Pursuit of activities of a healthcare professional

Below is information concerning the right of medical and other healthcare students to temporarily pursue the activities of a licensed professional.

Fifth-year medical students

A medical student studying in Finland or abroad who has completed at least the studies pertaining to the first five years of study may, on a temporary basis, pursue the activities of a physician in a specialised medical care unit or primary healthcare unit. A student studying medicine abroad must register with the register of healthcare professionals in order to temporarily pursue the activities of a physician.

Where a sixth-year student is on emergency duty, the student must have an assigned back-up emergency duty physician in accordance with the relevant legislation on healthcare professionals. However, in accordance with the Decree of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on emergency duty, a licensed physician must be present and in charge of an emergency unit at all times.

Fourth-year medical students

A medical student who has completed the studies pertaining to the first four years of medical studies may temporarily pursue the activities of a physician in a specialised medical care unit or health centre ward but not in other roles in a health centre. The student must have completed studies in the specialty in which he or she intends to work. A student studying medicine abroad must register with the register of healthcare professionals in order to temporarily pursue the activities of a physician.

If a student performing the above activities is also delegated some of the duties of an emergency duty physician related to these activities, the student must work under the immediate direction and supervision of a licensed physician i.e. with a senior colleague. 

A fourth-year medical student is not allowed to work as an emergency duty physician in joint primary healthcare and specialised medical care emergency services.

Dental students

A dental student studying in Finland or abroad may temporarily pursue the activities of a dentist under the direction and supervision of a licensed dentist in a healthcare unit after completing at least the studies pertaining to the first four years of dental studies.

Head dispenser or pharmacist students

A person studying to be a head dispenser or pharmacist in Finland or a person studying abroad for a similar profession who has completed the general and specialist subject studies prescribed by the university and who has, on the basis of the studies completed, sufficient qualifications for attending to the tasks concerned, may, while taking part in practical training constituting part of the studies, or after completing the first period of the practical training, temporarily pursue the activities of a pharmacist in a pharmacy, hospital pharmacy or dispensary under the direction and supervision of a licensed pharmacist or head dispenser.

Other healthcare students

Degree students studying in fields other than those mentioned above in Finland or abroad may temporarily pursue the activities of a licensed healthcare professional in the field relevant to the student's course after completing two thirds of his or her relevant course. All of the student's exam results must be available before this. Students must always work under the direction and supervision of a licensed healthcare professional.

Each student pursuing the activities of a healthcare professional must have an assigned supervisor

The relevant healthcare or social care unit must assign in writing a supervisor for each student. The supervisor must work in the same unit as the student. The supervisor must be a licensed healthcare professional entitled to practise the relevant profession independently. For example, the supervisor of a dental hygiene student must be a licensed dental hygienist and the supervisor of a nursing student must be a licensed nurse. The supervisor must have sufficient practical experience. The supervisor must monitor, guide and supervise the student’s activities and, without delay, intervene in any shortcomings they exhibit and discontinue the activity if patient safety is jeopardised.