If you are qualified in another EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for a rescue services position, and you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you can apply to the Finnish National Agency for Education for a decision on eligibility to work as a crew members, sub-officer or fire officer in rescue services in Finland.

The qualification requirements are defined in the Government Decree on Rescue Services (407/2011, section 6).

Compensation requirements

If your qualifications differ in terms of content from the qualifications required in Finland, you may have to complete a compensation measure, before you gain eligibility in Finland. Professional experience or life-long learning may compensate for the differences either in part or in full.

The compensation measure can be an adaptation period or an aptitude test. During the adaptation period, you will in your profession. The aptitude test is an examination organised by the Emergency Services College, in which you demonstrate your professional competence.

Apply for a final decision to the Finnish National Agency for Education, after you have completed the adaptation period of the aptitude test.

Recognition of professional qualifications in rescue and emergency services from 1 January 2024

From 1 January 2024, competence in the recognition of rescue professional qualifications will be transferred to the Emergency Services Academy. The Emergency Services Academy will also make decisions on the recognition of the professional qualifications for the emergency center operator and chimneysweep.

If you have received a conditional decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education on the recognition of professional qualifications for one of the aforementioned professions and you have completed the compensation measures according to the decision, apply for a final decision from Finnish National Agency for Education. The Finnish National Agency for Education makes final decisions until 31 December 2025.