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What does Directive 2005/36/EC regulate?

As an EU/EEA citizen, you are entitled to apply for any post advertised in an EU/EEA country. Some professions are, however, regulated by law. Directive 2005/36/EC regulates the recognition of professional qualifications for most regulated professions. This is intended to make it easier for you to work and practise your profession in another EU/EEA country.


Which countries does the Directive apply to?

Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications for regulated professions covers citizens of all EU/EEA countries. This means that if your profession is regulated in the country you wish to work in, you must apply to the authorities of that country for recognition of your professional qualifications before you can commence working. If you only wish to work temporarily in another EU/EEA country, there are other rules that apply (see separate section on this).
Read more about the Directive on the European Union’s own website


How does the system function in Norway?

There is no central body in Norway that deals with recognition of professional qualifications. Professional qualifications are assessed and recognised by a number of different authorities. These authorities normally deal with several professions within an industry or sector. See the list of professions and recognition authorities

No Norwegian academic degree or title

It is important to note that the recognition system for professional qualifications does not give you the right to use a Norwegian academic title. The system will also not assess your education, in terms of level and scope, for comparability with a Norwegian degree.
Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications came into force in the EU on 20 October 2007. The Directive came into force for Norway on 1 July 2009.


Is there anything the Directive does not cover?

Directive 2005/36/EC does not cover professions that fall under an individual Directive, such as:

  • auditors, that come under Directive 2006/43/EC
  • insurance brokers, that come under Directive 2002/92/EC
  • lawyers who wish to exercise the freedom to provide services under the professional title used in their home state, who are covered by Directives 77/249/EEC and 98/5/EC. (Directive 2005/36/EC applies for lawyers who wish to become established in Norway using a Norwegian professional title)
  • the transport sector, where there are a number of individual Directives.

Recognition for further studies

The Directive and the system for recognition of professional qualifications were not created for persons wishing to have their academic education recognised for the purpose of pursuing further studies. Contact the ENIC-NARIC office in Norway for more information about this


Code of conduct

An overview of national administrative practices in handling applications concerning recognition of professional qualifications: