Exemptions from teachers’ and head teachers’ qualification requirements
- Permit or other obligation
- Nationwide except the Åland Islands
- Public service
Information about the application
Where can I apply for an exemption?
Vocational education and training
If you are applying for the exception from qualification requirements referred to in the Vocational Education and Training Act, submit an application to your local Regional State Administrative Agency. A link to the contact information of Regional State Administrative Agency’s registries is provided at the navigation on the right hand side of this page.
Comprehensive school education, general upper secondary education and basic education in the arts
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland processes exemptions from teachers’ and head teachers’ qualification requirements under the Basic Education Act and the Act on General Upper Secondary Education and exemptions from head teachers’ qualification requirements under the Basic Art Education Act. You can find the link to the contact information of the registry of the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland at the navigation on the right hand side of this page.
Do the following
How can I apply to the Regional State Administrative Agency for an exemption?
Send you application for an exemption to the competent Regional State Administrative Agency. Attach copies of the study and work certificate(s) on the basis of which you are applying for the exemption.
To find more information on how to apply for an exemption, contact the competent Regional State Administrative Agency. We are unable to comment on the outcome of your exemption matter in advance.
To whom and on what terms
A fee is charged for the service.
Processing fee
The fee of EUR 350 applies regardless of whether or not an application is successful.
Background information
Decree on Qualification Requirements for Teaching Staff (986/1998) (in Finnish)
Basic Education Act (628/1998)
Act on General Upper Secondary Education (714/2018)
Basic Art Education Act (633/1998)
Vocational Education and Training Act (531/2017)
Act on Liberal Adult Education (632/1998)
Government Decree on Charges Payable for the Services of Regional State Administrative Agencies in 2019 and 2020 (1244/2018) (in Finnish)
Act on Regional State Administrative Agencies (896/2009) (in Finnish)
Government Decree on Regional State Administrative Agencies (906/2009) (in Finnish)