The information on this page is intended primarily for experts who work with early childhood education professionals who have obtained a foreign degree. The page provides information on the decision-making criteria and the legislation on which the decision-making is based, as well as examples of different decisions.

The page content is based on a guide published in 2018, attached as a PDF (not accessible).
Kaksi lasta hiekkalaatikolla.
Photo: Niina Rodionoff

If a holder of a foreign qualification wishes to gain eligibility in Finland for a profession in ECEC for which a certain education is required under the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018), they need a decision from the Finnish National Agency for Education.
The person themselves need to apply for the decision. Finnish National Agency for Education will make the decisions based on the documents.

Finnish National Agency for Education makes decisions on eligibility for the following ECEC professions:

  • teacher in early childhood education and care
  • social pedagogue in early childhood education and care
  • childcarer in early childhood education and care special education teacher in early childhood education and care
  • head of early education centre
  • educator in early childhood Steiner education and care

In addition, Finnish National Agency for Education makes decisions on eligibility to provide pre-primary education to a separate group that does not include pupils in basic education. If a certain education is not required for a profession or a position under the Act on early childhood education and care, the employer can assess the eligibility provided by the foreign education. Such professions include family daycare childminder, for example.

The eligibility requirements for ECEC professions are specified in the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018). The eligibility requirements for the position of pre-primary teacher are specified in the Decree on qualification requirements for teaching staff (986/1998). Finnish National Agency for Education's decision provides eligibility in terms of the education required for the profession. Language proficiency is not taken into consideration in the decision.

Finnish National Agency for Education bases its decisions on two acts:

  • Act on the recognition of professional qualifications (1384/2015)
  • Act on eligibility for public posts provided by higher education studies completed abroad (1385/2015)

The act that Finnish National Agency for Education bases its decision on depends on the country in which the degree was completed, the applicant’s nationality and the purpose for which the applicant has applied for the decision.

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Recognition of professional qualifications is based on the Act on the recognition of professional qualifications, which is based on the EU Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications. In connection with preparing the decision, Finnish National Agency for Education investigates the applicant’s professional qualifications, the regulation of the profession in the applicant’s home Member State and the content of the education. To support its investigations, Finnish National Agency for Education uses the Internal Market Information System (IMI) coordinated by the European Commission, where necessary.

Applicant's nationality and the country in which the qualification was completed

Finnish National Agency for Education may issue a decision on the recognition of professional qualifications for a citizen of an EU or EEA country who has qualified for an ECEC profession in another Member State. Finnish National Agency for Education may also issue a decision on the recognition of professional qualifications

  • to a Swiss citizen or a person who has qualified for the profession in Switzerland
  • to an EU or EEA citizen who has acquired the professional qualifications outside the EU and EEA countries, whose professional qualifications have been recognised by another EU or EEA country and who has three years of professional experience from the Member State that recognised the professional qualifications, and
  • to a citizen of a third country who has acquired the professional qualifications in an EU or EEA country and, based on a document*, must be treated as an EU citizen.

*For example, an EU residence permit for third-country nationals with long-term EU resident status or a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen

Requirement of the same profession and regulation of the professio

Finnish National Agency for Education may issue a decision on eligibility for the same ECEC profession which the applicant has qualified for in another Member State and which is a regulated profession in Finland. ECEC professions that are regulated in Finland have been listed in Chapter 2. A regulated profession is a position for which a certain education, qualification or right to practice the profession is required by law.

Professions in ECEC are not regulated in all EU and EEA countries. If the applicant has completed an education preparing for positions in ECEC in a country that does not regulate the profession or the education leading to it, the applicant’s work experience affects the decision made on the application.

Differences in the contents of education and additional requirements included in decisions

Finnish National Agency for Education may issue a conditional decision requiring the applicant to complete an adaptation period or take an aptitude test to gain eligibility. If the applicant’s education is substantially different form the education required in Finland, Finnish National Agency for Education will assess whether the applicant’s professional experience or lifelong learning* compensates for the difference in the contents of the education. If the applicant does not have any professional experience or lifelong learning that would compensate for the difference, Finnish National Agency for Education will determine an adaptation period or an aptitude test in its decision. The applicant can usually choose whether to complete an adaptation period or take an aptitude test.

The adaptation period means working in the profession in Finland. Working is supervised by a qualified ECEC employee. Continuing education may be included in the adaptation period. The conditions of the adaptation period are specified in the decision. The applicant must themselves find a job where the adaptation period can be completed. The employer issues a certificate of completion of the adaptation period.

The aptitude test measures professional knowledge and the applicant’s ability to practice their profession in Finland. The applicant may complete the aptitude test in a higher education institution or an educational institution that provides education qualifying for the ECEC profession in question. As a general rule, the aptitude test may be taken in Finnish or Swedish. The content areas of the test are specified in the decision, and instructions for completing it will be attached to the decision. The relevant higher education institution or educational institution will provide more information about the content of the test and the methods by which it is completed when the applicant registers for the test. The higher education institution will issue a certificate of completion of the aptitude test.

When the applicant has completed the adaptation period or aptitude test according to the decision, they submit the application to Finnish National Agency for Education so that it may render its final decision on the recognition of professional qualifications.

*In this context, lifelong learning means all such general education and vocational education, non-formal learning provided outside the official education system and informal learning which the person has acquired during their entire life and which increases the person’s knowledge, skills and professional qualifications and may include professional ethics.

Children picking flowers outside
Photo: Aleksi Kuitunen

Examples of decision

Below are some examples of applications for the recognition of professional qualifications and the issued decisions. The examples provide details of the applicant’s education.

Recognition of professional qualifications of teacher in early childhood education and care and pre-primary teacher

Example 1

Country and year in which the qualification was obtaines: Spain, 2019
Applicant’s professional qualification in the country where the qualification was obtained: Maestro en Educación Infantil, Content of the profession: education and upbringing tasks in a group of children aged 0–6 years.
Applicant’s qualification: Grado en Maestro en Educación Infantil
Content of the education: The qualification is a four-year higher education degree in ECEC, which has included studies preparing for the education and upbringing of children aged 0–6 years and studies in educational sciences.
Substantial difference to the national education requirement: No
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the recognition of the professional qualification: The applicant’s diploma confers the eligibility referred to in section 26 of the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018) for the role of teacher in early childhood education and care. The applicant’s diploma confers the eligibility referred to in section 7, section 2, subsection 1 of the Decree on qualification requirements for teaching staff (986/1998) to give pre-primary education to an education group that does not include pupils in basic education.

Example 2

Country and year in which the qualification was obtained: Greece, 2009
Applicant’s professional qualification in the country where the qualification was obtained: Nipiagogós, Content of the profession: education and upbringing tasks in a group of children aged 4–6 years.
Applicant’s qualification: Degree in Early Childhood Education
Content of applicant’s education: The qualification is a four-year higher education degree in ECEC, which has included studies preparing for the education and upbringing of children aged 4–6 years and studies in educational sciences.
Substantial difference to the national education requirement: The education has prepared for working with a narrower age group than the national education required for working as a teacher in early childhood education and care.
Applicant’s professional experience or knowledge, skills and competence acquired through lifelong learning: Work carrying out education and upbringing tasks in a group of children aged 4–6 years in Greece. 
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the recognition of the professional qualification: The applicant's diploma confers the eligibility referred to in section 26 of the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018) for the role of teacher in early childhood education and care after the applicant has either taken an aptitude test or completed an adaptation period. The applicant’s diploma confers the eligibility referred to in section 7, section 2, subsection 1 of the Decree on qualification requirements for teaching staff (986/1998) to give pre-primary education to an education group that does not include pupils in basic education. 
The subject areas of the aptitude test are Finnish ECEC and the educational situation from the perspective of a teacher in early childhood education and care. The aptitude test may be taken at a university that provides education conferring eligibility for the position of teacher in early childhood education and care. The adaptation period is completed by working as a teacher in early childhood education and care in Finland. The duration of the adaptation period is 8 months. The knowledge, skills and competence acquired by the applicant through professional experience partly compensate for the substantial difference in the contents of the education.

Recognition of professional qualifications of teacher in early childhood education and care

Example

Country and year in which the qualification was obtained: Germany, 2014 
Applicant’s professional qualification in the country where the qualification was obtained: Erzieher, Content of the profession: care and upbringing tasks in a group of children aged 0–6 years
Applicant’s qualification: Erzieher
Content of applicant’s education: The education is post-secondary vocational education, which lasts 2–3 years. The education has prepared for tasks in the care and upbringing of children aged 0–6 years.
Substantial difference to the national education requirement: The studies in educational sciences included in the training differ substantially from the nationally required studies in educational sciences.
Applicant’s professional experience or knowledge, skills and competence acquired through lifelong learning: Working in the profession of Erzieher in Germany.
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the recognition of the professional qualification: The applicant’s diplomas provide the eligibility referred to in section 26 of the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018) for the role of teacher in early childhood education and care. The knowledge, skills and competence acquired by the applicant through professional experience compensate for the substantial difference in the contents of the education.

Recognition of professional qualifications of special education teacher in early childhood education and care

Example

Country and year in which the qualification was obtained: Poland, 2017 
Applicant’s professional qualification in the country where the qualification was obtained: Content of profession: Special needs education tasks in ECEC and schools.
Applicant’s qualification: Magister, Pedagogika specjalna (2017), Licencjat, Pedagogika (2015)
Content of applicant’s education: The education as a whole includes a first cycle higher education degree lasting three years and a second cycle higher education degree lasting two years. The degrees include studies in educational sciences and special pedagogy.
Substantial difference to the national education requirement: The content of the studies in ECEC included in the applicant’s education differ substantially from the nationally required studies providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC.
Applicant’s professional experience or knowledge, skills and competence acquired through lifelong learning: No
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the recognition of the professional qualification: The applicant's diplomas provide the eligibility referred to in section 30 of the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018) for the role of special education teacher in early childhood education and care after the applicant has either taken an aptitude test or completed an adaptation period. The subject areas of the aptitude test are Finnish ECEC and the educational situation from the perspective of a special education teacher in early childhood education and care. The aptitude test may be taken at a university that provides education conferring eligibility for the role of special education teacher in early childhood education and care. The adaptation period will be completed by working as a special education teacher in early childhood education and care in Finland. The duration of the adaptation period is 18 months.

Recognition of professional qualifications of childcarer in early childhood education and care

Example 1

Country and year in which the qualification was obtained: Sweden, 2007 
Applicant’s professional qualification in the country where the qualification was obtained: Childcare and upbringing tasks and free-time activities
Applicant’s qualification: Slutbetyg, barn- och fritidsprogrammet
Content of applicant’s education: The education is vocationally oriented upper secondary education, which lasts three years. It has prepared for tasks in childcare and upbringing and free-time activities.
Substantial difference to the national education requirement: No
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the recognition of the professional qualification: The applicant’s diploma provides the eligibility referred to in section 28 of the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018) for the role of childcarer in early childhood education and care.

Example 2

Country and year in which the qualification was obtained: Estonia, 2017 
Applicant’s professional qualification in the country where the qualification was obtained: Positions in the care and upbringing of children under school age.
Applicant’s qualification: Lõputunnistus, lapsehoidja
Content of applicant’s education: The education is post-secondary vocational education lasting one year and has prepared for tasks in childcare, looking after children and upbringing. The emphasis is on studies related to childcare.
Substantial difference to the national education requirement: The studies in promoting the child’s growth, wellbeing and learning included in the education differ substantially from the nationally required studies in terms of their content.
Applicant’s professional experience or knowledge, skills and competence acquired through lifelong learning: Work as a childcarer in early childhood education and care in Finland.
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the recognition of the professional qualification: The applicant’s diploma provides the eligibility referred to in section 28 of the Act on early childhood education and care (540/2018) for the role of childcarer in early childhood education and care after the applicant has either taken an aptitude test or completed an adaptation period. As an aptitude test, the applicant will complete the vocational unit Promoting the growth, wellbeing and learning of children, which is included in the Vocational qualification in Education and Guidance or the Vocational qualification in Social and Health Care. 
The aptitude test may be arranged by an education provider to whom the Ministry of Education and Culture has granted an authorisation to provide qualifications, education and training in the above-mentioned qualification. The adaptation period is completed by working as a childcarer in early childhood education and care under guidance and supervision in Finland. The duration of the adaptation period is 3 months. The knowledge, skills and competence acquired by the applicant through professional experience partly compensate for the substantial difference in the contents of the education.

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Finnish National Agency for Education may recognise the comparability of foreign studies to Finnish higher education degrees or studies that under the Act on early childhood education and care are an eligibility requirement for the following positions in ECEC.

  • teacher in early childhood education and care and pre-primary teacher
  • social pedagogue in early childhood education and care
  • special education teacher in early childhood education and care
  • head of early education centre

The decisions are made by virtue of the Act on eligibility for public posts provided by higher education studies completed abroad. This Act is applied if a decision described in Chapter 3 on recognition of professional qualifications cannot be issued to the applicant. The Act applies only to decisions on recognition of comparability of higher education studies. Finnish National Agency for Education may issue a positive decision on the comparability of the foreign studies to the qualification and studies required for a position in ECEC if the level and content of the applicant's qualification and studies correspond to the qualification and studies required for the same position in ECEC in Finland. Work experience cannot be taken into consideration.

The decisions are usually conditional, requiring the applicant to complete supplementing studies in a Finnish higher education institution to gain eligibility. The Decree specifies the maximum extent of supplementing studies that can be required. Finnish National Agency for Education cannot issue a positive decision if the qualification and the studies differ from the degree and studies required in Finland to the extent that the maximum extent of supplementary studies would be exceeded. If supplementing studies are required in the decision, the applicant should themselves contact a Finnish higher education institution about completing them. When the applicant has completed the supplementing studies, they can apply to the Finnish National Agency for Education for the final decision on the comparability of their studies.

Maximum extent of supplementing studies

When Finnish National Agency for Education recognises a qualification completed abroad as comparable to a certain Finnish higher education degree, the decision may also require supplementing higher education studies to the extent of up to one third of the studies leading to the Finnish degree. For example, when recognising a higher education degree completed abroad as comparable to the Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree, the extent of which is 180 credits, the maximum extent of the supplementing studies is 60 credits.

When Finnish National Agency for Education recognises foreign higher education studies as comparable to a certain Finnish study module, the decision may also require supplementing higher education studies to the extent of one half of the study module completed in higher education in Finland. For example, when recognising foreign higher education studies as comparable to the studies providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education, the extent of which is 60 credits, the maximum extent of the supplementing studies is 30 credits.

Examples of decisions

Below are some examples of applications for the recognition of comparability of completed studies in ECEC and the issued decisions. The examples provide details of the applicant’s education.

Comparability to studies required for working as a teacher in early childhood education and care and as a pre-primary teacher

In order for a foreign education to be recognised as comparable to the studies required to work as a teacher in early childhood education and care and as a teacher providing pre-primary education in Finland, its level and content must correspond to the Finnish education providing eligibility. The education must have provided the skills required for corresponding tasks in the country where it was completed. When assessing the correspondence between the level and content of the foreign education and the studies required for working as a teacher in early childhood education and care and as a teacher providing pre-primary education, Finnish National Agency for Education compares

  1. the foreign qualification to the degree completed in the field of education at Finnish universities and
  2. the foreign studies to the studies (60 credits) providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education.

Example

Country and year in which the degree was completed: Turkey, 2019 
Applicant’s qualification: Lisans 
Content of applicant’s education: The qualification is a four-year higher education degree in ECEC. It has included studies preparing for the education and upbringing of children aged 0–6 years.
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on comparability: The higher education degree completed by the applicant is comparable to a bachelor’s degree completed in Finland. The higher education degree completed by the applicant is comparable to the Finnish Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree. The applicant’s higher education studies are comparable to the studies providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education (60 credits) completed in Finland, if the applicant completes the following supplementing studies at a Finnish university: 10–15 credits worth of studies providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education, including practical training and familiarisation with worldview education and ethical education and the system and administration of the Finnish daycare system.

Koristeellinen kuva.
Photo: Niina Rodionoff

Comparability to studies required for working as a social pedagogue in early childhood education and care

In order for a foreign education to be recognised as comparable to the degree and studies required for working as a social pedagogue in early childhood education in Finland, its level and content must correspond to the Finnish education providing eligibility. The education must have provided the skills required for corresponding tasks in the country where it was completed. When assessing the correspondence between the level and content of the foreign education and the studies required for working as a social pedagogue in early childhood education and care, Finnish National Agency for Education compares

  1. the foreign qualification to the degree in healthcare and social services completed at Finnish universities of applied sciences and
  2. the foreign studies to the studies oriented towards tasks in ECEC and social pedagogy, the extent of which is 60 credits.

Comparability to studies required for working as a special education teacher in early childhood education and care

In order for a foreign education to be recognised as comparable to the studies required for working as a special education teacher in early childhood education and care in Finland, its level and content must correspond to the Finnish education providing eligibility. The education must have provided the skills required for corresponding tasks in the country where it was completed. When assessing the correspondence between the level and content of the foreign education and the studies required for working as a special education teacher in early childhood education and care, Finnish National Agency for Education compares

  1. the foreign qualification to the degree completed in the field of education at Finnish universities,
  2. the foreign studies to the studies (60 credits) providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education and
  3. the foreign studies to the studies (60 credits) providing professional skills for tasks in special needs education.

Example

Country and year in which the degree was completed: Russia, 1994
Applicant’s qualification: Special needs teacher for persons with visual impairments
Content of applicant’s education: The qualification is a five-year higher education degree in the field of education. The degree has included special needs teacher education preparing for the education of school age children and children under school age.
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on comparability: The applicant’s higher education studies are recognised as comparable to the Finnish Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree. The applicant’s higher education degree is comparable to the Finnish Master of Arts (Education) degree if the applicant completes the advanced studies in educational sciences (20–30 credits) at a Finnish university. The applicant’s higher education studies are comparable to the studies providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education (60 credits) completed in Finland if the applicant completes the following supplementing studies worth of 30 credits at a Finnish university: pedagogy of early childhood education in action, pedagogy of language and interaction, music pedagogy, integrated practice and advanced practice. The applicant’s studies in special pedagogy are comparable to the studies providing professional skills for tasks in special needs education (60 credits) completed in Finland if the applicant completes 10–15 credits worth of studies providing professional skills for tasks in special needs education, including a teaching practice, as supplementing studies at a Finnish higher education institution.

Comparability to a degree in education or healthcare and social services

The eligibility requirements for the roles in ECEC usually contain several elements: in addition to a specific higher education degree, specific study modules are also required. If necessary, Finnish National Agency for Education can declare the applicant’s higher education degrees and studies comparable in its decision also when the applicant cannot be issued a decision on all elements of the eligibility requirement. However, recognition of the comparability of study modules is possible only if the applicant fulfills the eligibility requirements for the role also with regard to the required higher education degree.

If the person has completed a foreign higher education degree in education and wishes to apply to a Finnish university to complete studies that provide professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education, they can apply to the Finnish National Agency for Education for a decision on the recognition of their degree as comparable to a Finnish higher education degree in the field of education. In Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision, the foreign qualification may be recognised as comparable to the Finnish Bachelor or Master of Arts (Education) or Licentiate or Doctor of Philosophy (Education) degree.

If the person has a foreign higher education degree in the field of healthcare and social services and wishes to complete studies with an orientation towards ECEC and social pedagogy at a Finnish university of applied sciences, they may apply to the Finnish National Agency for Education for the recognition of their degree as comparable to the bachelor’s degree in healthcare and social services (sosionomi, AMK) or the master’s degree in healthcare and social services (sosionomi, ylempi AMK) completed at a Finnish university of applied sciences. In these situations, the person will prove their eligibility for the role in ECEC with the Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on comparability and the certificate of completion of the qualifying studies, issued by the higher education institution.

Example 1: Comparability to a degree in education

Country and year in which the degree was completed: Australia, 2018
Applicant’s qualification: Bachelor of Education Studies
Content of applicant’s education: The qualification is a three-year higher education degree in education.
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on comparability: The higher education degree completed by the applicant is comparable to a bachelor’s degree completed in Finland. The higher education degree completed by the applicant is comparable to the Finnish Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree.
Other information: The applicant may demonstrate their eligibility for the role of teacher in early childhood education and care and pre-primary teacher by presenting

  1. the Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the comparability of the qualification to the Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree and
  2. a certificate issued by a university of studies providing professional skills for tasks in ECEC and pre-primary education.

Example 2: Comparability to a bachelor's degree in healthcare and social services

Country and year in which the degree was completed: Lithuania, 2016
Applicant’s qualification: Socialinio darbo profesinio bakalauro laipsnis, Socialinio darbuotojo kvalifikacija
Content of applicant’s education: The qualification is a three-year vocationally oriented higher education degree in social services.
Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on comparability: The applicant’s higher education degree is comparable to a bachelor’s degree completed at a university of applied sciences in Finland. The applicant’s higher education degree is comparable to the Finnish bachelor's degree in healthcare and social services (sosionomi, AMK) if the applicant completes the 10 credits worth of studies on the service system and legislation in the social services sector at a Finnish university of applied sciences as supplementing studies.
Other information: The applicant may demonstrate their eligibility for the role of social pedagogue in early childhood education and care by presenting

  1. the Finnish National Agency for Education’s decision on the comparability of the qualification to the bachelor's degree in healthcare and social services (sosionomi, AMK) and
  2. a certificate issued by a university of applied sciences of studies oriented towards tasks in ECEC and social pedagogy.
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When selecting their employees, employers will check that the persons working in ECEC professions have sufficient language proficiency. Provisions on the language proficiency requirements for the position of pre-primary teacher and the demonstration of language proficiency are laid down in the Decree on qualification requirements for teaching staff (986/1998, section 9).

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Instructions in text and chart format

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Eligibility for a profession in ECEC based on a foreign qualification
Guide prepared in 2020, on which the page content is based. Not accessible.
Updated