Guidance for Physicians

Authorisation or licence to practise medicine in Finland for persons who have qualified as a physician outside of the EU or EEA

1.1. Non-EU/EEA nationals

Upon application, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) may grant a permit to practise the profession of a physician or a licence to practise medicine to a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country who has qualified as a physician outside the EU/EEA and who holds the qualifications for the practice of the occupation prescribed by Decree as well as adequate language skills.

In order to be licensed or authorised, applicants must have completed any such additional studies and passed any such examination as may be prescribed by Valvira to ensure that their qualifications are of an equivalent standard to medical training offered in Finland. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate that they are in possession of the necessary language skills.

1.2. EU/EEA nationals

Valvira grants, upon application, a licence to practise medicine to a citizen of an EU/EEA country who has qualified as a physician outside of the EU/EEA and who holds such qualifications for the practice of the occupation as are prescribed by Decree.

In order to be licensed, applicants must have completed any such additional studies and passed any such examination as may be prescribed by Valvira to ensure that their qualifications are of an equivalent standard to the medical training offered in Finland.

Valvira grants, upon application, the right to practise the profession of a physician, general practitioner or specialised doctor as a licensed professional to citizens of EU/EEA member states who hold a right, granted in another EU/EEA member state, to practise the said profession on the basis of training received in a non EU/EEA country. The granting of this right is subject to the applicant having served as a medical doctor for at least three years in the EU/EEA member state in which he/she was granted the right to practise the profession of a physician, general practitioner or specialised doctor.

2. Conditions of licensing

Licensing is subject to the following conditions, as prescribed by Valvira :

1. Training leading to a medical qualification completed abroad
2. Knowledge of the Finnish or Swedish language
3. Minimum of six months of practical medical training in a Finnish hospital operated by a public body (state, municipality, municipal federation)
4. Three-part examination

2.1. Training requirements

Training leading to a medical qualification completed in a non-EU/EEA member state is defined as the completion of a basic medical qualification fulfilling certain prescribed criteria, proof of which the applicant is required to present in the form of a degree certificate or diploma along with a transcript of subjects studied. A certified copy of the original degree certificate and its translation into Finnish, Swedish or English by an authorised translator is required. An advance decision on the recognition of a degree may be requested from Valvira. Valvira may also require proof of a valid right to practise in the applicant’s home country or another country.

2.2. Language requirements

Applicants are required to provide a Civil Service Language Proficiency Certificate or a National Certificate of Language as evidence of language proficiency. Certificates of Finnish or Swedish studies, such as language courses, are not in themselves adequate proof of language proficiency. Information on language certificates and language examinations is available on the National Board of Education website (www.oph.fi).

Citizens of Finland and other EU/EEA countries are not required to provide evidence of their knowledge of Finnish or Swedish. However, health care professionals must possess the language skills required for the performance of their duties.

2.3. Practical training

Approved practical training may consist of a junior house officer placement undertaken in a Finnish hospital operated by a public body or other placement equivalent to training required of Finnish medical students. The minimum duration of practical training is six months but Valvira may decide on its duration and content on a case-by-case basis.

Institutional monitoring activities in the capacity of a guest, voluntary work or a general induction to Finnish working life arranged by the immigration or employment authorities to facilitate integration are not approved as practical training for the purpose of licensing. Research activities count towards practical training only when undertaken within a health care institution. They can be used to contribute a maximum of two months towards the required training period.

Valvira does not supply practical training posts. Applicants must obtain a practical training post independently by, for example, contacting hospitals. Arrangements for practical training are made directly between the hospital and the applicant. No authorisation from Valvira is required for the commencement of practical training.

2.4. Examination

The examination consists of three parts:

1. Written examination on the core areas of medicine
2. Written examination on health care administration
3. Oral examination in a clinical setting

The examinations are taken in Finnish or Swedish in the above order (see Annex 1).

3. Licensing

Provided that a physician meets the criteria stated above in paragraph 2, he/she may be licensed to practise medicine under the direction and supervision of a professional licensed to practise medicine independently.

Application form

Valvira does not offer a recruitment service. Applicants must obtain work independently, for example by contacting institutions such as those mentioned above. Vacancy information is also available from the Finnish Medical Association, Employment Offices and newspapers.

4. Limited authorisation

In derogation from the above, Valvira may, upon application, grant a limited authorisation to practise while the examination is pending (see paragraph 2.4 above).

Physicians who have completed their training outside of the EU/EEA may be granted a limited permit to work at a hospital operated by a public body once they have completed part 1 of the examination. Following completion of part 2 of the examination, the limited authorisation may be extended to cover health centre work.

Limited authorisation is specific to a named medical speciality and place of employment and is granted for a period of no more than six months at a time. The combined duration of the limited authorisation granted to a physician may not exceed two years.

5. Indetification code

All physicians practicing medicine in Finland must have an indetification code, which is given by Valvira at the same time as licensing or granting of the first limited authorisation. The identification code must be written or stamped on prescriptions and other documents.

6. Licensing of general practitioners

The right to practise independently as a general practitioner in Finland may be granted to a physician who has completed specific training in general medical practice (PTL) in Finland or equivalent as set out by Decree. Specific training in general medical practice is provided by university medical faculties.

7. Speciality training in Finland

The degree of specialised doctor in Finland is classed as a specialised postgraduate degree. It can be undertaken at the medical faculties of the Universities of Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu, Tampere and Turku. Please note that in order to qualify for admission to the degree course, the applicant must hold a right to practise medicine in Finland granted by Valvira .

The admission of foreign physicians and the recognition of qualifications obtained outside of Finland is by decision of the relevant medical faculty. Specialised doctor training lasts for five to six years and consists mainly of clinical placements in the relevant specialty.

Non-Finnish nationals may also choose to take the postgraduate degree in medicine, the Doctor of Medical Science, at the aforementioned universities. Obtaining a right to practise is not obligatory for the purposes of scientific research.

8. 8. Work Permits

More information about residence permits and work permits is available from the Finnish Immigration Service (www.migri.fi) and the labour authorities (www.mol.fi).