Medical students

Medical students studying outside Finland are entitled to work as doctors in Finland on a temporary basis. During the application process you will be entered into the Central Register of Healthcare Professionals also known as Terhikki. Please apply to Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health) for entry.

 

You can be registered once you have completed your 4th and/or 5th year of study in full and have sufficient language skills (see Language skills below). Exact requirements depend on your nationality and where you are studying.

Once the registration process is complete, we will send you a written confirmation including your unique doctor identification number and registration number.

Applicant is studying in an EU/EEA member state

Language skills: EU/EEA Nationals only

All medical students working in Finland must be able to speak either Finnish or Swedish. Please keep in mind that your employer has a legal duty to ensure that all healthcare professionals it hires (no matter citizenship) have good enough language skills to successfully perform their professional duties. Your employer is allowed to request an official proof of your language skills from you.

Language skills: non-EU/EEA nationals only

All medical students working in Finland must be able to speak either Finnish or Swedish. Before you can be entered into Terhikki, you need to provide Valvira official proof of your Finnish or Swedish language skills.

Please note that the only form of proof we accept is a copy of your National Certificate of Language Proficiency or Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate. These must be completed at Skill Level 3 or with mark Satisfactory skills respectively.

How to apply for registration

These instructions apply to all applicants studying in EU/EEA countries.

The form can be filled in electronically or manually. Either way, print it out and mail it to the enclosed address.

Please include the following documents:

  • A certified copy of your passport
  • A transcript of the studies you have completed so far
  • If you cannot use Valvira’s form, please include an official confirmation from your university that the studies you have completed are equivalent to the 4th/5th year curriculum. The confirmation must include details of when you first started studying medicine and the date by which you have successfully completed studies equivalent to the 4th or 5th year curriculum.
  • if you are a non-EU/EEA national, a certified copy of your Finnish language certificate

In Finland, you can arrange for your documents to be certified by the notary public at local Register offices but practices may vary between countries. Notary public’s signature is sufficient, but signature and Apostille certificate will be accepted as well.

 

Applicant is studying outside the EU/EEA

Education requirements

Before you can apply for registration, you need to have completed your 5th year curriculum in full and passed Part 1 of a Finnish professional competence examination. Part 1 is a written examination on clinical medicine and healthcare and can be taken during your 5th year.

  • For further information on the competence examination, see Examinations

Language skills: EU/EEA nationals only

All medical students working in Finland must be able to speak either Finnish or Swedish. Please keep in mind that your employer has a legal duty to ensure that all healthcare professionals it hires (no matter citizenship) have good enough language skills to successfully perform their professional duties. Your employer is allowed to request an official proof of your language skills from you.

Language skills: non-EU/EEA nationals only

All medical students working in Finland must be able to speak either Finnish or Swedish. Before you can be entered into Terhikki, you need to provide Valvira official proof of your Finnish or Swedish language skills.

Please note that the only form of proof we accept is a copy of your National Certificate of Language Proficiency or Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate. These must be completed at Skill Level 3 or with mark Satisfactory skills respectively.

How to apply for registration

These instructions apply to all applicants studying outside the EU/EEA countries.

The form can be filled in electronically or manually. Either way, print it out and mail it to the enclosed address.

Please include the following documents:

  • A certified copy of your passport
  • A transcript of the studies you have completed so far
  • If you cannot use Valvira’s form, please include an official confirmation from your university that the studies you have completed are equivalent to the 5th year curriculum. The confirmation must include details of when you first started studying medicine and the date by which you have successfully completed studies equivalent to the 5th year curriculum.
  • if you are a non-EU/EEA national, a certified copy of your Finnish language certificate

In Finland, you can arrange for your documents to be certified by the notary public at local Register offices but practices may vary between countries. Notary public’s signature is sufficient, but signature and Apostille certificate will be accepted as well.

Two-stage licensing practice of doctors discontinued May 1 2011