Growth
Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Free movement of professionals
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.
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/EC. The directive provides a modern EU system of recognition of professional experience and promotes automatic recognition of professional experience across the EU.
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 and Switzerland.
Economic studies
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
Supporting information
Documents
- User guide (194 kB) – explanation of professional qualifications systems
- 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.
BELGIQUE
FPS Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy
North Gate - 4th floor
Direction générale Politique des PME - Service Professions intellectuelles et Législation
Bd du Roi Albert II, 16
1000 Bruxelles
BELGIQUEБЪЛГАРИЯ / BULGARIA
Directorate 'Academic Recognition and Regulated Professions'
52 A, G.M. Dimitrov Blvd.
(Assistance Centre for Bulgaria)
National Center for Information and Documentation /
Национален център за информация и документация
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 odbor pro záležitosti Evropské unie /
Karmelitská 7
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Department for EU Affairs
118 12 Praha 1
ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA- Tel: +420 257 193 376 /
+420 257 193 579 - Fax: +420 257 193 397
- Email: qualifications＠msmt.cz
- Website: www.msmt.cz
- Tel: +420 257 193 376 /
DANMARK
Ministry of Higher Education and Science
Bredgade 40
Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education
1260 København K
DANMARK- Tel: +45 3544 6200
- Fax: +45 3544 6201
- Email: kontaktpunkt@ufm.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: beratungszentrum@bibb.de
EESTI
- Ministry of Education and Research
Coordinator: Ms Tiia Raudma
Tel: +372 5649 9163
Email: tiia.raudma@hm.ee
Website: www.archimedes.ee/enic - Estonian ENIC/NARIC, Archimedes Foundation
Contact: Ms Margit BrückelKoidula 13a
10125 Tallinn
EESTI / ESTONIA
- Tel: +372 697 9216
- Fax: +372 6962 426
- Email: margit.bruckel @ archimedes.ee
- Website: www.archimedes.ee/enic
- Ministry of Education and Research
ΕΛΛΑΔΑ / GREECE
Mr Panayiotis Dimitrakis
Deputy Head
Independent Department of International and European Relations
General Secretariat for Lifelong Learning and Youth
Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs- Tel: +30 210 34 42794
- Email: pdimitrakis@minedu.gov.gr
- Website: www.minedu.gov.gr
HRVATSKA / CROATIA
Agencija za Znanost i Visoko Obrazovanje
Agency for Science and Higher EducationNacionalni ENIC/NARIC ured
Donje Svetice 38/5
National ENIC/NARIC office
HR-10000 Zagreb
HRVATSKA / CROATIAESPAÑA / SPAIN
Ms Gloria Nistal Rosique
Torrelaguna, 58
Subdirección General de Títulos y Reconocimiento de Cualificaciones
Secretaría General de Universidades
Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte
28027 Madrid
ESPAÑA / SPAIN- Tel: +34 91 506 5636
- Email: gloria.nistal＠mecd.es
- Website: http://www.mecd.gob.es/portada-mecd/
FRANCE
Centre ENIC/NARIC France
1 avenue Léon Journault
Centre international d’études pédagogiques (CIEP)
92318 Sevres Cedex
FRANCE- Tel: +33 (0) 1 70 19 30 31
- Email: enic-naric@ciep.fr
- Website: http://www.ciep.fr/en/enic-naric-france
IRELAND / EIRE
Mr Padraig Hennigan
Marlborough Street
Higher Executive Officer
Qualifications Section
Department of Education and Skills
Baile Átha Cliath 2 / Dublin 2
IRELAND / EIRE- Tel: +353 1 88 92073
- Email: padraig_hennigan＠education.gov.ie
- Website: http://www.education.ie/en/
ITALIA
Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Largo Chigi 19
Dipartimento Politiche Europee
Ufficio per la cittadinanza europea, il mercato interno e gli affari generali
00187 ROMA
ITALIA- centroassistenzaqualifiche@politicheeuropee.it
- Website: http://www.politicheeuropee.it/attivita/58/punti-nazionali-di-contatto
Contact person:
- Ms Giovanna Corrado
Tel: + 39 06 67795210, + 39 06 67795322
ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS
Labour Department
9, Klimentos Str.
Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance
CY – 1061 Λευκωσία / Nicosia
ΚΥΠΡΟΣ / CYPRUS- Website: http://www.mlsi.gov.cy/dl
Contact person:
- Ms Marilena Pelekanou:
Tel. +357 400845 Fax: +357 22400809
Email: mpelekanou＠dl.mlsi.gov.cy - Mr Demetris Michaelides:
Tel. +357 400832 Fax: +357 22400809
Email: dmichaelides＠dl.mlsi.gov.cy
LATVIJA
Academic Information Centre
- Postal address:
- Vaļņu iela 2
Rīga, LV-1050
LATVIJA
- Office address:
- Dzirnavu iela 16, 3rd floor
Rīga, LV-1010
LATVIJA
- Tel: + 371 67225155
- Fax: + 371 67221006
- Email: aic＠aic.lv / diplomi＠aic.lv
- Website: www.aic.lv
LIETUVA
The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania
Gedimino ave. 38,
LT-01104 Vilnius
LITHUANIAContact persons:
- Ms Birutė Kindurienė
Coordinator for the recognition of professional qualifications
Adviser of Human Resources Development Division of the Ministry of Economy
Tel: +370 7 066 3246
Email: birute.kinduriene @ ukmin.lt
Website: www.profesijos.lt, www.ukmin.lt - Ms Sandra Kvaraciejiene
Chief Specialist of Human Resources Development Division of the Ministry of Economy
Tel: +370 7 066 3245
Email: Sandra.kvaraciejiene@ukmin.lt
Website: www.profesijos.lt, www.ukmin.lt
- Ms Birutė Kindurienė
LUXEMBOURG
Centre de Documentation et d’Information sur l’Enseignement supérieur (CEDIES)
209, route d’Esch
1471 Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG- Tel: +352 247 88664
- Fax: +352 26 19 01 04
- Email: cedies @ mcesr.etat.lu
- Website: www.cedies.public.lu
Contact person:
- Mr Raymond Harsch:
Email: raymond.harsch＠mesr.etat.lu
MAGYARORSZÁG
Mr Gabor Meszaros
Szalay utca 10-14
Educational Authority
Hungarian Equivalence and Information Centre
H-1055 BUDAPEST
MAGYARORSZÁG / HUNGARY- Tel: +36 1 374 2212
- Fax: +36 1 374 2492
- Email: recognition@oh.gov.hu
- Website: www.professionalrecognition.gov.hu
MALTA
National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE)
- Tel: +356 23 810 121
- Email: mutualrecognition.ncfhe@gov.mt
- Website: www.ncfhe.org.mt
NEDERLAND
NUFFIC
Postbus 29777
2502 LT Den Haag
NEDERLAND- Tel: +31 70 426 02 60
- Fax: +31 70 426 03 99
- Website:
www.nuffic.nl
www.beroepserkenning.nl
www.professionalrecognition.nl
Contact person:
- Ms Kitty Wigleven
Tel: +31 70 426 02 86
Fax: +31 70 426 03 95
Email: wigleven@nuffic.nl
ÖSTERREICH
Mrs Irene Linke
Stubenring 1
Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft
(Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy)
1010 Wien
ÖSTERREICH- Tel: +43 1 71100 5446
- Fax: +43 1 71100 935446
- Email: irene.linke@bmwfw.gv.at
- Website: http://www.bmwfw.gv.at
POLSKA
Ministry of Science and Higher Education
ul. Hoża 20
PL-00-529 Warszawa- Tel: +48 22 52 92 266
- Email: kwalifikacje@nauka.gov.pl
- Website: http://www.nauka.gov.pl/uznawanie-kwalifikacji-zawodowych/
PORTUGAL
Ms Carla Romão
Rua de Xabregas, n.º 52
Ministério da Economia e do Emprego
Instituto do Emprego e da Formação Profissional
Departamento de Formação Profissional
1949-003 Lisboa
PORTUGAL- Tel: +35 1 21 861 44 85
- Fax: +35 1 21 861 46 08
- Email: pnrq@iefp.pt
- Website: https://www.iefp.pt/pnrq
ROMÂNIA
National Centre for Recognition of Diplomas Granted Abroad/
Str. Spiru Haret, nr. 12, Sector 1
Centre National pour la Reconnaissance des Diplômes
010176 Bucureşti
ROMÂNIAContact persons:
- Ms Gianina Chirazi
Director, National Coordinator
Tel: 004(0)21 405 56 59
Fax: 004(0)21 317 85 17
Email: gianina.chirazi@gov.edu.ro - Ms Cristina Buză
Counselor
Tel: 004(0)21 451 53 01
Fax: 004(0)21 313 10 13
Email: cristina.buza@medu.edu.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.salomia@medu.edu.ro
- Ms Gianina Chirazi
SLOVENIJA
Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Kotnikova, 28
SI-1000 Ljubljana
SLOVENIJA- Tel: +386 1 369 7604
- Email: ppk.mddsz@gov.si
- Website: www.mddsz.gov.si
Contact person:
- Ms Maja Grašič
Tel: +386 1 369 76 58
Email: Maja.Grasic@gov.si
SLOVENSKO
Ministerstvo školstva, vedy, výskumu a športu – Stredisko na uznávanie dokladov o vzdelaní a Odborných kvalifikácií /
Stromová, 1
Ministry of education, science, research and sport – Centre of recognition of foreign diplomas and Professional qualifications
SK - 813 30 Bratislava 1
SLOVENSKO / SLOVAKIA- Tel: +421 2 59 374 623
- Email: sudv@minedu.sk
- Website: www.minedu.sk / http://www.minedu.sk/uznavanie-dokladov-o-vzdelani-a-odbornych-kvalifikacii-zo-zahranicia/
SUOMI / FINLAND
Finnish National Board of Education (Opetushallitus)
PO Box 380
FI-00531 Helsinki
SUOMI / FINLAND- Email: recognition@oph.fi
- Website: www.oph.fi/recognition
SVERIGE
Universitets- och högskolerådet
Box 45093
The Swedish Council for Higher Education
SE-104 30 Stockholm
SVERIGE- Tel: + 46 10 470 03 00
- Email: ykinfo@uhr.se, pqinfo@uhr.se
- Website: www.uhr.se
UNITED KINGDOM
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: cpq@naric.org.uk
- Website: http://naric.org.uk/uk%20ncp/
íSLAND
Hr. Ólafur Grétar Kristjánsson
Solvholgsgata 4
Adviser, Department of Education
Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
150 Reykjavík
ÍSLAND- Tel: +354 545 9569
- Fax: + 354 562 3068
- Email: olafur.g.kristjansson@mrn.stjr.is
LIECHTENSTEIN
Mr Juerg Dinkelmann
Austrasse 79
Schulamt des Fürstentums Liechtenstein
Department of Education
9490 Vaduz
LIECHTENSTEIN- Tel: +423 236 67 52
- Fax: +423 236 67 71
- Email: juerg.dinkelmann@sa.llv.li
- Website: http://www.liechtenstein.li
NORGE
Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT)
Visiting address:
Drammensveien 288
Lysaker
NorwayPostal address:
Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT)
P.O. Box 578
NO-1327 Lysaker
Norway- Tel: +47 21 02 18 60 (Monday to Thursday 12:00 – 15:00)
- Email: utland@nokut.no
- Website: http://www.nokut.no/
Contact person:
- Mr. Stig Arne Skjerven
Deputy Director General
Director of the Department of Foreign Education
Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT), Norwegian ENIC-NARIC
Email: stig.arne.skjerven@nokut.no
Phone: +47 21 02 18 64
SCHWEIZ / SUISSE / SVIZZERA
Mr Frédéric Berthoud
Effingerstrasse 27
Coordinateur pour la reconnaissance des diplômes
Secrétariat d’Etat à la formation, à la recherche et à l’innovation (SEFRI)
3003 Berne
SUISSE / SCHWEIZ- Tel: +41 58 462 28 26
- Fax: +41 31 322 75 50
- Email: kontaktstelle@sbfi.admin.ch
- Website: http://www.sbfi.admin.ch/diploma
- 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.