EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

To make the mobility of professionals between the Member States easier, the European Union has established a framework for recognition of professional and academic certificates and professional qualifications.

NARIC Network

NARIC  (National Academic Recognition Information Centres) network was created in 1984 by the European Commission. It is made up of national centres from EU countries, the European Economic Area (EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and associated countries.

The NARIC network centres answer to the Ministry of Education in their countries and aim to improve the academic recognition of certificates and periods of study abroad in different countries. The network has information points in all EU countries.

Its main task is to guide EU citizens when they want to have their qualifications recognised or obtain professional recognition in another EU country.

The NARIC network is be useful if you want to know how to make your university certificate equivalent in another European Union country.

Professional recognition

If you want to work in another EU country and want your certificate to be recognised for professional (and not academic) purposes only, the best way is to apply for professional recognition. As each Member State has its own system of professional recognition, it is advisable to contact the NARIC Centre in the state where you would like to work. This type of recognition does not have any fees.

A new professional qualifications regime for Europe

There are regulations that allow the recognition of qualified professionals within the EU. This allows professionals to work permanently or temporarily in different EU countries. This is important to make market access easier.

These regulations have recently been updated, with the support of the Council and the European Parliament, and the new regulatory framework will become effective in January 2016. The revised regulations for qualifications will provide professionals an easier way to move within the EU.