Professional recognition
Professional recognition is a recognition of foreign education for the purpose of the performance of a profession. The procedure of professional recognition differs according whether the profession is regulated or non-regulated. Professional recognition for non-regulated professions is similar to academic recognition, i.e. recognition for the purpose of access to the further education in the Czech Republic. If the profession is non-regulated, where elementary, secondary and higher professional education is required, the procedure is the same as for nostrification (recognition). If a higher (university) education is required, the procedure is the same as for the recognition of university education for the purpose of further study.
Professional recognition for the performance of a regulated profession is also called recognition of professional qualification. The aim of the procedure is not the assessment of the content and scope of the formal education and its comparison with the scope and content of a similar study program in the Czech Republic. Recognition of professional qualification is an assessment of skills and competence of the applicant to perform the certain profession. Skills and competences may be documented by a certificate of completed formal education but it can also be demonstrated by a document of the performance of a certain activity or by another type o document. For each regulated profession there are specific requirements for skills or education which must be met by the applicant for recognition of professional qualification. The list of these requirements for each profession is indicated in the directory of regulated professions provided by the Ministry of Education.
The procedure of recognition may differ for EU member state nationals and other specific categories such as family members of EU member state nationals, Third Country Nationals with permanent residence and for Third Country Nationals. The procedure of recognition of professional qualification of EU member state nationals is governed by Act No. 18/2004 Coll., on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Other Competence of nationals of Member States of the European Union and on the amendment of some acts (Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications). Recognition of professional qualification of Third Country Nationals is governed by legal regulations specific to each regulated profession.
The recognition of professional qualification for a lawyer, architect, auditor, doctor, dental practicioner and pharmacist, a nurse responsible for general care and midwife and veterinary surgeon is governed by specific laws, and the professions of lawyer and auditor are also governed by a special directive. For these professions there is an established minimum content of the study program so that the mutual recognition of the diplomas, certificates and documents is practically automatic.
Sources of law:
- Act No. 18/2004 Coll., on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Other Competence of nationals of Member States of the European Union and on the amendment of some acts (Act on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications)
- Act No. 500/2004 Coll., the Code of Administrative Procedure
- Specific legislation for the professions and their regulation
