Psychotherapist qualified outside of the EU/EEA

On application, Valvira grants the right to use the occupational title of psychotherapist to professionals trained either in Finland or abroad. Other people who have sufficient education, experience and professional skills can also be employed in a profession that has a protected occupational title. However, only persons granted the right to use a protected occupational title by Valvira may use that title.

In order to qualify for the title of psychotherapist in Finland, you must have:

-    appropriate background training,
-    background work experience,
-    psychotherapist training.

Your training is evaluated as a whole, meaning that your background training and work experience prior to your actual psychotherapist training are also considered. For evaluation purposes, we will request a statement concerning your training from an educational institution / university in Finland that trains psychotherapists. Based on the statement received, Valvira will specify the supplementary training that you will need to complete, if any.

Background training

Psychotherapist training in Finland is continuing education that is only available to persons who have already completed an appropriate degree or qualification. The following are examples of such an appropriate degree or qualification:

1) an applicable master’s-level degree at a university, or an applicable qualification in health and social services at a university of applied sciences; the degree must include, or you must have otherwise completed, 30 credits of studies in psychology or psychiatry;
2) a post-secondary nursing qualification plus a specialisation in psychiatry if the qualification did not include studies in psychiatry;
3) any other training comparable to point 1 or 2 above, completed abroad.
Please note that the training regime for psychotherapists may differ from one country to another. For example, what is described above as background training and psychotherapist training may be contained in a single degree or qualification.

Background work experience

After completing your background training, you must have had at least two years of work experience in mental health services or similar duties before you may apply for psychotherapist training. Please note that, as a rule, volunteer work in mental health services is not acceptable as such work experience.

Psychotherapist training

In Finland, psychotherapist training is continuing education completed at a university. Persons applying for this training must satisfy the background training and background work experience requirements. The scope of the training is at least 60 credits, divided between theoretical studies, supervised clinical psychotherapy with clients, personal psychotherapy and final written project work. This competence is proved by a proficiency test. Applicants who trained abroad are also required to have completed similar training modules, including the student’s personal psychotherapy and supervised clinical psychotherapy. When applying, it is in your interest to submit details of your supervised clinical psychotherapy work and personal psychotherapy (background training of the instructors, psychotherapy orientation, number of hours and dates).

In the case of training completed abroad, Valvira will compare that training to the requirements for background training, background work experience and psychotherapist training. Training as a psychotherapist involves supplementing and improving students’ existing professional competence, and for this reason Valvira basically requires that applicants must have the required background training and background work experience. The comparison shall take into account all of the diplomas, certificates of supplementary training and continuing education and other documentation of formal qualifications, as well as the relevant work experience. Valvira compares the qualifications of these certificates and experience with the knowledge and qualifications required in Finland. For comparison purposes, and for the information of the university consulted for a statement, Valvira must have detailed content descriptions of all the units included in the studies you have completed. It is also important to submit details of your supervised clinical psychotherapy work and personal psychotherapy (background training of the instructors, psychotherapy orientation, number of hours and dates).

Applying for the right to practise

Fill in the application form (pdf) or write a freeform application. Enter the occupational title you are applying for (psychotherapist), your personal details and your contact details. Your personal details must include at least your name and date of birth. If you are applying for the right to practise in more than one profession, you must complete a separate application form for each of them. Fill in the application in Finnish, Swedish or English.

Send your application and attachments to Valvira by post. If you submit all the relevant documents with your application, the application process will be quicker. The processing period is calculated from the time when Valvira has received all the required documents and reports. Please do not send your application or attachments by e-mail in advance, because this will slow down the processing of your application.
Below is a list of the documents that you must attach to your application.

You must supply officially certified copies of these documents. Copies can be officially certified by a notary public in Finland (dvv.fi) or in another EU or EEA Member State, or by a Finnish mission in other countries. Copies issued by a notary public outside the EU/EEA are not acceptable. You may also submit copies issued by a foreign authority and verified using the Apostille or Grand Legalisation procedure. You must submit to Valvira, by post, the copies that bear the original stamp and signature of the notary public or Finnish mission.

Please attach the following documents to your application:

1) A copy of a passport, identity card, alien's passport or refugee travel document (document certifying your identity and nationality)

2) Diploma of your background training.
Please also submit the contact details for the educational institution (snail mail address and official e-mail address) so that Valvira can verify the validity of your degree.
OR
Please have your original degree certificate (diploma) legalised in the country in which you completed your training, using the Apostille or Grand Legalisation procedure. In this procedure, the position of the person who signed the degree certificate and their right to sign that document must be verified. Please contact the foreign ministry or other relevant body in the country where your completed your training to find out how your degree certificate should be legalised in that country. Further information on the Apostille and Grand Legalisation procedures is available on the Valvira website.

3) Degree certificate appendix (e.g. diploma supplement, academic transcript) for your background training.

4) Freeform consent stating that Valvira has your permission to submit your application documents to a Finnish educational institution for an expert opinion if necessary, for which a fee will be charged.

5) A more detailed description of the courses and training periods listed in the academic transcript (learning outcomes, contents and number of hours; and operating environments and duties in the case of training periods) concerning your background training. For the purposes of the statement to be returned by the university consulted, you must indicate when you completed the applicable background training and when you began your actual psychotherapist training.
A general study guide is only acceptable as documentation if the educational institution separately and specifically confirms that you have completed your studies in accordance with the description in the guide. The educational institution may deliver the report directly to Valvira by e-mail.

6) Certificate of at least 30 credits in studies in psychology or psychiatry, if such studies were not included in your background training.

7) Employment certificates for your background work experience. Employment certificates must have been issued by your employer, and they must state at least your job title, your job duties and the duration of your employment.

8) Diploma of your psychotherapist training.
Please also submit the contact details for the educational institution (snail mail address and official e-mail address) so that Valvira can verify the validity of your degree.
OR
Please have your original degree certificate (diploma) legalised in the country in which you completed your training, using the Apostille or Grand Legalisation procedure. In this procedure, the position of the person who signed the degree certificate and their right to sign that document must be verified. Please contact the foreign ministry or other relevant body in the country where your completed your training to find out how your degree certificate should be legalised in that country. Further information on the Apostille and Grand Legalisation procedures is available on the Valvira website.

9) Degree certificate appendix (e.g. diploma supplement, academic transcript) for your psychotherapist training.

10) A more detailed description of the courses and training periods listed in the academic transcript (learning outcomes, contents and number of hours; and operating environments and duties in the case of training periods) concerning your psychotherapist training. For the purposes of the statement to be returned by the university consulted, you must indicate when you completed the applicable background training and when you began your actual psychotherapist training.

Please supply certificates of supervised clinical psychotherapy work included in your actual psychotherapist training (number of hours, dates) and of your personal psychotherapy (including the psychotherapy orientation in addition to the above details).
A general study guide is only acceptable as documentation if the educational institution separately and specifically confirms that you have completed your studies in accordance with the description in the guide. The educational institution may deliver the report directly to Valvira by e-mail.

11) Employment certificates for work in the profession following completion of your training. Employment certificates must have been issued by your employer, and they must state at least your job title, your job duties and the duration of your employment.

12) A certificate of any supplementary professional training and continuing education.

13) A certificate, no more than three months old, verifying that your right to practise the profession in question has not been restricted or revoked (e.g. Certificate of Good Standing). You must submit such a certificate from every country where you have been legalised to practise your profession.

14) Translations into Finnish, Swedish or English of all the aforementioned documents.

The translations must have been produced by an authorised translator in Finland or in another EU/EEA Member State. Authorised translators in Finland can be found through the online service of the National Agency for Education (oph.fi).

15) A certificate of language proficiency.

Please visit the Valvira website for further information on how to demonstrate language proficiency.

Valvira may request further explanations as necessary. Please note that Valvira will not return any documents submitted or make copies.
If you have worked in the profession in question for at least 3 years in the EU/EEA Member State where you were granted the right to practise said profession or to use the occupational title, then your application may be processed as for training completed in an EU/EEA Member State. This applies to EU citizens and persons of comparable status.

Processing period

The processing period is calculated from the time when Valvira has received all the required documents. If Valvira has to send you a request for further information or if Valvira has to verify your qualification, then processing your application will take significantly longer, about one year on average. In most cases, the processing period will be at least 4 months.

Fees

Valvira charges a fee for every decision concerning licences to practise a profession, including when an application is denied. Half the processing fee is payable if you withdraw your application.

Types of fee include:

Fee for expert opinion EUR 200–600
Decision on supplementary studies EUR 300
Legalisation after completing supplementary studies EUR 500
Legalisation without a decision mandating supplementary studies EUR 800

The decision on the right to practise a profession will be issued in Finnish or Swedish. The invoice will be sent separately by post after the decision. If Valvira has requested an expert statement, the invoice for the statement fee will be sent to you after Valvira receives that statement.