Frequently asked questions: Recognition of foreign qualifications

I have a qualification from abroad. Do I need to have it recognised? What type of recognition of foreign education should I choose?

You are only obliged to have your qualification recognised if you want to practise a regulated profession or continue your studies in Slovakia.

If you intend to practice a regulated profession in Slovakia, you must go through the process of recognition of professional qualifications. Search for your profession in the regulated professions database and follow the instructions there.

If you intend to continue your studies in Slovakia, you may use the recognition statement or undergo the academic recognition process as described below.

If you want to take have your qualification recognized voluntarily in Slovakia, it is possible to use the academic recognition process (for continuing studies and other purposes):

• at our ministry - recognition of level of foreign higher education without the study field comparison 
  
• at a higher education institution that offers a similar study programme (https://www.portalvs.sk/sk/) - recognition of higher education qualification including the the study field comparison 
  
• at the Regional school administration offices - recognition of secondary education

When is a foreign qualification valid in the Slovak Republic automatically and recognition is not required?

Recognition is not required under the Treaty between the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic on the Mutual Recognition of Equivalence of Educational Documents Issued in the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic, according to which educational documents issued by Czech secondary and higher education institutions directly in the Czech Republic are automatically equivalent without recognition for all purposes except for regulated professions.

For purposes other than regulated professions, it is also possible to use the system of recognition clauses. If a recognition statement has been issued for your foreign qualification, simply download it and attach it to the proof of education that you submit to the university or employer. It is not necessary to go through the academic recognition process.

I am a healthcare professional from a third country, what is required for my qualification to be recognised in order to practise my profession in the Slovak Republic?

The complete procedure for a healthcare professional with a professional qualification from a third country in the Slovak Republic is as follows:

1. Recognition of the evidence of formal qualifications (allowing to take the supplementary examination and to enter the temporary professional placement)
2. Supplementary examination at a Slovak education institution (in Slovak language)
3. Recognition of professional qualifications (allows independent practice of profession)
4. Recognition of medical specialisation or entry into a specialisation course (if applicable).

The evidence of formal qualifications will only be recognised if it meets the conditions that are imposed on a professional in the Slovak Republic (level of education achieved, minimum length of studies, minimum hourly endowment, theoretical and practical training). Recognition of the evidence of formal qualifications does not allow the independent exercise of a profession, but it does allow registration for a supplementary examination and entry into a temporary professional traineeship (performance of work under the supervision of a qualified person).

The supplementary examination is held several times a year at predetermined universities and secondary schools. The content of the examination and the current dates are published on our website. It is possible to apply for the supplementary examination at any time, independently of the temporary professional placement. You must apply directly to the university or secondary school organising the date (current dates of the supplementary examination)

The recognition of the professional qualifications is possible after successful completion of the supplementary examination, on the basis of an application form sent to you, accompanied by a certified copy of the supplementary examination report.

For more information, see the article Procedure for the recognition of health professional qualifications from third countries.

I am going to study abroad. Will the education I complete there be recognised in the Slovak Republic?

It is not possible to make a statement on the outcome of the recognition procedure several years in advance. Legislation, as well as the accreditation process and the conditions for recognition, change in real time and changes occur internationally every day. First of all, studying at an established, recognised higher education institution is a prerequisite for future smooth recognition. The Slovak Republic considers a recognised higher education institution to be an educational institution which is authorised to provide higher education under the legislation of its home country or has received institutional accreditation. However, attention should also be paid to the study programme, for example, whether it is a higher education study programme or a lifelong learning programme provided by the higher education institution, as well as to its accreditation. If you wish to pursue a regulated profession after graduation, it is also advisable to check whether the study programme qualifies you for the same profession in the country of origin and whether the level and extent of education is comparable to that required for its pursuit in the Slovak Republic.

How do I check whether the higher education institution is recognised in the country of origin?

European countries that have acceded to the Lisbon Recognition Convention are obliged to publish lists of their recognised higher education institutions on their official websites. Links to these lists can be found on the ENIC-NARIC portal (first you need to select the country in the Countries of the Networks category).

For non-European countries, the list of recognised schools is generally available through the websites of ministries and other government agencies responsible for higher education.

See also: Recognised (higher) education institution

I need confirmation that my studies abroad are equivalent to my studies in the Slovak Republic. I am required to provide "equivalence" from my school abroad, how do I obtain it?

The term equivalence is not currently used in the legal system. Where equivalence is mentioned, it is usually an evaluation of the study abroad, i.e. an assessment of the equivalence of the study in terms of preparation for a future profession.

The term has also been used in the past for the transfer of grades from foreign schools.

For information on these services, please follow the links provided.

How are parts of a degree (year, semester) taken abroad recognised? Do I have to take differential exams and how often?

If the study is completed at an accredited high school or college, the relevant year can be recognized after comparing the curriculum of the high school and the curriculum of the college. The subjects in which make-up exams are taken are prescribed by the school principal in Slovakia or elementary the respective higher education institution.

Recognition of the elementary and secondary school portion of the course of study shall be sought from the principal of the school in Slovakia, who shall compare the curriculum and determine the subjects in which the commission examinations are to be taken. According to Act No 245/2008 Coll. on education and training (the Education Act), it is the responsibility of the school principal to place a pupil in the appropriate grade after completing his/her schooling abroad. In the event of a need to transfer grades, the published transfer scales can be used. From 2022, the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas no longer issues individual opinions with the transfer of grades to the Slovak grading scale.

At the request of a pupil's legal representative or at the request of an adult pupil, a pupil may take a commission examination. In the request, the pupil's legal representative or the adult pupil shall indicate the years for which the examinations are to be conducted.

A pupil who is studying at a school abroad and who has applied to sit the commission examinations shall sit the examinations. The date, content and scope of the examinations shall be determined by the principal of the school in which the examinations are to be held not later than 15 days before the examinations are to be held. On the basis of the results of the commission examinations, the school shall issue a certificate to the pupil.

A pupil who has not applied to take the commission examinations shall take the examinations after the end of the extraordinary type of schooling (after returning from abroad). According to the results of the commission examinations, the headmaster shall place the pupil in the appropriate grade.

Differential examinations may also be imposed by the Regional Office of School Administration in the process of recognition of completed secondary education (recognition of a secondary education document from abroad). An examination in Slovak language and literature is not compulsory for the recognition of completed education if the studies were completed abroad.

In the case of a higher education institution, courses and credits taken abroad are recognised by the relevant higher education institution in the Slovak Republic which offers studies in the same or a related field of study.

What degree or title can I use after recognition of foreign education? What are the rules for using foreign degrees?

An applicant whose foreign academic degree has been recognised shall use it in its original language, wording and abbreviation, i.e. as it appears on the original degree document.

Example 1: A graduate has been awarded a foreign Master of Science degree in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is listed on his/her diploma in the form "Master of Science (MSc.)".

He has subsequently applied for recognition of this degree for further studies and other purposes in the academic recognition process. The decision will state the title "Master of Science", abbreviated as "MSc."as it appears on the diploma. Once the decision has been submitted to the Documents Department, this degree could also be entered on the identity document.

Example 2: A medical graduate in Ukraine has completed the full process of professional recognition for the regulated profession of doctor in the Slovak Republic. Her diploma bears the title “magistr”.The decision on the recognition of professional qualifications will state that she can use the academic title "magistr” and the professional title "doctor", which she has been authorised to use by the recognition of her professional qualification. The graduate has not been authorised to use the Slovak academic title "Doctor of General Medicine", abbreviated as "MUDr."

Will my qualification from a branch of a foreign school in the Slovak Republic be recognised?

A document of education issued by a branch of a foreign school in the Slovak Republic is a foreign qualification, therefore it is not automatically valid and is subject to recognition. Foreign higher education institutions must have a licence to operate in the Slovak Republic, which specifies what study programmes they are authorised to offer, at what locations and under what conditions. In case of violation of the conditions of the authorisation, the education is not in accordance with the law of the Slovak Republic and the education will not be recognised.

It is recommended to take only programmes with the permission of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, education obtained in other programmes provided by a foreign higher education institution in the territory of the Slovak Republic will not be recognised at the level of higher education.

Will my MBA (DBA, LL.M., etc.) from the Czech Republic, Poland or Hungary be recognised?

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other professional degree awarded on the basis of a lifelong learning course (even if it is provided by a higher education institution) is not evidence of second-level higher education within the meaning of the legislation of the above-mentioned countries. It is therefore not equivalent to a document of formal, higher education in the Slovak Republic and cannot be considered an academic degree. Therefore, in the process of recognition of higher education, this document will not be recognised and a decision will not be issued which allows the entry of the degree in the identity document, as the entry is possible only in the case of an academic degree. There is no specific process for the recognition of a foreign professional degree.

 The above does not apply to countries where the qualification or degree of Master of Business Administration constitutes a regular second-level higher education qualification under their legal system, with corresponding accreditation of the study programme, credit endowment, etc.

Who will recognize my certificate from a life-long learning course for a regulated profession?

A certificate or attestation obtained from a lifelong learning is evidence of a professional qualifications (without being evidence of formal education). It is the responsibility of the body listed in the database of regulated professions as competent for the recognition of professional qualifications, or the body that issues a similar certificate in the Slovak Republic.

Who recognises substitutes for pedagogical attestations or credits of pedagogical staff obtained abroad?

The Centre for the Recognition of Diplomas cannot make statements on the continuing education of pedagogical and professional staff; it only assesses the education required for access to the teaching profession if it has been acquired abroad. If you have any questions concerning the replacement of teaching certificates and the crediting of credits, please use the contacts of the Secondary Schools and Lifelong Learning Section of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic. 

Who recognizes medical specializations and certified work activities?

The Centre for Recognition of Diplomas cannot make statements on the recognition of specialisations (and related credits) or certified work activities; it only assesses the training required to enter the profession of a health professional (without specialisation), if it has been acquired abroad. For questions concerning the recognition of specialisations and certified work activities, please contact the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic. 

Topics:

Recognition statement National regulated professions database Supplementary examination for third country healthcare professionals Proportionality test for regulated professions