Additional information on recognition. Basis and Scope

Additional information on recognition

 Sectorial Directives

 General system of recognition

 Application and competent authorities

Basis and Scope

EU regulations on the recognition of professional qualifications are based on the articles of the Treaty establishing the European Community, governing freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services. In order to ensure this freedom, a set of measures have been adopted with a view to develop these provisions of the Treaty and provide a system for the recognition of professional qualifications among EU Member States.

In Spain, this regulation is clarified by the Royal Decree 1837/2008 of 8 November 2008, incorporating in the Spanish legal system the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 and the Directive 2006/100/EC of the Council of 20 November 2006 on the recognition of professional qualifications, as well as certain aspects of the exercise of the profession of lawyer. The effects of this recognition are purely professional, in other words, they provide authorization to exercise a specific regulated profession in the host country.

The purpose of the professional recognition of qualifications is to overcome obstacles, especially those concerning qualification, that a citizen of a State can encounter when trying to access the exercise of a given activity in another State. The main beneficiaries of this recognition are, consequently, professionals and not students.

This recognition of qualifications is applied to the nationals of

 The 28 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

 The 3 European Economic Area signatory States: Norway, Iceland,

Liechtenstein.

General requirements

Official Documents

All the documents submitted must be official and issued by the appropriate authorities in accordance with the legal regulations of the specific State. No legalization of these documents is required.

Translation of documents sent from abroad

Article 36.1 of Law 30/1992 of 26 November on the Legal Regime of Public Administration and the Common Administrative Procedure, states that the language of the proceedings organized by the State General Administration will be Spanish. In line with this, the rules governing these proceedings require that the documents sent from abroad wishing to be valid in these proceedings, must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish.

The official translation may be done:

 By a sworn interpreter, duly authorized or registered in Spain

 By any Spanish embassy and consulate abroad

 By the embassy or consulate in Spain of the country of origin of the applicant or where appropriate, of the country where the document was issued.

To the extent possible, when the original document is not written in the Latin alphabet, it is recommended that the corresponding translation keeps the denomination of the qualification in its original language, but transliterated in the Latin alphabet instead of its translation.

Sectorial Directives

They are based on the harmonization of training and the determination of minimum requirements for each professional sector.

They cover the following professions:  Doctor or Medical Specialist  Nurse responsible for general care

 Dental Practitioner

 Veterinarian

 Pharmacist

 Architect

These Directives, under the harmonization of trainings, allow a direct recognition of qualifications through the specific procedure that has been established for this purpose, stating in each one the list of qualifications of the different States susceptible to recognition. For each profession (except Architect) two Directives have been adopted. One regulates the mutual recognition of diplomas, certifications or other qualifications and includes measures to facilitate the effective exercise and freedom to provide services. The other one deals with the harmonization of training necessary to obtain the qualification in each Member State, for this purpose, some minimum requirements of quantitative as well as qualitative character have been established. Recognition is carried out in each State in two directions: as a country of origin accrediting the migrant who wants to establish or to exercise his/her profession in another State, and as a host country, enabling the migrant who wishes to exercise the profession (s)he has been accredited by another Member State.

General system of recognition

It was created in order to outline a system which would encourage the free movement of professionals without any inconvenience and which would proceed to a prior training coordination.

In contrast to the sectorial directives, a prior training coordination has not occurred, which implies the examination of the applicant’s training attested by a diploma giving the access to the correspondent profession in the host country.

These Directives, under the harmonization of trainings, allow a direct recognition of qualifications through the specific procedure that has been established for this purpose, stating in each one the list of titles of the different States susceptible to recognition.

The system is based on the principle of mutual trust, so that if a professional is fully qualified to exercise a profession in his/her country of origin, (s)he should be recognized to practice such a profession in the host country.

However, if there are differences between training levels leading to obtaining the diplomas that entitle their holders in each country for the exercise of the same

profession, compensation mechanisms are foreseen. They consist in the realization of an aptitude test or a traineeship which must be carried out prior to the recognition of the diploma.

Application and competent authorities

They differ from each profession (the Ministerial Department is concerned with the profession or professions in question as well as the Autonomous Communities).

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, through the General Sub-Directorate of Diplomas and Recognition of Qualifications, is the coordinating body for the implementation of the Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications.

The competent authorities for the professional recognition are: A.

In the general State Administration

 Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y de Cooperación (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation): Traductor e Intérprete Jurado (Sworn Interpreter and Translator)

 Ministerio de Defensa (Ministry of Defense): Ingeniero de Armamento y Material (Weapons & Materials Engineer), Ingeniero de Armas Navales (Naval Arms Engineer), Ingeniero de Construcción y Electricidad (Electromechanical engineer)

 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Ministry of Economy and

Competitiveness): Actuario de Seguros (Insurance Actuary), Auditor de Cuentas (Statutory Auditor), Economista (Economist), Diplomado en Ciencias Empresariales y Profesor Mercantil (Tax advisor).

 Ministerio de Educación Cultura y Deporte (Ministry of Education, Culture

and Sport): Maestro de Educación Infantil (Infant Education Teacher), Maestro de Educación Primaria (Primary Education Teacher), Profesor de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato (Secondary Education Teacher), Profesor de Universidad (University Professor), Profesor de Enseñanzas Artísticas (Arts Education Teacher), Profesor de Enseñanzas de Idiomas (Language Education Teacher), Profesor de Enseñanzas Deportivas (Sports Education Teacher), Profesor de Formación Profesional (Vocational Educational Teacher).

 Ministerio de Fomento (Ministry of Public Works): Ingeniero Aeronáutico (Aeronautical Engineer), Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos (Civil Engineer), Ingeniero Técnico Aeronáutico, en la correspondiente especialidad (Technical Aeronautical Engineer, in the corresponding area of

expertise), Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Publicas en la correspondiente especialidad (Technical Engineer in Public Works in the corresponding area of expertise), Ingeniero Técnico en Topografía (Technical Surveying Engineer), Tripulante de Cabina de Pasajeros (Flight Attendant), Arquitecto (Architect), Arquitecto Técnico (Technical Architect), Profesiones de la Marina Mercante (Merchant Marine Professions).

 Ministerio de Industria, Energia y Turismo (Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism): Agente de la Propiedad Industrial (Trademark Agent), Artillero-Barrenista (Shotfirer), Físico (Physicist), Ingeniero Industrial (Industrial Engineer), Ingeniero de Minas (Mining Engineer), Ingeniero Naval y

Oceánico (Marine Engineer), Ingeniero de Telecomunicación

(Telecommunications Engineer), Ingeniero Técnico Industrial en la correspondiente especialidad (Technical Industrial Engineer in the corresponding area of expertise), Ingeniero Técnico de Minas en la correspondiente especialidad (Technical Mining Engineer in the corresponding area of expertise), Ingeniero Técnico Naval en la correspondiente especialidad (Technical Marine Engineer in the corresponding area of expertise), Ingeniero Técnico de Telecomunicación en la correspondiente especialidad (Technical Telecommunications Engineer in the corresponding area of expertise), Químico (Chemist).

 Ministerio de Interior (Ministry of Interior): Detective privado (Private Investigator), Director de Escuelas Particulares de Conductores (Driving School Manager), Director de Seguridad (Director of Security), Jefe de seguridad (Chief Security Officer), Profesor de Formación Vial (Driving Instructor), Vigilante de Seguridad (Security Guard), Vigilante de Seguridad: Escolta Privado (Security Guard: Private Bodyguard), Vigilante de Seguridad: Vigilante de Explosivos (Security Guard: Explosives Security Guard)

 Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice): Abogado (Lawyer), Procurador (Court Representative).

 Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment): Enólogo (Oenologist), Ingeniero Agrónomo (Agricultural Engineer), Ingeniero de Montes (Forest Engineer), Ingeniero Técnico Agrícola en la especialidad correspondiente (Technical Agricultural Engineer), Ingeniero Técnico Forestal en la especialidad correspondiente (Technical Forest Engineer in the corresponding area of expertise), Profesiones de la Pesca marítima (Sea Fishing Professions).  Ministerio de Hacienda y Administraciones Públicas (Ministry of Finance

and Public Administration): Gestor Administrativo (Administrative Agent), Agente y Comisionista de Aduanas (Custom Officer).

 Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad (Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality): Biólogo especialista en alguna especialidad de

Ciencias de la Salud (Biologist specialized in a specific area of Health Sciences), Bioquímico especialista en alguna especialidad de Ciencias de la Salud (Biochemist specialized in a specific area of Health Sciences), Dentista (Dentist), Enfermera responsable de cuidados generales (General Care Nurse), Enfermera Especialista (Specialised Nurse), Especialista en Radiofísica Hospitalaria (Specialist in Hospital Radiophysics), Farmacéutico

(Pharmacist), Farmacéutico Especialista (Specialised Pharmacist),

Fisioterapeuta (Physiotherapist), Logopeda (Speech Therapist), Matrona (Midwife), Médico (Doctor), Médico Especialista (Specialised Doctor),

Nutricionista/Dietista (Nutritionist/Dietitian), Óptico-Optometrista

(Optician-Optometrist), Podólogo (Podiatrist), Psicólogo especialista en Psicología Clínica (Psychologist specialised in Clinical Psychology), Psicólogo general Sanitario (General Health Psychologist), Químico Especialista en alguna especialidad de Ciencias de la Salud (Chemist specialised in a specific area of Health Sciences), Terapeuta Ocupacional (Occupational Therapist), Veterinario (Veterinary Surgeon).

 Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social (Ministry of Employment and Social Security): Graduado Social (Labour Relations Specialist).

B.

In the Autonomous Communities’ Administration

The corresponding authorities of the Autonomous Communities have the task to recognise the following professions:

 Buzo (Diver), Capitán de Pesca (Fishing Captain), Marinero (Sailor), Decorador (Decorator), Delineante (Draughtsman), Guía de Turismo (Tourist Guide), Instalador de Aparatos a Presión (Pressure vessel installer), Instalador de Baja Tensión (Installer of low voltage systems), Instalador de Calefacción y Climatización (Heating and Air-Conditioning Technician), Instalador de Fontanería (Plumber), Instalador de Gas (Gas Installer), Instalador Frigorífico (Refrigeration Technician), Instalador-montador electricista (Installer-electrical assembler), Mecánico Mayor Naval (sector Pesca) (Chief Engineer class 1 (fishing sector)), Mecánico Naval (sector Pesca) ( Naval Engineer (fishing sector)), Patrón Costero Polivalente (Inshore fishing vessel skipper), Patrón de Altura (sector Pesca) (Deep-sea fishing vessel skipper), Patrón de Litoral (sector Pesca) (Inshore fishing vessel skipper), Patrón Local de Pesca (Local fishing vessel skipper), Técnico en Elaboración de Vinos (Expert in the Production of Wine), Técnico Especialista en Vitivinicultura (Oenologist), Técnico en Cuidados Auxiliares de Enfermería (Nursing Assistant), Técnico en Farmacia (Pharmacy

Technician), Técnico Superior en Anatomía Patológica y Citología (Bio-medical Analyst), Técnico Superior en Audioprótesis (Hearing Aid Dispenser / Audiometric Technician), Técnico Superior en Dietética (Dietetic Technician), Técnico Superior en Documentación Sanitaria (Health Information Technician), Técnico Superior en Higiene Bucodental (Dental Hygienist), Técnico Superior en Imagen para el Diagnóstico (Radiographer / Radiotherapist), Técnico Superior en Laboratorio de Diagnóstico Clínico

(Biomedical Laboratory Technician), Técnico Superior en Ortoprotésica (Orthopaedic Technician), Técnico Superior en Prótesis Dentales (Dental Technician), Tecnico Superior en Radioterapia (Radiation Therapist), Técnico Superior en Salud Ambiental (Environmental Health Officer), Técnico en Prevención (Nivel Superior) (Expert in Prevention (Higher Level)), Técnico Superior en Prevención de Riesgos Profesionales (Nivel Intermedio) (Advanced Expert in Prevention of Occupational Risks (Intermediate Level)), Entrenador Deportivo (Sports Coach), Monitor Deportivo (Sports Instructor) and Director Técnico Deportivo (Sports Technical Director).