Regulated professions in Finland

Services
Recognition of qualifications

A profession is regulated when according to Finnish legislation, a specific training, qualification or the right to practice a profession is required. The following is a list of professions that are regulated in Finland.

If you are qualified for a similar profession abroad and want to become qualified also in Finland, you will need a decision issued by the determined competent authority. Further information about the professions and instructions on applying for a decision can be found by clicking on the links or by contacting the competent authority.

A pharmacist retrieving medicine from a drawer

Photo: Olli Häkämies

Teaching & Early childhood education and care

The competent authority is Finnish National Agency for Education. Further information at the Finnish National Agency for Education's website.

childcarer (early childhood education and care)
class teacher
guidance counsellor (primary and lower secondary education/upper secondary level)
head of early education centre
headmaster/principal (primary and lower secondary education/general upper secondary education/vocational education and training)
instructor in morning and afternoon activities
personnel at day care centres providing Steiner pedagogic
school social worker
social pedagogue (early childhood education and care)
special education teacher (early childhood education and care)
special needs teacher
subject teacher
teacher (early childhood education and care)
teacher in liberal adult education
teacher in vocational education and training, teaching vocational or common qualification units
teacher providing pre-primary education

Decisions on eligibility for a profession

Healthcare professions

The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira. Further information is available on Valvira’s website.

chiropractor
dental specialist:
- clinical dentistry
- dental diagnostics
- oral and maxillofacial surgery
- oral public health
- orthodontics
dental technician
dentist
dietician
hospital cell biologist
hospital chemist
hospital geneticist
hospital microbiologist
hospital physicist
medical laboratory technologist
medical specialist:
- adolescent psychiatry
- anaesthetics and intensive care
- cardiology
- cardiothoracic surgery
- child neurology
- child psychiatry
- child surgery
- clinical chemistry
- clinical genetics
- clinical haematology
- clinical microbiology
- clinical neurophysiology
- clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy
- clinical physiology and nuclear medicine
- dermatology and allergology
- emergency medicine
- endocrinology
- forensic medicine
- forensic psychiatry
- gastroenterological surgery
- gastroenterology
- general practise
- general surgery
- geriatrics
- hand surgery
- infectious diseases
- internal medicine
- nephrology
- neurology
- neurosurgery
- obstetrics and gynaecology
- occupational health
- oncology
- ophthalmology
- oral and maxillofacial surgery
- orthopaedics and traumatology
- otorhinolaryngology
- paediatrics
- pathology
- phoniatrics
- physiatrics
- plastic surgery
- psychiatry
- public health
- radiology
- respiratory medicine and allergology
- rheumatology
- sports medicine
- urology
- vascular surgery
- yleislääketieteen erityiskoulutuksen saanut laillistettu lääkäri
midwife
naprapath
occupational therapist
optician
oral hygienist
orthopaedic technician (orthotist - prosthetist)
osteopath
paramedic
pharmaceutical dispenser (Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy)
pharmacist (Master of Science in Pharmacy)
physician
physiotherapist
podiatrist
practical nurse
psychologist
psychotherapist
public health nurse
radiographer
registered nurse
speech therapist
trained masseur

Valvira.fi

The competent authority is National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira. Further information is available on Valvira’s website.

elderly care professional
practical nurse
rehabilitation councellor
school social worker in charge
social service professional
social worker

Valvira.fi

The competent authority is Finnish Food Authority. Further information is available on Finnish Food Authority’s website.

broiler breeder
inseminator
official auxiliary (slaughterhouse)
veterinary surgeon
veterinary specialist

Finnish Food Authority’s website

Transport

The competent authority is Finnish Transport and Communications Agency. Further information is available on Finnish Transport and Communications Agency’s website.

bus driver
driving examiner
driving instructor
flight information officer
head of instruction at a driving school
manager in charge of the initial qualification option involving only tests
person performing individual approval procedures
person responsible for the individual approval procedure
seafaring professions
- able seafarer, deck (STCW II/5)
- able seafarer, engine (STCW III/5)
- boatmaster
- catering assistant
- chief engineer (STCW III/2)
- chief engineer, less than 3000 kW
- chief officer (STCW II/2)
- chief steward
- cook steward
- deck officer (STCW II/1)
- deck officer, near-coastal voyages
- electro-technical officer
- electro-technical rating (STCW III/7)
- engine attendant
- engineer, less than 3000 kW (STCW III/3)
- master (STCW II/2)
- master, near-coastal voyages
- operator of charter boats
- pilot
- second engineer
- ship’s cook
- skipper in domestic service
- skipper on fishing vessel
- VTS-operator
- watchkeeping engineer (STCW III/1)
- watchkeeping rating, deck (STCW II/4)
- watchkeeping rating, engine (STCW III/4)
taxi driver
train driver
truck driver
vehicle inspector

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency’s website

Rescue and emergency services

The competent authority is from 1 January 2024 the Emergency Services Academy.

fire and rescue services crew member
fire and rescue services sub-officer
fire officer
chimneysweep
emergency response centre operator

Further information on the Emergency Services Academy website (in Finnish)

Other professions listed alphabetically

After the occupational title, there is a link to the competent authority's website.

advocate, Finnish Bar Association
asbestos removal expert, Regional State Administrative Agency of Western and Inland Finland
auditor, Finnish Patent and Registration Office
cadastral surveyor, Finnish National Agency for Education
crane operator (mobile crane operators, tower crane operators and loading crane operators), Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland
diver working in underwater construction, Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland
ecclesiastical posts, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Orthodox Church of Finland
electrical contractor’s electrical work supervisor/ supervisor of operation of electrical equipment, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), SETI Oy
firearms trainer (private security services), Finnish National Police Board
land surveyor, Finnish National Agency for Education
manager of lift works, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), SETI Oy
manager responsible for the holder of a private security company licence, Finnish National Police Board
radiation safety expert, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK)
radiation safety officer, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK)
refrigeration fitter, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes)
security guard (private security services), Police Department
security stewart (private security services), Police Department
security stewart trainer (private security services), Finnish National Police Board
shotfirer, Regional State Administrative Agency of Western and Inland Finland
supervisor for power plants, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), Inspecta Sertifiointi Oy
use-of-force trainer (private security services), Finnish National Police Board
warder (Prison and Probation Services), Finnish National Agency for Education

Recognition of foreign qualifications in Finland