Recognition of professional qualifications in Finland
In Finland there are almost one hundred regulated professions that require training and work experience. If your profession is regulated in Finland, apply to the relevant authority to have your professional qualification recognised. Recognition normally takes a few months. There is a charge for a decision on professional qualifications.
In addition, hygiene passportOpens in a new window. is required in the food industry and alcohol passportOpens in a new window. usually in the catering business.
The competent authority is Finnish National Agency for Education
- childcarer (early childhood education and care)
- class teacher
- guidance counsellor (basic education/upper secondary level)
- head of early education centre
- headmaster/principal (basic education/general upper secondary education/vocational education and training)
- instructor in morning and afternoon activities
- personnel at day care centres providing Steiner pedagogic
- school social workerOpens in a new window.
- social pedagogue (early childhood education and care)
- special education teacher (early childhood education and care)
- special needs teacher
- subject teacher
- teacher (early childhood education and care)
- teacher in liberal adult education
- teacher in vocational education and training, teaching vocational or common qualification units
- teacher providing pre-primary education
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
- dental technician
- dentist
- dietician
- hospital cell biologist
- hospital chemistOpens in a new window.
- hospital geneticist
- hospital microbiologist
- hospital physicist
- medical laboratory technologist
- midwife
- naprapath
- occupational therapist
- optician
- oral hygienist
- orthopaedic technician (orthotist - prosthetist)
- osteopath
- pharmaceutical dispenser (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy)
- pharmacist (Master of Science in Pharmacy)
- physician
- physiotherapist
- podiatrist
- practical nurse (health care)
- psychologist
- psychotherapist
- public health nurse
- radiographer
- registered nurse
- speech therapist
- trained masseur
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
- chiropractor
- dental technician
- dentist
- dietician
- hospital cell biologist
- hospital chemist
- hospital geneticist
- hospital microbiologist
- hospital physicist
- medical laboratory technologist
- midwife
- naprapath
- occupational therapist
- optician
- oral hygienist
- orthopaedic technician (orthotist - prosthetist)
- osteopath
- paramedic
- pharmaceutical dispenser (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy)
- pharmacist (Master of Science in Pharmacy)
- physician
- physiotherapist
- podiatrist
- practical nurse (health care)
- psychologistOpens in a new window.
- psychotherapist
- public health nurse
- radiographer
- registered nurse
- speech therapist
- trained masseur
If you intend to practice your profession either temporarily or occasionally in Finland, you may not need to apply for an authority to recognise your professional qualifications. An advance notification before beginning work may be adequate.
However, Valvira can check your professional qualification in advance, if it believes that your education is inadequate. In this instance, you must demonstrate your qualifications by taking an aptitude test. An advance inspection of professional qualification is possible for all health care professionals with the exception of orthopaedic technicians and paramedics.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
- chiropractor
- dental technician
- dentist
- dietician
- hospital cell biologist
- hospital chemist
- hospital geneticist
- hospital microbiologist
- hospital physicist
- medical laboratory technologist
- midwife
- naprapath
- occupational therapist
- optician
- oral hygienist
- orthopaedic technician (orthotist - prosthetist)
- osteopath
- pharmaceutical dispenser (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy)
- pharmacist (Master of Science in Pharmacy)
- physician
- physiotherapist
- podiatrist
- practical nurse (health care)
- psychologist
- psychotherapist
- public health nurse
- radiographer
- registered nurse
- speech therapist
- trained masseur
If you intend to practice your profession either temporarily or occasionally in Finland, you may not need to apply for an authority to recognise your professional qualifications. An advance notification before beginning work may be adequate.
However, Valvira can check your professional qualification in advance, if it believes that your education is inadequate. In this instance, you must demonstrate your qualifications by taking an aptitude test. An advance inspection of professional qualification is possible for all health care professionals with the exception of orthopaedic technicians.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
- adolescent psychiatry
- anaesthetics and intensive care
- cardiology
- cardiothoracic surgery
- child neurology
- child psychiatry
- child surgery
- clinical chemistry
- clinical genetics
- clinical haematology
- clinical microbiology
- clinical neurophysiology
- clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy
- clinical physiology and nuclear medicine
- dermatology and allergology
- emergency medicine
- endocrinology
- forensic medicine
- forensic psychiatry
- gastroenterological surgery
- gastroenterology
- general practise
- general surgery
- geriatrics
- hand surgery
- infectious diseases
- internal medicine
- nephrology
- neurology
- neurosurgery
- obstetrics and gynaecology
- occupational health
- oncology
- ophthalmology
- oral and maxillofacial surgery
- orthopaedics and traumatology
- otorhinolaryngology
- paediatrics
- pathology
- phoniatrics
- physiatrics
- plastic surgery
- psychiatry
- public health
- radiology
- respiratory medicine and allergology
- rheumatology
- sports medicine
- urology
- vascular surgery
- yleislääketieteen erityiskoulutuksen saanut laillistettu lääkäri
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
- adolescent psychiatry
- anaesthetics and intensive care
- cardiology
- cardiothoracic surgery
- child neurology
- child psychiatry
- child surgery
- clinical chemistry
- clinical genetics
- clinical haematology
- clinical microbiology
- clinical neurophysiology
- clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy
- clinical physiology and nuclear medicine
- dermatology and allergology
- emergency medicine
- endocrinology
- forensic medicine
- forensic psychiatry
- gastroenterological surgery
- gastroenterology
- general practise
- general surgery
- geriatrics
- hand surgery
- infectious diseases
- internal medicine
- nephrology
- neurology
- neurosurgery
- obstetrics and gynaecology
- occupational health
- oncology
- ophthalmology
- oral and maxillofacial surgery
- orthopaedics and traumatology
- otorhinolaryngology
- paediatrics
- pathology
- phoniatrics
- physiatrics
- plastic surgery
- psychiatry
- public health
- radiology
- respiratory medicine and allergology
- rheumatology
- sports medicine
- urology
- vascular surgery
- yleislääketieteen erityiskoulutuksen saanut laillistettu lääkäri
If you intend to practice your profession either temporarily or occasionally in Finland, you may not need to apply for an authority to recognise your professional qualifications. An advance notification before beginning work may be adequate.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
- adolescent psychiatry
- anaesthetics and intensive care
- cardiology
- cardiothoracic surgery
- child neurology
- child psychiatry
- child surgery
- clinical chemistry
- clinical genetics
- clinical haematology
- clinical microbiology
- clinical neurophysiology
- clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy
- clinical physiology and nuclear medicine
- dermatology and allergology
- emergency medicine
- endocrinology
- forensic medicine
- forensic psychiatry
- gastroenterological surgery
- gastroenterology
- general practise
- general surgery
- geriatrics
- hand surgery
- infectious diseases
- internal medicine
- nephrology
- neurology
- neurosurgery
- obstetrics and gynaecology
- occupational health
- oncology
- ophthalmology
- oral and maxillofacial surgery
- orthopaedics and traumatology
- otorhinolaryngology
- paediatrics
- pathology
- phoniatrics
- physiatrics
- plastic surgery
- psychiatry
- public health
- radiology
- respiratory medicine and allergology
- rheumatology
- sports medicine
- urology
- vascular surgery
- yleislääketieteen erityiskoulutuksen saanut laillistettu lääkäri
If you intend to practice your profession either temporarily or occasionally in Finland, you may not need to apply for an authority to recognise your professional qualifications. An advance notification before beginning work may be adequate.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
If you intend to practice your profession either temporarily or occasionally in Finland, you may not need to apply for an authority to recognise your professional qualifications. An advance notification before beginning work may be adequate.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
If you intend to practice your profession either temporarily or occasionally in Finland, you may not need to apply for an authority to recognise your professional qualifications. An advance notification before beginning work may be adequate.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
The competent authority is Finnish Food Authority.
- official auxiliary (slaughterhouse)
- veterinary surgeon
- veterinary specialist
The competent authority is Finnish Food Authority.
- broiler breeder
- inseminator
- official auxiliary (slaughterhouse)
- veterinary surgeon
- veterinary specialist
The competent authority is Finnish Food Authority.
- broiler breeder
- inseminator
- official auxiliary (slaughterhouse)
- veterinary surgeon
- veterinary specialist
The competent authority is Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.
- bus driver
- driving examiner
- driving instructor
- flight information officer
- head of instruction at a driving school
- person performing individual approval procedures
- person responsible for the individual approval procedure
- seafaring professions (able seafarer, deck (STCW II/5); able seafarer, engine (STCW III/5); boatmaster; catering assistant; chief engineer (STCW III/2); chief engineer, less than 3000 kW; chief officer (STCW II/2); chief steward; cook steward; deck officer (STCW II/1); deck officer, near-coastal voyages; electro-technical officer; electro-technical rating (STCW III/7); engine attendant; engineer, less than 3000 kW (STCW III/3); master (STCW II/2); master, near-coastal voyages; operator of charter boats; pilot; second engineer (STCW III/2); ship’s cook; skipper in domestic service; skipper on fishing vessel; VTS-operator; watchkeeping engineer (STCW III/1); watchkeeping rating, deck (STCW II/4); watchkeeping rating, engine (STCW III/4))
- train driver
- truck driver
- vehicle inspector
The competent authority is Emergency Services Academy Finland.
Emergency Services Academy FinlandThe competent authority is mentioned after the occupational title.
- advocateOpens in a new window., Finnish Bar Association
- auditor, Finnish Patent and Registration Office
- cadastral surveyor, Finnish National Agency for Education
- chimneysweep, Emergency Services Academy Finland
- crane operator (mobile crane operators, tower crane operators and loading crane operators)Opens in a new window., Regional State Administrative Agency
- diver working in underwater construction, Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland
- ecclesiastical posts, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
- ecclesiastical posts, Orthodox Church of Finland
- electrical contractor’s electrical work supervisor/ supervisor of operation of electrical equipment, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), SETI Oy
- emergency response centre operator’s qualifications, Emergency Services Academy Finland
- firearms trainer (private security servicesOpens in a new window.), National Police Board of Finland
- land surveyor, Finnish National Agency for Education
- lift work supervisorOpens in a new window., Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), SETI Oy
- manager responsible for the holder of a private security company licence, Finnish National Police Board
- refrigeration fitter, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes)
- security guard (private security services), Police Department
- security stewart (private security services)Opens in a new window., Police Department
- security stewart trainer (private security services)Opens in a new window., National Police Board of Finland
- shotfirer, Regional State Administrative Agency of Western and Inland Finland
- supervisor for power plants, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), Kiwa Oy
- use-of-force trainer (private security services)Opens in a new window., National Police Board of Finland
- warder (Prison and Probation Services), Finnish National Agency for Education
This website is part of the European Your Europe portal. Give us feedback using the European Commission's feedback form. Opens in a new window.