Doctors with EU/EEA qualification and citizenship

Doctors who have completed their medical qualification in an EU/EEA member state and who are EU/EEA citizens are licensed in accordance with the European directive 2005/36/EC. With the directive training of doctors and medical specialists is harmonised across the EU/EEA area and qualifications received in one member state will generally be automatically recognised across all the member states.

 

Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health) grants two different licences. The type of licensing you will be granted depends on your qualifications and training.

  1. If you have a primary medical qualification, you can be licensed to practice medicine.
  2. If your specialist training complies with the requirements of directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, you can be licensed to practice as a medical specialist.

Earlier clinical work experience                

If your qualification does not meet the above European Directive requirements, you may be granted a licence on the basis of your qualification and clinical experience. You need to have a total of three consecutive years of clinical experience gained over the past five years in order for your clinical experience to compensate your insufficient qualification.

Compensation measures: aptitude test and adaptation period

If your qualification does not meet the directive requirements and you do not have enough clinical experience to be licensed, you may be able to demonstrate your professional competence by taking compensation measures. The measures include a so-called aptitude test or an adaptation period and Valvira may request one from you.

Aptitude test & adaptation period

The aptitude test is designed to assess whether you have the necessary knowledge and skills to practice medicine. Valvira will give you information on the test content in the decision you will receive after your application.

The adaptation period means working in Finland under the supervision of another doctor for a maximum of three years. The adaptation period can also include further medical training. You are responsible for finding suitable employment for yourself for the adaptation period; please contact hospitals directly.

Language skills

All doctors working in Finland must be able to speak either Finnish or Swedish. Finland is officially a bilingual country and some 5% of the population speaks Swedish as their first language.

Citizens of EU/EEA member states are not required to provide official proof of their Finnish or Swedish skills directly to Valvira in order to be licensed.

However, 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.

How to apply for licensing

Different language versions are available for this form. Choose version that suits you best.

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 copy of your passport or equivalent so that we can verify your nationality.
  • A copy of your degree certificate or diploma and all relevant appendices such as degree transcript and grades awarded.
  • Proof of your entitlement to practice medicine in your EU/EEA country of origin. Note that this document has to be recent, meaning it was issued no more than three months earlier.
  • Proof that your qualification complies with the requirements of directive 2005/36/EC.

Copies must be officially certified.

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.

Your degree certificate and all appendices must be translated into Finnish, Swedish or English by and authorised translator. All translations and copies of translations must be officially certified.

The process for issuing the documents confirming your qualifications and your entitlement to practice medicine varies between countries. If you are not sure how you can obtain these, please contact your country’s Ministry of Health or a similar public body and they will advise you further.

All applications will be retained by Valvira. We will not make copies of the documents you have submitted.

The processing time for all applications is three to four months which is in accordance with the EU directive.

Two-stage licensing practice of doctors discontinued May 1 2011