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Recognition of qualifications obtained abroad

Recognition of professional qualifications enables individuals who have a professional qualification acquired abroad to access the exercise of regulated professions in the Republic of Slovenia.

Economic growth, competitiveness, new jobs, legal certainty, trust and cooperation between EU countries are cornerstones of the development of the European economy. In line with this, it is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market in which professional services play an important role.

Professions, professional activities, or groups of professional activities are in many countries directly or indirectly determined or regulated by specific laws or other provisions on professional qualifications.

The recognition of professional qualifications is a special procedure to enable professionals in regulated professions to work in other Member States in which they have not obtained a professional qualification.

Lists

The Directive 2005/36/EC lays the foundations for the recognition of professional qualifications and fundamental freedoms, such as the free movement of workers, the freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services, to facilitate the mobility of professionals and workers in the single market.

Methods of recognition of professional qualifications (according to the continuity of recognition)

  • The procedure for recognition of professional qualifications for  permanent pursuit of regulated professions

The right of establishment is one of the fundamental rights of the single market. It consists of the right to establish and manage a business or to work in a regulated profession, on a permanent basis in any Contracting State (‘state’) to pursue an economic activity or provide professional services as employed or self-employed professionals for an indefinite period under the same terms and conditions as those applying to nationals.

We know three different systems of recognition of professional qualifications and, accordingly, three types of applications. Automatic recognition applies to seven sectoral professions, recognition of professional experience applies to professions in crafts, industry and trade. The general system of recognition applies to all professional qualifications that are regulated in the Republic of Slovenia

  • The procedure for providing services in regulated professions on an occasional or temporary basis

In order to guarantee the free movement of services, citizens and service providers have the right to freedom to provide services. This right allows service providers to provide professional services cross borders/on an occasional or temporary basis in any other state while retaining their principal place of establishment in their state of origin. Member States are obliged to ensure less stringent rules to enter the market.

Temporary or occasional provision of services means that service providers/professionals provide services for a limited period of time in a state other than the one in which they are established.

Those wishing to provide services on an occasional or temporary basis, must be legally established in one of the 27 Member States, or in one of the following: Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein; or in the Swiss Confederation.

A person legally established in a Member State in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC is a person who fulfils the conditions to exercise the profession in this Member State, i.e. a person having the right to practice the profession there which refers to the fact that the person must not be prohibited from exercising his/her activity.

Professional service providers must be physically present in the territory of the host state when providing services.
If neither the profession nor the training for the profession is regulated in the state of origin/establishment, the host state may require proof that the applicant has one year’s professional experience in that profession in the last ten years.

List of occupations, services affecting public health and safety:

  • Procedure for obtaining and issuing a European professional card (EPC)

The EPC is an electronic proof proving either that the professional has met all the necessary conditions to provide services in countries of the European Union, European Economic Area or Swiss Confederation on a temporary or occasional basis, or has the recognised professional qualifications to work in a regulated profession in the above countries on a permanent basis.

It is a quick, and more transparent procedure than the standard procedure for recognising professional qualifications. The application process can be monitored online, and all uploaded documents may be re-used to prepare additional applications in other European Union countries.

Currently, the EPC can only be used by:

  • general care nurses,
  • pharmacists,
  • physiotherapists,
  • mountain guides,
  • real estate agents.

National Contact Point (NCP)

In the Republic of Slovenia the Ministry of Labour is the National Contact Point for the recognition of professional qualifications.

The NCP provides all the necessary information on regulated professions, recognition procedures and competent authorities. More information and relevant contact details are available at gov.si.