Policy developments
The system of recognition of professional qualifications in the EU is governed by Directive 2005/36/EC, recently amended by Directive 2013/55/EU. The directive provides a modern EU system of recognition of professional experience and promotes automatic recognition of professional experience across the EU.
In May 2020 the Commission published a report on the implementation of certain new elements introduced by Directive 2013/55/EU and an accompanying staff working document.
Recognition of professional qualifications in practice
In practice, the recognition of professional qualifications laid down in Directive 2005/36/EC enables the free movement of professionals such as doctors or architects within the EU. Other professions, such as lawyers or sailors, fall under the scope of different legislation.
The recognition of professional experience in practice
The European Professional Card
In January 2016, the Commission introduced a new, EU-wide digital procedure for the recognition of professional qualifications – the European Professional Card (EPC). The procedure, currently available for general care nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, real estate agents and mountain guides, makes it easier for Europeans to work where their professional skills are needed. The EPC contributes to the objective of making the Single Market a reality in practice.
Transparency and mutual evaluation of regulated professions
To clarify the status of regulated professions in the EU, the European Commission conducted a transparency and a mutual evaluation exercise.
Transparency and mutual evaluation
Database of regulated professions
The database of regulated professions contains information on regulated professions, statistics on migrating professionals, contact points and national authorities in EU countries, EEA countries, the UK and Switzerland.
Economic studies
The Commission contracted an independent study to provide more insight into the relationship between professional regulation and service quality. In 6 case studies researchers traced impact of regulatory variations on a wide range of quality indicators. The studies contribute to the development of empirical research methods and strategies to analyse this complex relationship.
Study: Effects of regulation on service quality
The Commission contracted several independent economic case studies, conducted at country level, to analyse the effects of reforms of regulatory requirements to access professions. The results of these studies demonstrate that, for the cases analysed, less restrictive regulation can have a positive impact on the labour market.
Six case studies on the economic effects of reforms of regulated professions
An independent study to assess the prevalence and labour market impacts of occupational regulation in the EU was conducted using the 2015 European Survey on Regulated Occupations. The aim was to reinforce the evidence base on the economic costs and benefits of occupational regulation.
Study: Measuring prevalence and labour market impacts of occupational regulation in the EU
Brexit
Supporting information
Documents
- User guide to Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications (in all official EU languages)
- Code of conduct (3 MB)
Information on EU websites
- Europe Direct – for general information
- Solvit – for solving problems with national authorities
- Your Europe Advice – for personalised legal advice, free of charge
Contact points
- National authorities
- Assistance centres - these provide information on the recognition of professional qualifications in every EU country and guide professionals through the administrative formalities.
BELGIË / BELGIQUE
FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy
Direction générale Politique des PME - Service Professions intellectuelles et LégislationNorth Gate - 4th floor
Bd du Roi Albert II, 16
1000 Bruxelles
BELGIQUE- Tel: +32 2 277 91 51
- Website: https://economie.fgov.be/en/themes/enterprises/starting-business/conditions-entering/belgian-assistance-centre
БЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA
Directorate 'Academic Recognition and Regulated Professions'
(Assistance Centre for Bulgaria)
National Center for Information and Documentation /
Национален център за информация и документация52 A, G.M. Dimitrov Blvd.
1125 София / Sofia
БЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA- Mr Kostadin Tonev, Director: Tel / Тел: +359 2 817 38 62, +359 2 817 38 54
- Fax / Факс: +359 2 971 31 20
- Email: reg_prof@nacid.bg
- Website: http://nacid.bg/sites/qual
ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA
Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy
Centrum pro uznávání odborných kvalifikací
Oddělení vnější legislativy /
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
Centre for Recognition of Professional Qualifications
External Legislation Unit- Tel: +420 234 811 579
- Fax: +420 234 811 397
- Email: qualifications@msmt.cz ; uznavanikvalifikacimsmt [dot] cz (uznavanikvalifikaci[at]msmt[dot]cz)
- Website: www.msmt.cz
- Karmelitská 529/5
118 12 Praha 1
ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA DANMARK
Ministry of Higher Education and Science
Danish Agency for Science and Higher EducationBredgade 40
1260 København K
DANMARK- Tel: +45 3544 6200
- Email: kontaktpunktufm [dot] dk (kontaktpunkt[at]ufm[dot]dk)
- Website: http://ufm.dk/recognition/rp
DEUTSCHLAND
Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BiBB)
Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
53113 Bonn
DEUTSCHLAND- Tel: +49 (0)228-107 2527
- Email: beratungszentrumbibb [dot] de (beratungszentrum[at]bibb[dot]de)
- Website: https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/de/eu-beratungszentrum.php
EESTI
Ministry of Education and Research
Coordinator: Ms Tiia RaudmaTel: +372 5649 9163
Email: tiia [dot] raudmahm [dot] ee (tiia[dot]raudma[at]hm[dot]ee)
Website: https://harno.ee/en/enicnaricEstonian ENIC/NARIC Centre
Contact: Mr Vallo Kelder
- Tel: +372 697 9216
- Email: vallo [dot] kelderharno [dot] ee (vallo[dot]kelder[at]harno[dot]ee)
- Website: https://harno.ee/en/enicnaric
ΕΛΛΑΔΑ / GREECE
Mr Panayiotis Dimitrakis
Head
Independent Department for the Support of SAEP (Council for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications) and for the Application of European Legislation
General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning and Youth
Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs- Tel: +30 210 34 42794
- Email: pdimitrakisminedu [dot] gov [dot] gr (pdimitrakis[at]minedu[dot]gov[dot]gr)
- Website: www.minedu.gov.gr
HRVATSKA / CROATIA
Agencija za Znanost i Visoko Obrazovanje
Agency for Science and Higher EducationNacionalni ENIC/NARIC ured
National ENIC/NARIC officeDonje Svetice 38/5
HR-10000 Zagreb
HRVATSKA / CROATIA- Tel: +385 1 6274 888
- Email: enicazvo [dot] hr
ESPAÑA / SPAIN
Subdirección General de Títulos y Ordenación
Seguimiento y Gestión de las Enseñanzas Universitarias
Ministerio de UniversidadesPaseo de la Castellana 162, planta 17
28046 Madrid
ESPAÑA / SPAIN- Email: asistencia [dot] directivauniversidades [dot] gob [dot] es (asistencia[dot]directiva[at]universidades[dot]gob[dot]es)
FRANCE
« Guichet Qualifications »
Service à compétence nationale Guichet Entreprises120 rue de Bercy – Télédoc 766
75572 Paris cedex 12
FRANCE- Email: marche-interieur-services [dot] dgefinances [dot] gouv [dot] fr (marche-interieur-services[dot]dge[at]finances[dot]gouv[dot]fr)
- Website: https://www.inpi.fr/annuaire-activites-professions-reglementees
IRELAND / EIRE
Higher Education Governance & Quality Section
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science52 St Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
D02 DR67
IRELAND / EIRE- Email: qualificationsdfheris [dot] gov [dot] ie (qualifications[at]dfheris[dot]gov[dot]ie)
- Website: www.gov.ie/dfheris/
ITALIA
Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Dipartimento Politiche Europee
Ufficio per il mercato interno, la competitività e gli affari generali
Servizio per la libera circolazione delle persone, dei servizi, delle merci e dei capitaliLargo Chigi 19
00187 ROMA
ITALIA- Email: centroassistenzaqualifichepoliticheeuropee [dot] it (centroassistenzaqualifiche[at]politicheeuropee[dot]it)
- Website: http://www.politicheeuropee.gov.it/it/attivita/riconoscimento-qualifiche-professionali/centro-di-assistenza/
Contact person:
- Ms Giovanna Corrado
- Ms Lucia Monaco
ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS
Labour Department
Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance9, Klimentos Str.
CY – 1061 Λευκωσία / Nicosia
ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS- Email: directordl [dot] mlsi [dot] gov [dot] cy (director[at]dl[dot]mlsi[dot]gov[dot]cy)
- Website: http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/dl
Contact person:
- Ms Marilena Pelekanou
Tel: +357 2240 0845 Fax: +357 2240 0809
Email: mpelekanoudl [dot] mlsi [dot] gov [dot] cy
LATVIJA
Academic Information Centre
Postal address:Vaļņu iela 2
Rīga, LV-1050
LATVIJAOffice address:Dzirnavu iela 16, 3rd floor
Rīga, LV-1010
LATVIJA- Tel: + 371 67225155
- Fax: + 371 67221006
- Email: aic@aic.lv / profaic [dot] lv (prof[at]aic[dot]lv)
- Website: www.aic.lv
LIETUVA
Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
Gedimino ave. 38,
LT-01104 Vilnius
LITHUANIAContact persons:
- Ms Sandra Kvaraciejienė
Coordinator for the recognition of professional qualifications
Adviser of Talent policy group
Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
Tel: +370 689 87970
Email: sandra [dot] kvaraciejieneeimin [dot] lt (sandra[dot]kvaraciejiene[at]eimin[dot]lt)
- Ms Rasa Balserienė
Adviser of Talent policy group
Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania
Tel: +370 862 131328
Email: rasa [dot] balserieneeimin [dot] lt (rasa[dot]balseriene[at]eimin[dot]lt)
- Website: https://inovacijuagentura.lt/kcis/kontaktinis-centras/reglamentuojamos-profesijos?lang=lt
https://eimin.lrv.lt/lt/veiklos-sritys/verslo-aplinka/zmogiskuju-istekliu-pletra/lietuvos-respublikos-pagalbos-centras-del-profesiniu-kvalifikaciju-pripazinimo
- Ms Sandra Kvaraciejienė
LUXEMBOURG
Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche
18-20, Montée de la Pétrusse
L-2327 Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG- Website: http://www.mesr.public.lu
Contact person:
- Mr Pierre Misteri
Email: pierre [dot] misterimesr [dot] etat [dot] lu (pierre[dot]misteri[at]mesr[dot]etat[dot]lu)
Tel: +352 2477 6619
MAGYARORSZÁG
Ms Zsófia Bréda
Educational Authority
Hungarian Equivalence and Information CentreSzalay utca 10-14
H-1055 BUDAPEST
MAGYARORSZÁG / HUNGARY- Tel: +36 1 374 2212 (we advise our customers to contact us by email)
- Email: recognitionoh [dot] gov [dot] hu
- Website: www.professionalrecognition.hu
MALTA
National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE)
Triq Joseph Abela Scolaro, Hamrun HMR 1304 Malta- Tel: +356 23 810 100; (+356 25 981 489 during coronavirus emergency)
- Email: mutualrecognition [dot] ncfhegov [dot] mt (mutualrecognition[dot]ncfhe[at]gov[dot]mt)
- Website: www.ncfhe.gov.mt
NEDERLAND
NUFFIC
Postbus 29777
2502 LT Den Haag
NEDERLAND- Tel: +31 70 426 02 60
- Fax: +31 70 426 03 99
- Email: AC-NLnuffic [dot] nl (AC-NL[at]nuffic[dot]nl)
- Website:
www.nuffic.nl
www.beroepserkenning.nl
www.professionalrecognition.nl
ÖSTERREICH / AUSTRIA
Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft / Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy
Stubenring 1
1010 Wien
ÖSTERREICH- Tel: +43 1 711 00-805555 (Service Center)
- Tel: +43 1 71100-805446 (Ms. Irene Linke)
- Email: gewerbebmaw [dot] gv [dot] at (gewerbe[at]bmaw[dot]gv[dot]at)
- Website: https://www.bmaw.gv.at/
POLSKA
Ministry of Education and Science
ul. Hoża 20
PL-00-529 Warszawa- Tel: +48 22 52 92 266
- Email: kwalifikacjemein [dot] gov [dot] pl (kwalifikacje[at]mein[dot]gov[dot]pl)
- Website: https://www.gov.pl/web/edukacja-i-nauka/uznawanie-kwalifikacji-zawodowych-1
PORTUGAL
Centro de Assistência para as Qualificações Profissionais / Assistance Centre for Professional Qualifications
DGERT – Direção Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho / General-Directorate for Employment and Labour RelationsPraça de Londres, n.º 2 - r/c
1049-056 Lisboa
PORTUGAL- Tel: +351 215 953 545
- Email: centro [dot] assistenciadgert [dot] mtsss [dot] pt (centro[dot]assistencia[at]dgert[dot]mtsss[dot]pt)
- Website: https://www.dgert.gov.pt/reconhecimento-das-qualificacoes-profissionais
ROMÂNIA
National Centre for Recognition of Diplomas Granted Abroad/
Centre National pour la Reconnaissance des DiplômesStr. Spiru Haret, nr. 12, Sector 1
010176 Bucureşti
ROMÂNIA- Website: https://cnred.edu.ro
Contact persons:
- Ms Gianina Chirazi
Director, National Coordinator
Tel: 004(0)21 405 56 59
Fax: 004(0)21 317 85 17
Email: gianina [dot] chiraziedu [dot] gov [dot] ro (gianina[dot]chirazi[at]edu[dot]gov[dot]ro) - Ms Oana-Mihaela Salomia
Counselor for European Affairs
Tel: 004(0)21 405 62 15
Fax: 004(0)21 313 10 13
Email: oana [dot] salomiaedu [dot] gov [dot] ro (oana[dot]salomia[at]edu[dot]gov[dot]ro)
SLOVENIJA
Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities / Ministrstvo za delo, družino, socialne zadeve in enake možnosti
Stukljeva cesta 44
SI-1000 Ljubljana
SLOVENIJA
Tel: +386 1 369 7604- Email: gp [dot] mddszgov [dot] si (gp[dot]mddsz[at]gov[dot]si)
- Website: https://www.gov.si/drzavni-organi/ministrstva/ministrstvo-za-delo-druzino-socialne-zadeve-in-enake-moznosti
Contact person:
- Tomaž Kuralt
Tel: +386 1 369 76 79
Email: Tomaz [dot] Kuraltgov [dot] si (Tomaz[dot]Kuralt[at]gov[dot]si)
SLOVENSKO
Ministerstvo školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu – Stredisko na uznávanie dokladov o vzdelaní a Odborných kvalifikácií /
Ministry of education, science, research and sport – Centre of recognition of foreign diplomas and Professional qualificationsStromová, 1
SK - 813 30 Bratislava 1
SLOVENSKO / SLOVAKIA- Tel: +421 2 59 374 923
- Email: sudvminedu [dot] sk (sudv[at]minedu[dot]sk)
- Website: www.minedu.sk / http://www.minedu.sk/uznavanie-dokladov-o-vzdelani-a-odbornych-kvalifikacii-zo-zahranicia/
SUOMI / FINLAND
Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus)
PO Box 380
FI-00531 Helsinki
SUOMI / FINLAND- Tel: + 358 29 533 1000
- Email: recognitionoph [dot] fi
- Website: www.oph.fi/recognition
SVERIGE
Universitets- och högskolerådet
The Swedish Council for Higher EducationBox 45093
SE-104 30 Stockholm
SVERIGE- Tel: + 46 10 470 03 00
- Email: ykinfouhr [dot] se (ykinfo[at]uhr[dot]se), pqinfouhr [dot] se (pqinfo[at]uhr[dot]se)
- Website: www.uhr.se
UNITED KINGDOM
Please note that as of 31 December 2020 this information will no longer be updated due to the decision of the UK to leave the EU
The Assistance Centre, ECCTIS Ltd
Suffolk House
68-70 Suffolk Road
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 2ED
UNITED KINGDOM- Tel: +44 1242 258 608
- Fax: +44 871 330 7005
- Email: cpqnaric [dot] org [dot] uk (cpq[at]naric[dot]org[dot]uk)
- Website: https://cpq.naric.org.uk/
íSLAND
Mrs Iris Rut Bergmann
Directorate of EducationVíkurhvarfi 3
203 Kópavogi
ÍSLAND- Tel: +354 514 7500
- Fax: + 354 562 3068
- Email: posturmms [dot] is (postur[at]mms[dot]is)
LIECHTENSTEIN
Romina Schobel
EEA Coordination UnitAustrasse 79
9490 Vaduz
LIECHTENSTEIN- Tel: +423 236 65 95
- Email: romina [dot] schobelllv [dot] li (romina[dot]schobel[at]llv[dot]li)
- Website: https://www.llv.li/de
NORGE
Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills
P.O. Box 1093
NO-5809 Bergen
NORWAY- Tel: +47 55 30 38 00
- Email: utlandnokut [dot] no (recognition[at]hkdir[dot]no)
- Website: https://hkdir.no/en/foreign-education
SCHWEIZ / SUISSE / SVIZZERA
National Contact Point for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Einsteinstrasse 2
3003 Bern
SWITZERLAND- Website: https://www.recognition.swiss/
- Website: https://www.recognition.swiss/
- National websites on regulated professions
- Single Points of Contact- professionals may also consult the single points of contact to carry out all the administrative procedures electronically.