Directive 2013/55/EU - Changes in Professional Qualifications: Are you ready? Zara Green UK National Contact Point Coordinator

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1 Directive 2013/55/EU - Changes in Professional Qualifications: Are you ready? Zara Green UK National Contact Point Coordinator

2 Workshop Overview Overview of UK NCP Overview of Directive 2005/36/EC - General Principles for Professional Qualification Recognition Overview of Directive 2013/55/EU Key Changes European Professional Card Alert Mechanism Language Testing

3 UK NCP Who are we? UK NARIC UK National Recognition Information Centre UK NARIC Research and Consultancy UK NEC - National Europass Centre for the UK ECVET The National Contact Point for England UK ReferNet UK NCP - UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications

4 UK NCP What do we do? Aid the mobility of qualified professionals How do we do it? Provide advice and guidance on Directive 2005/36/EC to professionals, employers, competent authorities and other EU bodies; Work alongside the EU Single Market Team (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills); and Work with the network of NCPs across the EU.

5 Directive 2005/36/EC The Directive applies when an EU citizen wants to practice a regulated profession in another EU Member State. Within the Directive are different provisions for the recognition of qualifications for temporary and established mobility. It has three systems for the recognition of qualifications: 1. Automatic recognition for the sectoral professions; 2. General system for other regulated professions; and 3. Recognition of professional experience.

6 Regulated and Unregulated Professions Regulated Profession A professional activity where due to legislative, regulatory or administrative requirements, access is limited to the possession of one or more professional qualifications, and often the use of a professional title. Unregulated Profession A professional activity where access is not limited and there are usually no requirements limiting access.

7 Seeking Professional Recognition Professions seeking to work in a regulated profession must register with the relevant competent authority. The competent authority must check whether the professional is eligible for recognition, which often includes examining their qualifications and training. If differences are found between the Home State s and Host State s requirements, the competent authority can set the individual compensation measures.

8 Directive 2013/55/EU Directive 2013/55/EU was approved by the European Commission in December There is a two year transposition process, whilst the new Directive is transferred into national laws. The deadline for transposition is 18 th January 2016.

9 Directive 2013/55/EU The main changes are: European Professional Card; Alert Mechanism; Language requirements; Partial access to professions; Granting access to certain activities within a profession, rather than the profession as a whole Recognition of traineeships. Recognition of part-trained professionals where training is validated by the host State authorities

10 European Professional Card (Art 4a) The EPC will be a streamlined, electronic recognition procedure. The process will be carried out via the Internal Market Information System. The EPC is intended to expedite mobility procedures across all Member States. A professional s EPC can be verified by stakeholders combatting fraud. The EPC is not a physical card it will be an electronicallysigned PDF.

11 European Professional Card Regulated in UK General Care Nurse Nursing and Midwifery Council Pharmacist General Pharmaceutical Council Unregulated in UK Mountain Guide UK NCP Real Estate Agent UK NCP Physiotherapist Health and Care Professions Council

12 European Professional Card Establishment Automatic Recognition Establishment General System Temporary and Occasional Without Prior Check of Qualifications Temporary and Occasional With Prior Check of Qualifications Acceptance by Home MS 2 weekdays 2 weekdays 2 weekdays 2 weekdays Completeness Check by Home MS 1 week 1 week 1 week 1 week Documents Authentication (and Rec TM) Tacit Recognition or Decision by Host MS 1 month 1 month 3 weeks 1 month 1 month 2 months - 2 months Tacit Recognition 1 st Extension 2 weeks 2 weeks - 2 weeks Tacit Recognition 2 nd Extension (Nurses, Pharmacists and Physiotherapists only) 2 weeks 2 weeks - 2 weeks Aptitude Test month Automatic Closure (Missing Documents Not Provided) 3 months 3 months 3 months 3 months

13 European Professional Card

14 European Professional Card The EPC is intended to be available for professionals who have the desire to be mobile. The EPC does not need to be issued to every professional in that profession. The EPC is also only valid for one country. If a professional wishes to practice in more than one Member State, they need to apply for multiple EPCs. It is possible for the professional to apply for another EPC via the same ECAS account.

15 Alert Mechanism (Art 56a) Alerts will appear in the IMI system. The alert mechanism is a method of notifying competent authorities of instances where professions have been barred / banned, or where a professional has sought recognition using a falsified diploma. The professional will be informed that an alert is being sent out concerning them.

16 Alert Mechanism This applies to: Health Professionals Veterinary Surgeons Professions working in childcare / early childhood education / activities relating to the education of minors The alert mechanism must be instigated in all cases where a professional has been barred / suspended regardless of whether they have exercised any mobility rights.

17 Alert Mechanism The alert contains basic information: Identity of the professional The profession Details of the court/national authority responsible for the restriction or prohibition The scope of the restriction / prohibition Restriction / prohibition period Detailed information on an alert can be requested from the CA who sent it.

18 Language Requirements (Art 53) Competent authorities have always been able to ensure that professionals have the necessary language skills. Directive 2013/55/EU clarifies this, particularly in the interest of patient safety, and in cases where insufficient language knowledge would prevent the professional carrying out the required activities.

19 Language Requirements Competent authorities can now apply language controls after the recognition of professional qualifications, and after the issuance of the EPC (if applicable). Language controls should be reasonable and necessary. Professionals should only be required to know one official language of the host state, which should be an official language of the European Union.

20 More Questions? If you have further questions, please come to our next seminar workshop on Directive 2013/55/EU: Thursday 3 rd December St Matthew s Conference Centre London 10:00-15:30 Please visit for further details and booking information.

21 Questions? For more information on the work of the UK NCP, visit our website at If you have any questions, please contact us via at

22 More Questions? If you have further questions, please come to our next seminar workshop on Directive 2013/55/EU: Thursday 3 rd December St Matthew s Conference Centre London 10:00-15:30 Please visit for further details and booking information.