Recognition of qualifications

Recognition of qualifications refers to a decision on the eligibility that foreign qualifications provide when applying for a job or study place. In Finland, recognition decisions are made by competent authorities, educational establishments, higher education institutions and employers.

Do I need a decision on the recognition of my foreign qualification?

FAQs on the Recognition of Qualifications

FAQs on the Recognition of Qualifications

How to apply for a decision: application forms and instructions

Applying to the Finnish National Agency for Education for a decision on recognition of a qualification

Guidance videos on the recognition of qualifications

Regulated professions in Finland

Regulated professions and competent authorities

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Information for a holder of a foreign qualification

Do I need a decision on recognition? How to apply for a decision?

Information for recipients of a decision on recognition

For persons that have received a decision issued by the Finnish National Agency for Education on the recognition of their degree or studies completed abroad.

Information to employers about recognition of qualifications

Does a job seeker or my employee who has completed a qualification abroad need a decision on the recognition of the qualification? You will find answers to this and other similar questions on this page.

For guidance purposes

Information and material on recognition of qualifications and on systems of education for guidance practitioners

Academic recognition of qualifications and studies

Information on international agreements regarding academic recognition, good practices and information exchange networks for staff at higher education institutions

Information about systems of education in different countries

Publications by the Finnish National Agency for Education and links to international information sources

Students having a conversation in front of a school building

Recognition of Finnish qualifications abroad

- Statements on Finnish qualifications - Certificates of competency for ski instructors - European Professional Card - Certificates on the type and duration of professional activities

Students sitting on their desks in class

Professional Qualifications Directive

The national assistance centre for the Professional Qualifications Directive: information on the recognition of professional qualifications and regulated professions in Finland and other EU and EEA countries

FAQs on the Recognition of Qualifications

Keywords Recognition of qualifications

If you have questions regarding residence permits or the documents required for them, please contact the Finnish Immigration Service.

Finnish Immigration Service website on residence permits

The Finnish National Agency for Education issues decisions on the eligibility conferred by foreign qualifications for posts and positions in Finland. A decision is required if a person who has completed their qualification abroad applies for a position for which the law requires a specific qualification or a higher education degree at a certain level.

On the Recognition of Qualifications website, you will find tools to help you determine whether you need a recognition decision for one of these purposes and what type of decision you should apply for. Support is available in the form of the Service guide for recognition of qualifications, videos, and a diagram, which is available in Finnish, Swedish, Arabic, English, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Recognition of Qualifications website

Keywords Recognition of qualifications

In regulated construction professions, the competent authorities are the Ministry of the Environment and the bodies it has authorized. If you are applying for eligibility for such a task, you do not need a separate recognition decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education.

You can obtain more information about the Construction Act, regulated professions in the field of built environment, and the determination of eligibility from the Ministry of the Environment.

Professions in Finland (Built Environment)

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The Finnish National Agency for Education does not issue decisions regarding the eligibility as an architect. Either the Finnish National Agency for Education or another competent authority in the relevant field may issue decisions on the eligibility provided by a foreign qualification for positions that have statutory qualification requirements. These positions are referred to as regulated professions. Architect is not a regulated profession in Finland.

Although the profession of architect is not regulated, there are other regulated tasks related to building design in Finland. The authority responsible for granting eligibility for these tasks is the Ministry of the Environment or a body authorized by it. If you are applying for eligibility for a building design task, you do not need a separate decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education.

Regulated Professions in Finland (Built Environment)

Keywords Recognition of qualifications

Information about prices is available on our website

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Recognition of qualifications

Do I need a decision on the recognition of my foreign qualification?

FAQs on the Recognition of Qualifications

How to apply for a decision: application forms and instructions

Guidance videos on the recognition of qualifications

Regulated professions in Finland

Information for a holder of a foreign qualification

Information for recipients of a decision on recognition

Information to employers about recognition of qualifications

For guidance purposes

Academic recognition of qualifications and studies

Information about systems of education in different countries

Recognition of Finnish qualifications abroad

Professional Qualifications Directive

FAQs on the Recognition of Qualifications

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Contact information