Licensing of a rehabilitation counsellor (trained in Finland)
- Professional qualification
- Nationwide
- Public service
The profession of a rehabilitation counsellor is a licensed profession in Finland. Only licensed professionals are allowed to practice the profession in question. Upon application, Valvira grants licensing to practice the profession in question to social welfare professionals trained in Finland and abroad, and, once granted, enters the right to practise the profession in the central register for s ...
Do the following
Complete and send the application either through electronic services or by post.
Option A
Instructions for electronic applications
You can apply for licensing through electronic services, when you have completed a degree and obtained a degree certificate. Please note that you cannot submit a licensing application before graduation.
Electronic applications also require the following:
- A Finnish personal identity code
- Online banking codes
- An e-mail address
- A telephone number
When submitting your application through electronic services, you will not have to include a degree certificate as an attachment, as the system will obtain the information related to your degree from the Virta system. Moreover, you will not have to submit an extract from the Population Information System, or a copy of your passport or ID card.
Option B
Instructions for applications submitted on paper:
- an extract from the Population Information System, or an officially certified copy of your passport or ID card
- a copy of degree certificate provided by the university/educational institution or a copy of degree certificate officially certified by the local register office
Valvira requests that you provide all the documents as officially certified copies in order to speed up the processing of your application. If the attached document is an ordinary photocopy, Valvira is under the obligation to confirm its authenticity by contacting the granting body, which may significantly delay the processing time.
Further information: suosikki@valvira.fi
To whom and on what terms
In order to be licensed, you must have a Bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation counselling
If you do not have a Finnish personal identity code at the time of applying, you must notify Valvira as soon as you receive it.
Deadline
Apply for the licensing well in advance before starting to practise the profession in Finland, and at the earliest on the day of graduation. You are not allowed to work permanently as a rehabilitation counsellor in Finland until Valvira has granted you a license.
Processing time
On average, we aim at processing the applications submitted by applicants trained in Finland within 30 working days from the date of receipt of the application. Should the need arise for further information to be requested in connection with the application, the processing time will usually lengthen.
Period of validity
The licensing is valid for an indefinite term.
Background information
Laki sosiaalihuollon ammattihenkilöistä
Asetus sosiaalihuollon ammattihenkilöistä
Asetus Sosiaali- ja terveysalan lupa- ja valvontaviraston maksullisista suoritteista
Asetus Sosiaali- ja terveysalan lupa- ja valvontaviraston maksullisten suoritteiden muuttamisesta