Directive 2005/36 is in place to aid mobility between Member States of the EU, EEA and Switzerland. This directive applies to regulated professions including sectoral and general systems. The Directive works on the principle that a qualified professional in one Member State is qualified to exercise the same profession in another Member State.
The basic principle of the directive is the recognition of a foreign qualification, but every host country has the right to implement the necessary regulations and procedures to reach that goal. There is a great need for professional recognition, since the requirements for the same profession in different countries may vary. In the case of significant differences there is the possibility to implement compensation mechanisms, for example, an aptitude test or an adaptation period, which enable an assessment of the knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant for working in a regulated profession.
In order to work in a regulated profession with foreign qualifications one must apply for the recognition of these qualifications by a competent authority. Information about regulated professions, competent authorities and application procedures, etc., in a certain country is provided by contact points. The Estonian ENIC/NARIC serves as an assistance centre that provides information about recognition of professional qualifications.
Recognition of professional qualifications in Estonia
The aim of the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act entered into force on 1 January 2001 is to promote the free movement of people and to guarantee that professional education and work experience obtained abroad is recognised in Estonia. Professional recognition is a procedure that enables a person with a foreign professional qualification to be admitted to a regulated profession or professional activity in Estonia. The system of professional recognition is not only valuable for foreigners, but also for Estonians, who have studied or worked in a foreign country.
TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONS
Authorised traffic controller Liikluse reguleerija
Examiner of drivers of power-driven vehicles Mootorsõidukijuhi eksamineerija
Driving instructor Mootorsõidukijuhi õpetaja
Inspector of roadworthiness of power-driven vehicles and their trailers Mootorsõiduki ja selle haagise tehnonõuetele vastavuse kontrollija
Tram driver Trammijuht
Inspector of the roadworthiness of trolleybuses Trolli tehnonõuetele vastavuse kontrollija
Safety advisor for the transport of dangerous chemicals by road, rail or inland waterway Ohutusnõunik autovedudel, raudteevedudel ja siseveeteede vedudel
Driver of special railway vehicle Eriveeremi juht
Locomotive driver Vedurijuht
Assistant locomotive driver Vedurijuhiabi
Specialist in charge of construction work on railways Raudtee-ehituse eest vastutav spetsialist
Person responsible for railway safety or railway traffic Raudteeohutuse ja raudteeliikluse juhtimise eest vastutav töötaja
Transport manager (public transport) Veokorraldaja (ühistransport)
Transport manager (road transport) Veokorraldaja (autoveod)
MARITIME ACTIVITIES AND RELATED PROFESSIONS
Coastal fisherman Rannakalur
EDUCATION AND TRAINING RELATED PROFESSIONS
Director and counsellor of youth camps and project camps Noortelaagri ning projektlaagri juhataja ja kasvataja
Teacher Õpetaja
EQUIPMENT WORKS
Electrical
Person performing electrical installation work Elektripaigaldise käidutöid tegev isik
Person performing electrical work Elektritööd tegev isik
Person carrying out audit of the electrical installation Elektripaigaldise auditit tegev isik
Gas
Person performing gas work Gaasitööd tegev isik
Supervisor of the use of gas installation Gaasipaigaldise kasutamise järelevaataja
Person carrying out audit of the gas installation Gaasipaigaldise auditit tegev isik
Competent person carrying out a non-destructive test of the permanent joints gas piping and gas vessel Gaasitorustiku ja -anuma püsiliiteid tegev pädev isik
Machinery
Person performing machine work Masinatööd tegev isik
Supervisor of the use of machine Masinatöö kasutamise järelevaataja
Person carrying out audit of machine Masina auditit tegev isik
Pressure equipment
Person performing pressure equipment work Surveseadmetööd tegev isik
Supervisor of the use of pressure equipment Surveseadme kasutamise järelevaataja
Person carrying out audit of the pressure equipment Surveseadme auditit tegev isik
Competent person carrying out a non-destructive test of the permanent joints of pressure equipment as well as a non-destructive test of a permanent joint affecting the pressure tolerance of pressure equipment Surveseadme püsiliiteid ja surveseadme survetaluvust mõjutava püsiliite mittepurustavat katset tegev pädev isik
Lifting equipment
Person performing lifting equipment work Tõsteseadmetööd tegev isik
Supervisor of the use of lifting equipment Tõsteseadmetöö kasutamise järelevaataja
Person carrying out audit of lifting equipment Tõsteseadme auditit tegev isik
ARCHITECTS AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED PROFESSIONS
Spacial planner Planeerija
Competent person for certain areas of activity:
Building of construction works subject to building permit requirement Ehitusloakohustusliku ehitise ehitamine
Preparation of building design documentation of construction works subject to building permit requirement Ehitusloakohustusliku ehitise ehitusprojekti koostamine NB! Qualified architect can act as a competent person
Performance of owner supervision Omanikujärelevalve tegemine
Issuing of energy performance certificates Energiamärgise andmine
Performance of energy audits Energiaauditi tegemine
Performance of site investigations Ehitusuuringud
Performance of expert assessment of building design documentation Ehitusprojekti ekspertiis
Auditing of construction works Ehitise audit
Maintenance of public roads Avalikult kasutatavate teede korrashoid
Preparation of design documentation concerning traffic arrangements Liikluskorralduse projektide tegemine
Performance of road safety audits Liiklusohutuse audit
Construction and installation of heating appliances that use solid fuel and of chimneys and flue vent connectors Tahkekütusel töötava kütteseadme ning korstna ja ühenduslõõri ehitamine ja paigaldamine
LEGAL PROFESSIONS
Bankruptcy trustee Pankrotihaldur
Patent agent Patendivolinik
Sworn advocate Vandeadvokaat
Sworn translator Vandetõlk
AUDITORS
Internal auditor Siseaudiitor
Sworn auditor Vandeaudiitor
SOCIAL CARE AND THERAPY RELATED PROFESSIONS
Childcarer Lapsehoidja
Person providing rehabilitation services Erihoolekandeteenust osutav isik
Person providing victim support services Ohvriabiteenust osutav isik
Specialist in a rehabilitation team Rehabilitatsioonimeeskonna liige
Substitute home educator Asenduskodu kasvataja
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS
Assistant pharmacist Farmatseut
Dental practitioner Hambaarst
Doctor Arst
Midwife Ämmaemand
Nurse responsible for general care Õde
Pharmacist Proviisor
Specialist responsible for pest control management/organisation Vastutav spetsialist (kahjuritõrje tegevuse juhtimine/korraldamine)
TOURISM, LEISURE AND SPORTS RELATED PROFESSIONS
Coach Treener
PROFESSIONS RELATED TO THE HANDLING OF EXPLOSIVES AND PYROTECHNIC ARTICLES
Blaster Lõhkaja
Person responsible for organising the handling of explosive substances Lõhkematerjali käitlemise korraldaja
Senior blaster Lõhkemeister
Specialist in charge in a mining enterprise Vastutav spetsialist
Pyrotechnician Pürotehnik
Person responsible for organising the handling of pyrotechnic products Pürotehnilise toote käitlemise korraldaja
ENVIRONMENT RELATED PROFESSIONS
Leading expert in environmental impact assessment Keskkonnamõju hindamise juhtekspert
Forest surveyor Metsakorraldaja
Hydrogeologist Hüdrogeoloogiliste tööde tegija
Land valuator Maa hindaja
Person performing geodetic works Geodeetiliste tööde tegija
Person performing land readjustment work Maakorraldustööde tegija
Person responsible for handling hazardous waste Ohtlike jäätmete käitluse eest vastutav isik
Radiation expert Kvalifitseeritud kiirgusekspert
FIRE SAFETY AND SECURITY RELATED PROFESSIONS
Chimney sweep Korstnapühkija
Guard Valvetöötaja
Person performing work involving open flame Tuletööd tegev isik
Private security agent Turvatöötaja
Specialist in charge of designing, installing and inspecting of fire alarm systems Vastutav spetsialist (tulekahjusignalisatsiooni- ja automaatsed tulekustutussüsteemid)
Stove-maker Pottsepp
Voluntary rescuer Vabatahtlik päästja
OTHER PROFESSIONS
Veterinary surgeon Veterinaararst
Regulated education is the norm in Estonia – especially in the health professions where we only regulate the sectoral health professions and pharmaceutical assistant. The other major health professions such as
- physiotherapists,
- optometrists,
- speech therapists,
- radiology technicians
are trained at higher education level, and the curricula are in accordance with the applicable professional standard as developed by the Estonian Qualifications Authority. The law states that if a professional standard for a particular profession has been approved by the Qualifications Authority then any course for that particular profession, as taught by a higher education or vocational institution, must follow the applicable professional standard. For further details please contact:
- Ministry of Education and Research: Tiia Raudma (Higher Education Department), [email protected], tel +372 564 99163
- Estonian ENIC/NARIC: Margit Brückel, [email protected], tel +372 697 9216
In order to work in a regulated profession with foreign qualifications one must apply for the recognition of these qualifications by a competent authority. Information about regulated professions, competent authorities and application procedures, etc., in a certain country is provided by assistance centres.
More information on professional recognition in Europe:
EU Directives
Estonian legislation
Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act (Adopted on 19 June 2008)
Applying for recognition
The applicant pursuing the approval of a foreign professional qualification should apply directly to the competent authority of the corresponding regulated professional activity. The main task of the competent authority is to compare, according to the law, the professional qualification of the applicant with the professional qualification required in Estonia for working in the regulated profession, and to decide whether the applicant has the right to work in the given regulated profession in Estonia.
The applicant must submit to the competent authority the completed application form together with the following documents:
- copy of the page in the identity document with the personal data;
- copy of the receipt confirming the payment of state duty;
- document(s) confirming the foreign professional qualification (diploma, non-higher education diploma, certificate, attestation of competence) or a certified copy;
- other documents required by the competent authority. The competent authority has the right, if necessary, to request translations of any foreign-language documents.
The competent authority reviews the application, makes a decision and informs the applicant of this within four months from the date of submission of the application and the documentation as prescribed by law. The decision by the competent authority must be formalized as an administrative act which explains the decision and the procedures for lodging an appeal. The competent body may require an applicant to take an aptitude test or complete an adaptation period of up to six months, whereas the applicant may choose one or the other, if significant differences become apparent in the evaluation process. The applicant has the right to appeal to the Ministry of Education and Research or to the administrative court.
Last updated: 14.12.2022