Recognition of professional qualifications
Recognition of professional qualifications means accepting the training completed by an individual as adequate. Recognition of professional qualifications may be awarded to a citizen of an EU or EEA Member State, or a person of comparable status, having completed their healthcare training in an EU or EEA Member State. Recognition of professional qualifications does not give you the right to practise your profession or to use a protected professional title in Finland. Recognition of professional qualifications may be awarded even if you have not demonstrated adequate language proficiency in Finnish or Swedish.
If you do not have a certificate of adequate language proficiency, the process for receiving a professional practice right is divided into two parts:
- Recognition of professional qualifications. Read the instructions on how to apply on our website.
- Granting of the right to practise a profession or of the right to use a protected professional title after demonstrating sufficient language proficiency
Applying for a professional practice right, once Valvira has already recognised the professional qualifications
Fill in the application form (pdf) (in finnish). Send the application and appendices to Valvira as e-mail attachments or by mail. The processing period is calculated from the time when Valvira has received all the required documents.
Send your completed application and appendices by e-mail to: [email protected].
Please note that e-mail is not recommended for sending confidential information. You can send a secure e-mail via the Valvira secure message service. Further information on how to deliver material to Valvira by e-mail can be found on our website.
OR send your completed application and appendices by mail to:
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)
PO Box 43
FI-00521 Helsinki
Append a certificate of sufficient language proficiency to your application. Further information on language proficiency requirements is available on our website.
Valvira may request further explanations as necessary. Please note that Valvira will not return any documents submitted or make copies.
The process for the recognition of professional qualifications is subject to a fee. Valvira charges a fee for every decision concerning licences to practise a profession, including when an application is denied. Half the processing fee is payable if you withdraw your application.
Fees for the recognition of professional qualifications, licencing and receiving a right to use a protected occupational title (qualified in an EU or EEA Member State):
- Recognition of professional qualifications costs 470 euros
- Licencing and receiving the right to use a protected occupational title after demonstrating sufficient language proficiency, after having received a recognition of a professional qualification costs 240 euros.
The decision on the right to practise a profession will be issued in Finnish or Swedish. The invoice will be sent separately by post after the decision.