen: Sister organization within the Döpfer Group, operating multiple private vocational schools for therapy and healthcare professions across Germany. Directly comparable in mission (state-recognized vocational training in therapy), regulatory positioning (AZAV-certified), and partnership structure, and serves the same target market of prospective therapy students.
• Döpfer Akademie: Sister continuing education provider under the Döpfer Group umbrella, delivering manual therapy, lymphatic drainage, sports physiotherapy, fitness training, and other specialized courses. Directly comparable to PCL's continuing education revenue stream and shares the same student/customer base of practicing physiotherapists seeking post-qualification development.
• HSD Hochschule Döpfer: Sister university within the Döpfer Group, offering B.Sc. Angewandte Therapiewissenschaften and other therapy-focused degree programs in cooperation with PCL. Functions as both a partner and a partial competitor, especially as Germany's physiotherapy training debates increasingly favor academic-degree pathways.
• ErgoCum Laude (ECL): Sister school sharing the same Köln campus under the Döpfer Group umbrella, offering state-recognized vocational training in occupational therapy. Operates with the same regulatory framework, cohort structure, and AZAV/HZA funding access as PCL, and addresses an overlapping student persona interested in therapy careers.

Broad incumbents

• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: Part of the SRH group, one of Germany's largest private education providers, offering applied health and therapy degree programs (B.Sc. Physiotherapy) alongside other healthcare education. Comparable to PCL in the therapy training space, particularly competing for students considering PCL's dual-study pathways with HSD and THIM.
• Bernd Blindow Schulen: Large German private vocational education group operating state-recognized Berufsfachschulen for physiotherapy, ergotherapy, and other healthcare professions across multiple cities. Comparable to PCL in regulatory positioning and target student base, but with materially larger scale, broader program portfolio, and more distributed footprint.
• Carl Remigius Medical School: Private, state-recognized higher education institution offering vocational and academic programs in physiotherapy and other therapy professions in Germany. Comparable to PCL in regulatory positioning and student target market, with a broader geographic footprint across multiple campuses.
• IB Hochschule für Gesundheit und Soziales: Part of the IB Group, offering state-recognized vocational training and dual study programs in physiotherapy, ergotherapy, nursing, and other healthcare fields. Competes directly with PCL in the German healthcare vocational education market, with a broader multi-site network and additional corporate training offerings.
• Medical School Hamburg (MSH): Private, state-recognized university in Hamburg offering bachelor's and master's programs in physiotherapy, ergotherapy, and other health professions, plus associated vocational schools. Overlaps with PCL on physiotherapy education and competes for the same student segment, particularly those seeking academic-degree pathways rather than pure vocational training.
• Ludwig Fresenius Schulen: One of Germany's largest private vocational school groups, part of Fresenius SE, offering state-recognized training across physiotherapy, ergotherapy, nursing, and other healthcare professions nationwide. Directly competes with PCL in physiotherapy vocational training, but at significantly greater scale, multi-site footprint, and brand reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PhysioCumLaude
• Instagraminstagram.com/physio_ergo_cumlaude
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/physiocum-laude

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PhysioCum Laude