Skip to main content
European Commission logo
enen
Business, Economy, Euro
Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Recognition based on professional experience

Professionals working in the craft, commerce or industry sectors may qualify for the automatic recognition of professional qualification in another EU country.

There are two ways of getting your qualifications recognised:

  1. automatic recognition – applies for qualifications on the basis of professional experience. The required minimum duration and nature of the professional experience are laid down in Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, Articles 17 19.
  2. mutual recognition – applies for qualifications on the basis of the general system.

If the authorities of the host country find significant differences between the training acquired in your country of origin (including your professional experience) and that required for the same work in the host country, they may ask you to complete a traineeship or aptitude test.