The recognition of professional healthcare qualifications obtained in non-member states is carried out in a two-stage process. In the first stage, the applicant requests the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic to recognize their formal qualifications. When recognizing the formal qualifications, it is assessed whether the educational document was obtained at a recognized school and whether the education meets the formal requirements for comparability as defined in Government Regulation No. 296/2010 Coll. on professional competence for the practice of healthcare professions, the method of further education of healthcare professionals, the system of specialization fields, and the system of certified work activities.
After recognition of the educational document obtained in a non-member state, the applicant is required to take a supplementary examination at a secondary school or higher education institution in accordance with the provisions of Section 18a of Act No. 422/2015 Coll. on the recognition of formal qualifications and professional qualifications and on amendments to certain regulations, which provides the same study program as was completed in order to verify the actual knowledge of migrants.
The supplementary examination (hereinafter referred to as "the examination") for healthcare professions is an assessment of the knowledge and skills of applicants who apply for the recognition of professional qualifications to practice regulated healthcare professions in the Slovak Republic.
The examination is conducted in the state language (Slovak). The examination consists of a written and an oral part. The written part is focused on demonstrating professional knowledge in the relevant healthcare profession as well as demonstrating knowledge of generally binding legal regulations governing the provision of healthcare in the Slovak Republic.
Only applicants who have successfully passed the written part proceed to the oral part. Depending on the type of healthcare profession, the oral part of the supplementary exam may also consist of a practical part, which is conducted in simulated conditions.
After successfully completing both parts of the examination, a recognized educational institution (university or secondary school in the Slovak Republic) will issue a certificate of completion of the supplementary examination.
The professional qualifications for the practice of a healthcare profession issued in a third country shall be automatically recognized for the practice of a healthcare profession issued in the Slovak Republic on the basis of a recognized formal qualification and a protocol on a supplementary examination taken after the recognition at a specified higher education institution or secondary school in the Slovak Republic. Proof of successful completion of the supplementary examination shall be attached to the application for recognition of professional qualifications as a mandatory attachment to the application.