Association of Medical Professionals

The Verband medizinischer Fachberufe e.V. (vmf) — rendered in English as the Association of Medical Professionals — is a German trade union and professional association founded in 1963 as the Berufsverband der Arzthelferinnen (BdA). It represents the occupational interests of Medizinische Fachangestellte (medical assistants), Zahnmedizinische Fachangestellte (dental assistants), Tiermedizinische Fachangestellte (veterinary assistants), and, since 2010, employed dental technicians (Zahntechniker). The association is headquartered in Bochum and operates nationwide across Germany through four regional associations (Landesverbände Nord, West, Mitte-Ost, and Süd). The vmf combines the functions of a professional body and a trade union. It negotiates collective agreements (Tarifverträge), issues position papers and demands, provides legal advice to members, publishes specialist information across human medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, and dental technology, and organizes conferences and trainee days. Its collective bargaining partners include the Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Regelung der Arbeitsbedingungen der Arzthelferinnen/Medizinischen Fachangestellten (AAA) for medical assistants and the Bundesverband praktizierender Tierärzte e.V. (bpt) for veterinary assistants; collective agreements for dental assistants exist only in Hamburg, Westfalen-Lippe, Hessen, Niedersachsen, and Saarland. Founded by women for women, the association used exclusively female occupational titles until the 1990s. It adopted its current name following the introduction of new training regulations for dental assistants (2001) and for medical and veterinary assistants (1 August 2006). As an independent trade union, the vmf belongs to no umbrella organization. As of 2024, its leadership includes Stephanie Schreiber and Karin Becker-Oevermann as executive board chairs, with Hannelore König as president and Patricia Ley as vice-president. In 2023, roughly 692,000 people in Germany worked as medical and dental assistants, predominantly women, forming the second-largest group in the healthcare sector after nursing professions; around 24,000 veterinary assistants were employed subject to social insurance in 2024.

The Verband medizinischer Fachberufe e.V. (vmf) was founded in 1963 as the Berufsverband der Arzthelferinnen (BdA), a professional association for medical assistants. From its inception it was an organization founded by women for women, and until the 1990s it was customary within the association to use only the female occupational titles. In 1980 the association expanded its representation to include dental and veterinary assistants, and its name was extended to Berufsverband der Arzt-, Zahnarzt- und Tierarzthelferinnen e.V. (BdA). The association's history is closely tied to the development of the assistant professions themselves. The occupation of Arzthelferin emerged in the 1950s from the need of physicians to have staff with both medical and administrative knowledge. In 1965 the occupation was recognized as a two-year apprenticeship in some German states. With the introduction of the Berufsbildungsgesetz (Vocational Training Act) in 1969, training was transferred into the dual system. In 1986 a nationwide training regulation for Arzthelfer/-in came into force, making the occupation state-recognized and standardizing training at three years. For veterinary assistants, the Bayerische Landestierärztekammer issued training and examination guidelines in 1971, and a nationwide training regulation followed in 1986. For dental assistants, the occupation evolved from the "Empfangsfräulein des Zahnarztes" (1913) and the state-recognized "Sprechstundenhelferin beim Zahnarzt oder Dentisten" (1940) to the two-year apprenticeship "Zahnärztliche Helferin" in 1952, entering the dual system in 1969. Following German reunification, from 1991 the training regulations of 1986 were also applied in the new federal states. A major turning point came with new training regulations: for Zahnmedizinische Fachangestellte in 2001, and for Medizinische and Tiermedizinische Fachangestellte on 1 August 2006. These new occupational titles necessitated a renaming of the association, which adopted its current name, Verband medizinischer Fachberufe e.V. In 2008 the association gave itself a professional code (Berufsordnung) at its federal delegates' assembly. Since 2010 it has also represented employed dental technicians. In 2008 the association established four regional associations (Landesverbände Nord, West, Mitte-Ost, and Süd) covering all German states. As an independent trade union, the vmf belongs to no umbrella organization. It has concluded several collective agreements, including nationwide agreements for medical assistants with the AAA and for veterinary assistants with the bpt; agreements for dental assistants exist only in Hamburg, Westfalen-Lippe, Hessen, Niedersachsen, and Saarland.

• 2010

  Association begins representing employed dental technicians.

• 2008

  Association gives itself a professional code (Berufsordnung); four regional associations established.

• 2006

  New training regulations for Medizinische and Tiermedizinische Fachangestellte come into force on 1 August; association adopts current name.

• 2001

  New training regulation for Zahnmedizinische Fachangestellte (dental assistants).

• 1991

  Training regulations of 1986 applied in the new federal states.

• 1986

  Nationwide training regulation for Arzthelfer/-in comes into force; training standardized at three years.

• 1980

  Association expands to represent dental and veterinary assistants; renamed Berufsverband der Arzt-, Zahnarzt- und Tierarzthelferinnen e.V. (BdA).

• 1971

  Bayerische Landestierärztekammer issues training and examination guidelines for veterinary assistants.

• 1969

  Vocational Training Act (Berufsbildungsgesetz) transfers training into the dual system.

• 1965

  Occupation of Arzthelferin recognized as a two-year apprenticeship in some German states.

• 1963

  Founded as Berufsverband der Arzthelferinnen (BdA).

Independent German trade union and professional association for medical, dental, and veterinary assistants and employed dental technicians, combining collective bargaining with professional advocacy and member services.

• Collective agreements for medical assistants (MFA)

  Nationwide collective agreements with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft zur Regelung der Arbeitsbedingungen der Arzthelferinnen/Medizinischen Fachangestellten (AAA).

• Collective agreements for veterinary assistants (TFA)

  Nationwide collective agreements with the Bundesverband praktizierender Tierärzte e.V. (bpt).

• Collective agreements for dental assistants (ZFA)

  Regional collective agreements in Hamburg, Westfalen-Lippe, Hessen, Niedersachsen, and Saarland.

• Legal advice for members

  Legal advice service for members of the association.

• Salary calculators

  Salary calculators for medical, veterinary, and dental assistants.

• Professional publications and information packages

  Specialist information in human medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, and dental technology.

1. 1Startseite – Verband medizinischer Fachberufe e.V.vmf-online.de
2. 2Berufsgeschichte - Medizinische/r Fachangestellte/rvmf-online.de
3. 3Berufsgeschichte - Tiermedizinische/r Fachangestellte/rvmf-online.de
4. 4Berufsgeschichte - Zahnmedizinische/r Fachangestellte/rvmf-online.de
5. 5Verband medizinischer Fachberufede.wikipedia.org
6. 6Association of Medical Professionalswikidata.org