Evidence of qualifications - Finland
This page is to explain what evidence of qualifications doctors who qualified in Finland need to supply to support their application.
Medical regulatory authority in Finland
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira)
PO Box 265
FIN-00531
Helsinki
Finland
Tel: + 358 9 772 920
Fax: + 358 9 772 921
Below is information about:
Full registration with a licence to practise
The documents you will need to send to us depend on the date you began your basic medical training. Please see the table below.
| Important dates |
Documents required |
Documents must be issued by: |
| You began your basic medical training on 1 January 1994 or later |
- A Lääketieteen lisensiaatin tutkinto/ Medicine licentiatexamen (degree of licentiate in medicine)
|
Finnish university |
| You began your basic medical training before 1 January 1994 |
- A Lääketieteen lisensiaatin tutkinto/Medicine licentiatexamen (degree of licentiate in medicine)
AND EITHER
|
Finnish university |
- A document confirming that the training leading to the award of your Finnish primary medical qualification meets the standards detailed in Article 24 of Directive 2005/36/EC
OR
|
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) |
- A document confirming that you have effectively and lawfully been engaged in actual medical practice for at least three consecutive years during the five years preceeding the award of the certificate (as detailed in Article 23.1 of Directive 2005/36/EC).
|
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), or the competent authority of the EEA Member State or Switzerland where you are now working |
In addition to the above
If the title of your Finnish degree is not as described as above you will also need to send to us a document from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) which confirms that this qualification is treated by Finland as equivalent to the Lääketieteen lisensiaatin tutkinto/Medicine licentiatexamen as detailed in Article 23.6 of Directive 2005/36/EC.
|
Applying for entry onto the Specialist Register
To be entered onto the Specialist Register you must hold full registration.
Direct entry
Your specialty must be listed in Annex V of the Directive 2005/36/EC by the country that awarded it and have a corresponding entry for the United Kingdom. If you are eligible for direct entry onto the Specialist Register, as set out below, and you do not already hold full registration, you should apply for full registration with a licence to practise and entry onto the Specialist Register at the same time.
The documents you will need to send to us for entry onto the Specialist Register depend on the date on which you started your specialist training:
| Important dates |
Documents required |
Documents must be issued by: |
| You began your specialist training on 1 January 1994 or later |
- An Erikoislääkarin tutkinto/ Specialläkarexamen (certificate of degree of specialist in medicine)
|
Finnish university |
| You began your specialist training before 1 January 1994 |
- An Erikoislääkarin tutkinto/ Specialläkarexamen (certificate of degree of specialist in medicine)
AND EITHER
|
Finnish university |
- A document confirming that the training leading to the award of your specialist certificate meets the standards detailed in Articles 25, 26 and 27 as appropriate of Directive 2005/36/EC
OR
|
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) |
- If your specialist training does not meet those standards you will need to hold a document confirming that you have been practising in the specialty in which your specialist certificate was awarded for at least three consecutive years during the five years preceding the award of the certificate (as detailed in Article 23.1 of Directive 2005/36/EC)
|
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira), or the competent authority of the EEA Member State or Switzerland where you are now working |
In addition to the above
If the title of your Finnish specialist certificate is not as described above or the specialty in which it is awarded is not the same as that specialty listed in Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC, you will also need to send to us a document from the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) confirming that the specialty is treated in law by Finland as a certificate of medical specialisation in the relevant specialty as detailed in Article 23.6 of Directive 2005/36/EC.
|
Certification
If you do not fulfil the above criteria you should complete an application for full registration first and tell us what specialist qualifications you do have. We will assess your application for full registration and review your specialist qualifications.
If you are not eligible for direct entry onto the Specialist Register we will refer you to our Specialist and GP Certification Team once your full registration has been granted.
The team will tell you whether you are eligible to apply for entry onto the Specialist Register through specialty equivalence and advise you on what to do next.
See more guidance on specialty equivalence.
Applying for entry onto the GP Register
To be entered onto the GP Register you must hold full registration.
Direct entry
If you are eligible for direct entry onto the GP Register, as set out below, and you do not already hold full registration, you should apply for full registration with a licence to practise and entry onto the GP Register at the same time.
The documents you will need to send to us for entry onto the GP Register depend on the date on which you started your GP training:
| Important dates |
Documents required |
Documents must be issued by: |
| You began your GP training on 31 December 1994 or later |
- A Todistus yleislääketieteen erityiskoulutuksesta/Bevis om särskild allmänläkarutbildning (certificate of specific training for general medical practice)
|
Finnish university |
| You began your GP training before 31 December 1994 |
- A Todistus yleislääketieteen erityiskoulutuksesta/Bevis om särskild allmänläkarutbildning (certificate of specific training for general medical practice)
AND EITHER
|
Finnish university |
- A document confirming that the training leading to the award of your GP certificate meets the standards detailed in Article 28 of Directive 2005/36/EC
OR
|
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) |
|
If you are eligible for entry onto the GP register, on the basis of acquired rights specific to general practitioners, you will need to send to us:
- A certificate of acquired rights for general medical practice. The certificate must state that it was awarded to you in accordance with Article 30(1) of the European Medical Directive 2005/36/EC.
|
National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) |
Certification
If you do not fulfil the above criteria you should complete an application for full registration first and tell us what general practice qualifications you do have. We will assess your application for full registration and review your general practice qualifications.
If you are not eligible for direct entry onto the GP Register we will refer you to our Specialist and GP Certification Team once your full registration has been granted.
The team will tell you whether you are eligible to apply for entry onto the GP Register through specialty equivalence and advise you on what to do next.
See more guidance on GP equivalence.