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Free movement of professionals

Professionals in the EU can move across borders and practice their occupation or provide services abroad. These webpages provide practical information on EU legislation governing the recognition of professional experience in the EU.

European Professional Card
The European professional card (EPC) is available from 18 January 2016 for five professions (general care nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, real estate agents and mountain guides). It might be extended to other professions in the future.
Database of regulated professions
In every EU country, there are some professions that are regulated. To make it easier for EU citizens to find information about regulated professions, the European Commission set up a database on professional access requirements across the EU.

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.

Other policy developments 

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

Information on EU websites

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 Législation

      North Gate - 4th floor
      Bd du Roi Albert II, 16
      1000 Bruxelles
      BELGIQUE

    • БЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA

      Directorate 'Academic Recognition and Regulated Professions'
      (Assistance Centre for Bulgaria)
      National Center for Information and Documentation /
      Национален център за информация и документация

      52 A, G.M. Dimitrov Blvd.
      1125 София / Sofia
      БЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA

    • 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

    • Karmelitská 529/5
      118 12 Praha 1
      ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA

    • DANMARK

      Ministry of Higher Education and Science
      Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education

      Bredgade 40
      1260 København K
      DANMARK

    • DEUTSCHLAND

      Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BiBB)
      Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
      53113 Bonn
      DEUTSCHLAND

    • EESTI

      1. Ministry of Education and Research
        Coordinator: Ms Tiia Raudma

        Tel: +372 5649 9163
        Email: tiia [dot] raudmaathm [dot] ee (tiia[dot]raudma[at]hm[dot]ee)
        Website: https://harno.ee/en/enicnaric

        Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centre
        Contact: Mr Vallo Kelder

    • 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: pdimitrakisatminedu [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 Education

      Nacionalni ENIC/NARIC ured
      National ENIC/NARIC office

      Donje Svetice 38/5
      HR-10000 Zagreb
      HRVATSKA / CROATIA

    • ESPAÑA / SPAIN

      Subdirección General de Títulos y Ordenación
      Seguimiento y Gestión de las Enseñanzas Universitarias
      Ministerio de Universidades

      Paseo de la Castellana 162, planta 17
      28046 Madrid
      ESPAÑA / SPAIN

      • Email: asistencia [dot] directivaatuniversidades [dot] gob [dot] es (asistencia[dot]directiva[at]universidades[dot]gob[dot]es)

    • FRANCE

      « Guichet Qualifications »
      Service à compétence nationale Guichet Entreprises

      120 rue de Bercy – Télédoc 766
      75572 Paris cedex 12
      FRANCE

    • IRELAND / EIRE

      Higher Education Governance & Quality Section
      Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

      52 St Stephen's Green
      Dublin 2
      D02 DR67
      IRELAND / EIRE

      • Email: qualificationsatdfheris [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 capitali

      Largo Chigi 19
      00187 ROMA
      ITALIA

      Contact person:

      • Ms Giovanna Corrado
      • Ms Lucia Monaco

    • ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS

      Labour Department
      Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance

      9, Klimentos Str.
      CY – 1061 Λευκωσία / Nicosia
      ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS

      Contact person:

    • 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 / profataic [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
      LITHUANIA

      Contact persons:

    • LUXEMBOURG

      Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche

      18-20, Montée de la Pétrusse
      L-2327 Luxembourg
      LUXEMBOURG

      Contact person:

      • Mr Pierre Misteri
        Email: pierre [dot] misteriatmesr [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 Centre

      Szalay utca 10-14
      H-1055 BUDAPEST
      MAGYARORSZÁG / HUNGARY

    • 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] ncfheatgov [dot] mt (mutualrecognition[dot]ncfhe[at]gov[dot]mt)
      • Website: www.ncfhe.gov.mt

    • NEDERLAND

      NUFFIC
      Postbus 29777
      2502 LT Den Haag
      NEDERLAND

    • 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: gewerbeatbmaw [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

    • 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 Relations

      Praça de Londres, n.º 2 - r/c
      1049-056 Lisboa
      PORTUGAL

    • ROMÂNIA

      National Centre for Recognition of Diplomas Granted Abroad/
      Centre National pour la Reconnaissance des Diplômes

      Str. Spiru Haret, nr. 12, Sector 1
      010176 Bucureşti
      ROMÂNIA

      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] chiraziatedu [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] salomiaatedu [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

      Contact person:

      • Tomaž Kuralt
        Tel: +386 1 369 76 79
        Email: Tomaz [dot] Kuraltatgov [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 qualifications

      Stromová, 1
      SK - 813 30 Bratislava 1
      SLOVENSKO / SLOVAKIA

    • SUOMI / FINLAND

      Finnish National Agency for Education (Opetushallitus)

      PO Box 380
      FI-00531 Helsinki
      SUOMI / FINLAND

    • SVERIGE

      Universitets- och högskolerådet
      The Swedish Council for Higher Education

      Box 45093
      SE-104 30 Stockholm
      SVERIGE

      • Tel: + 46 10 470 03 00
      • Email: ykinfoatuhr [dot] se (ykinfo[at]uhr[dot]se), pqinfoatuhr [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: cpqatnaric [dot] org [dot] uk (cpq[at]naric[dot]org[dot]uk)
      • Website: https://cpq.naric.org.uk/

    • íSLAND

      Mrs Iris Rut Bergmann
      Directorate of Education

      Víkurhvarfi 3
      203 Kópavogi
      ÍSLAND

      • Tel: +354 514 7500
      • Fax: + 354 562 3068
      • Email: posturatmms [dot] is (postur[at]mms[dot]is)

    • LIECHTENSTEIN

      Romina Schobel
      EEA Coordination Unit

      Austrasse 79
      9490 Vaduz
      LIECHTENSTEIN

      • Tel: +423 236 65 95
      • Email: romina [dot] schobelatllv [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

    • 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

  • 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.