Professional and occupational qualifications
The Treaty of Rome guarantees the freedom for every citizen of a member state of the EU to work, and to seek work, and set up a business or provide services in any other EU member state without discrimination on grounds of nationality. The most common problem experienced by migrant workers within the single market is that of the transferability of professional or vocational qualifications.
Under the Treaty, each member state retains its own particular system of education and training, which leads to its own particular professional qualification. In many member states access to professional and vocational activities is controlled by law requiring the profession of a national diploma in the area of work concerned.
There are currently three different systems enabling people to transfer their qualifications and skills between member states:
Transitional measures directives
Some member states require crafts- and tradespeople, such as construction workers or hair dressers, who wish to work in an independent or self-employed capacity, to hold a particular vocational qualification ("Meisterprüfung" in Germany). Work experience in the concerned area must be certified by the authorities in the migrant's home state. British craftspeople wishing to exercise their trade in another EU member state can apply to have their experience certified under the UK Certificates of Experience scheme.
Sectoral directives
In the case of professional qualifications requiring tertiary or level three education, the EU has decided to tackle to problem profession by profession. The approach adopted was to negociate harmonisation of basic training in a profession in all member states, so that the outcome would be a qualification recognised by all. Seven sectional directives were agreed on this basis, covering
- doctors
- dentists
- pharmacists
- midwives
- nurses responsible for general care
- veterinary surgeons and
- architects.
Recognition at the basic level of being licensed to practise in the other member states of the EU/EEA is in principle automatic, but intending migrants should obtain more information from the relevant contact, as the directive is at a general level and some specialisations will not necessarily be covered.
General system directives
This includes all other regulated occupations, professions and titles not covered by the Transitional or Sectoral directives.
For further and more detailed information on this topic please contact the UK National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC).
