Specific procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in third countries

Process of recognition of medical professional qualifications from third countries

Recognition of medical professional qualifications acquired on the territory of third countries (all healthcare professions) is carried out in a two-stage process. In the first stage, the applicant applies to the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic - Centre for the Recognition of Diplomas (CRD) for recognition of the formal qualification. In the process, it will be assessed whether the education document was acquired at a state-recognised school and whether the education fulfils the formal requirements of comparability according to the requirements defined in Government Regulation No 296/2010 Coll. on professional competence for the exercise of the healthcare profession, the method of further education of health professionals, the system of specialisation fields and the system of certified work activities.

After the recognition of the educational document, the applicant is obliged to take a supplementary examination at a secondary or higher education institution that provides the same study programme as the one completed in order to verify the actual knowledge of migrants.

A document of professional qualification for the exercise of the health profession issued in a third State shall be automatically recognised as equivalent to a document of professional qualification for the exercise of the health profession issued in the Slovak Republic on the basis of the recognised document of education and the supplementary examination carried out after the recognition of the document of education at a recognised university or a recognised secondary school in the Slovak Republic. Proof of successful completion of the supplementary examination shall be attached to the application for recognition of the professional qualification as a compulsory annex to the application.

How to proceed

1. The first step is to apply to the CRD for recognition of formal qualifications and professional qualifications for the exercise of the regulated profession. Once you have received a decision on the recognition of the educational document for the exercise of the health regulated profession, you can:
   • apply for a supplementary examination at a university or secondary school in the Slovak Republic
   • take up a temporary professional traineeship
2. In the second step, after successful completion of all parts of the supplementary examination, you need to send the supplementary examination report to the CRD together with the application for recognition of the professional qualification after the supplementary examination. You will be issued with a decision on the recognition of your professional qualification for independent practice of a regulated profession

Supplementary examination

The dates and content of the supplementary examination for each health profession can be found in the Supplementary Examination section. You must apply for the examination directly at the university or secondary school that has a published date for the supplementary examination (not at the CRD).

Temporary professional traineeship

A person who has a recognised educational qualification to practise a regulated health profession in the Slovak Republic is entitled to undertake a temporary professional traineeship in which he/she practises the profession under the supervision of a qualified person for a maximum period of 18 months. The temporary professional traineeship is not compulsory in the process of recognition of professional qualifications, but it can help a worker with a qualification from a third country to bridge the period of preparation for the supplementary examination and to get directly acquainted with the system. It is also not necessary to complete the full 18 months of the temporary professional traineeship; the candidate can apply for the date of the supplementary examination at any time, regardless of the temporary vocational traineeship.

More information about temporary professional traineeship available on the website of the Ministry of Health.

General information on recognition of qualifications in relation to the Ukraine crisis

In connection with the situation in Ukraine, several legislative changes have been adopted in the Slovak Republic since 2022, which have simplified the process of recognizing educational documents and professional qualifications. The current status is described below.

Recognition for continuing studies

Ukraine has been included in the automatic recognition system, and a statement on the recognition of the level of attained education is available for selected qualifications. Applicants for university studies in the Slovak Republic can download an electronic clause for their qualification, which they submit directly to the university together with the qualification to which the clause relates. This means that they do not have to go through the recognition process at the ministry (Centre for Recognition of Diplomas) or the Regional School Administration Office.

If the qualification is not included in the recognition statement system, it is possible to apply for:

• recognition of secondary education at the Regional School Administration Office
• recognition of the level of higher education without study field comparison at the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas
• recognition of higher education qualification including the field of study at a university that offers education in a related field of study.

The recognition clause, as well as the other types of recognition mentioned above, apply not only to continuing education but also to other purposes (e.g., the labor market), but they do not apply to regulated professions. 

Recognition of professional qualifications for the practice of a regulated profession

Those interested in pursuing regulated professions (healthcare, education, certain trades, etc.; database of regulated professions) are required to undergo a process of professional qualification recognition. The outcome of this process is recognition that allows access to a specific, regulated profession.

Based on legislative changes from 2022, an apostille or detailed study content (syllabi, course information sheets) is not required when submitting an application. However, these documents may be requested later in individual cases during the process.

Supplementary exam and temporary professional internship

As regards healthcare professions, holders of Ukrainian qualifications are required to pass a supplementary examination for healthcare professionals from third countries in order to obtain full recognition of their professional qualifications. The exam consists of a written and oral (practical) part and is conducted exclusively in the Slovak language. To apply for the supplementary examination, recognition of the evidence of formal qualifications for regulated professions, which is carried out by the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas, is required. 

Between recognition and successful completion of the supplementary examination, holders of Ukrainian healthcare qualifications have the opportunity to work under supervision as part of a temporary professional traineeship. The conditions for temporary professional internships are regulated by the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.

Specific procedure for the profession of doctor (pediatrics) 

In the case of graduates of the pediatrics faculties in Ukraine who have not completed previous education in the field of general medicine, a specific procedure has been introduced for graduates of pediatrics and pediatric medicine from third countries, which allows them to obtain recognition of their professional qualifications as doctors of medicine in the Slovak Republic.

Missing documents related to displacement

If, for reasons related to displacement, it is not possible to submit some of the documents required for the recognition process, please submit all the documents you have available (including simple copies, scans, photographs). If it is not possible to submit any of the required documents, please attach a sworn statement explaining why the document cannot be submitted. The application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Confirmations of more recent documents (approx. from 2000 onwards) can be requested and downloaded by their holder via the EDBO (UA) database and submitted to the recognition authority as supporting evidence.

The following options are also available to persons who possess international protection (e.g., temporary asylum):

1. If, for reasons related to displacement, you are unable to submit any certificates or other evidence, even though you have completed your education, it is possible to enter into the process of verifying the education achieved by the applicant with international protection, which includes testing and classification into the appropriate level and year of education based on the test results, in order to obtain a Slovak qualification. For more information, contact the Centre for Recognition of Diplomas.
2. If you are unable to prove that you have completed secondary education and are interested in studying at a university in the Slovak Republic, you can also prove that you meet this condition by means of a sworn statement and a test of general study aptitude in accordance with the university's internal regulations. For more information, please contact the higher education institution in the Slovak Republic.
3. If you have not completed your education and are interested in having part of your studies recognized and being placed in a year at a secondary school or university, this is referred to as recognition of study periods. Please contact a primary, secondary, or higher education institution in the Slovak Republic.

Sources of information on the Ukrainian education system

• Education system of Ukraine (EN)
• List of recognized higher education institutions (UA) - (EN)
• Requesting personal education certificates EDBO (UA)
• Verify document through the EDBO database (UA)

Process of recognition of professional qualifications in the field of paediatrics or children's medicine

Persons who have completed their education in paediatrics or paediatric medicine in Ukraine or in another third country without prior education in general medicine will be subject to an aptitude examination to compensate for differences in education and training from the following subjects:

• anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine
• neurology
• emergency medicine
• general medicine
• medical immunology
• clinical biochemistry
• neurosurgery
• nuclear medicine

Current dates of the examination for paediatricians at the Slovak University of Health Sciences in Bratislava:

• same as the dates of the supplementary examination for the regulated profession of doctor of medicine (please contact the Slovak University of Health Sciences for the exact dates)

The exam can also be taken in Ukrainian or Russian. Further information (in several languages) is published on the website of the Slovak Medical University.

How to proceed?

If you have a degree in paediatrics (no previous education in general medicine), wish to take the aptitude test for paediatricians and do not have an active procedure at the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, you must first submit an application for recognition of the professional qualification for the exercise of a regulated profession, on the basis of which a decision on recognition of the diploma will be issued to you with the imposition of the aptitude test.

In your application, please indicate the name of the regulated profession lekár - doctor of medicine (in the Slovak Republic, it is necessary to first acquire the professional qualification of a doctor of medicine, and only then a specialisation, e.g. paediatrics). Please do not indicate the name of the profession as "paediatrician" etc., you will be asked to change the name of the profession in the application and you will delay the processing of the application.

Once you have successfully passed the aptitude test, you will be recognised as having the evidence of formal qualifications to practise the regulated profession of doctor (without specialisation) and you can take up a temporary professional placement (supervised work). To practise the regulated profession of doctor (without specialisation) independently, you will need to pass a supplementary examination.

Once your professional qualification has been recognised on the basis of the supplementary examination, it will be possible to apply to the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic for recognition of your specialisation in paediatrics, or to take up a specialisation course in the Slovak Republic.

Topics:

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