Number of newly granted rights to practise in social welfare and health care increased in 2023

In 2023, the number of positive decisions on the right to practise in social welfare and health care increased on the previous year. A total of 27,126 rights to practise in social welfare and health care were granted in 2023, compared to 23,522 in 2022. This increase was largely due to the increased number of applications for the right to practise in nursing, particularly from registered nurses and practical nurses. The number of applications from those who had completed a medical degree abroad also increased.

More rights to practise as a medical doctor were granted in 2023 than in 2022. This increase was due to a significant uptick in the number of medical doctors trained in another EU or EEA Member State who were granted the right to practise. The number of medical doctors trained in another EU or EEA Member State who were granted the right to practise medicine in Finland was 335 in 2023, compared to 229 in 2022.

More rights to practise as a nurse granted than in the previous year

The number of nurses trained in Finland who were granted the right to practise as a nurse in 2023 increased on 2022 by 935. The number of positive decisions on the right to practise in other areas of nursing also increased, including 182 midwives being granted the right to practise in 2023, compared to 145 in 2022. Similarly, the numbers of public health nurses, radiology nurses and laboratory nurses granted the right to practise all increased on the previous year in the year under review. 

There were 36 nurses trained in another EU or EEA Member State who were granted the right to practise in 2023, compared to 22 in 2022. The number of positive decisions on the right to practise for nurses who had completed their training outside the EU/EEA also increased slightly. The number of applications from nurses trained outside the EU/EEA for the right to practise in Finland increased significantly on the previous year, being 189 in 2023, compared to 108 in 2022. Nevertheless, the percentage of those trained abroad among nursing entrants in health care remains very low. 

The number of practical nurses who had completed a Vocational Qualification in Social Services and Health Care in Finland and were registered in 2023 was also higher than in the previous year at 8,358, compared to 703 in 2022.  

Further information:

Medical doctors
Maarit Mikkonen, Head of Unit, 029 520 9561

Nurses
Jenni Kangas, Head of Unit, 0295 209 532