Licensed practical nurses

In Finland, the profession of a licensed practical nurse (LPN, licensed vocational nurse, state enrolled nurse in English, lähihoitaja in Finnish) is regulated by law. However, even a person without LPN training can perform duties of an LPN if the person has related education, experience and professional skill.

 

Valvira may approve a foreign applicant’s education and grant him/her the right to use occupational title of a licensed practical nurse. When approving education and granting the right to use the title Valvira will add the applicant’s information to the Finnish Central Register of Health Care Professionals (named Terhikki in Finnish).

A person may work as a LPN even without authorisation from Valvira. If a person works without authorisation, then he/she is not allowed to use the occupational title of a licensed practical nurse. However, keep in mind that most Finnish employers hire only those who have been authorised by Valvira to use the occupational title of a LPN. Prerequisites for authorisation depend on the applicant’s citizenship and where the applicant was initially trained.

These instructions will guide you on how to receive the legal occupational title. If you wish to work without it, contact employers directly.

Language skills

All LPNs working in Finland must have good enough skills in one (1) of Finland’s two (2) official languages. Most Finns speak Finnish as their mother tongue and about 5% speak Swedish. All applicants need to study Finnish but only some need to show an official language certificate to Valvira.

Employers can ask for a language certificate when they hire nurses.

• EU/EEA citizens do not need to show an official language certificate of Finnish to Valvira before they can be given the right to use the LPN title.
• Other nationals (meaning people whose country of citizenship is not a EU member state ) need to show an official language certificate of Finnish to Valvira before they can be given the right to use the LPN title. The certificate must show at least satisfactory skills.

More information on official Finnish language certificates