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Professional Qualifications Directive


The purpose of the European Union’s Professional Qualifications Directive is to facilitate employment in another EU or EEA country. The directive establishes rules according to which member states must recognise the professional qualifications obtained by an EU or EEA citizen in another member state.
The Finnish National Agency for Education functions as the national assistance centre referred to in the Professional Qualifications Directive.

Familiarise yourself with our website or contact us if

  •  you are qualified for a profession in an EU or EEA country
  •  you would like to pursue your profession in Finland or another member state and
  •  you need information on the recognition of professional qualifications.

We also provide information to competent authorities and the assistance centres of other countries.

Familiarise yourself with the website

On this website, we have compiled information on
• the Professional Qualifications Directive and
• regulated professions in Finland and other countries

In addition, we have drawn up instructions on what you should do if you apply for the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in another member state in Finland or apply for the recognition of professional qualifications acquired in Finland in another member state.

Our website is in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Recognition of professional qualifications in practice (EU Commission)
Contact details for assistance centres of other Member States
Find out whether you need a decision on recognition of (professional) qualifications completed outside Finland and where to apply for it.

Contact us

You can send us an email or call us. We serve you in Finnish, Swedish and English.

Finnish National Agency for Education / Recognition of qualifications

recognition [at] oph.fi

tel: +358 (0)29 533 1579 / +358 (0)29 533 1000 (switchboard)

Response time

We will respond to your enquiry within four days. If it takes longer to examine the matter, we will inform you within four days how we do it and how long it will take.

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Recognition of professional qualifications in Finland and within the EU/EEA

Recognition of professional qualifications gained within the EU/EEA in Finland

If you hold professional qualifications from another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, and you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you can apply for recognition of professional qualifications.

Recognition of professional qualifications acquired in Finland within the EU/EEA

If you have acquired professional qualifications in Finland and want to pursue the same profession in another EU or EEA country, you may need a decision on recognition of your professional qualifications. The decision is made by the competent authority of the host country.