Authorisation and recognition of foreign qualifications in Åland
If a person has earned a degree or obtained professional qualifications outside of Finland, in some cases these may need to be recognised before the person can begin working in certain professions in Åland. In most professions, however, it is the employer who determines what skills and knowledge a foreign degree corresponds to.
The Government of Åland decides who is authorised to practice the professions regulated by Åland legislation. The decision is taken by different departments, depending on the profession’s field of activity.
Regulated professions in Åland
A regulated profession is one where the law requires a certain education, degree or a special licence in order to practise. Persons with a degree or professional qualifications from a country other than Finland must apply to the Government of Åland for recognition of their foreign professional qualifications in order to be eligible to practise in that profession. The professions that are regulated under Åland legislation are listed on the website of the Government of Åland on eligibility requirements for regulated professions.
Recognition of professional qualifications
To be able to work in a profession regulated under Åland legislation and to have foreign professional qualifications recognised in Åland, you are generally required to hold equivalent qualifications for that profession in another EU/EEA country or in Switzerland. If the profession is not regulated in the country where the qualifications were obtained, relevant professional experience or other evidence of competence may be required. Anyone applying for recognition must also be a national of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, or enjoy the same rights as EU citizens.
If the conditions are met, the Government of Åland will decide on the recognition of the professional qualifications, and the person will then be authorised to practise the profession in Åland. More information and application instructions can be found on the website of the Government of Åland.
Equivalence of higher education studies
If a degree has been obtained abroad, a decision on the recognition of higher education qualifications from the Government of Åland may be required in order to meet the eligibility requirements for certain posts. In many cases, however, it is the employer who assesses what qualifications and skills a foreign qualification corresponds to.
Information and application instructions for equivalence of higher education studies can be found on the website of the Government of Åland. Information on the academic recognition of degrees for studies in Åland or studies outside Åland can be found on the Info Norden page Higher education in Åland.
Sector-specific requirements
In certain sectors, there are specific requirements regarding skills, certificates and qualifications. This could, for example, be hygiene and food-handling passes in the restaurant sector or further training in the transport sector.
In Åland, Åland Vocational College organises a wide range of courses and skills development programmes tailored to sector-specific requirements. View the full range of courses on the Åland Vocational College webpage on Courses and further training for working life. The menu tabs below contain information on some of the common sector-specific requirements and regulations.
To work in a profession within the social and healthcare sector in Finland or Åland, a licence from the Finnish Supervisory Agency is required. The application instructions vary depending on whether you completed your studies in Finland or Åland, or in a Member State within or outside the EU/EEA. Find out more on the webpage Rights to practise in healthcare and social welfare.
Certain professions within childcare and basic education have specific eligibility criteria, such as teachers, senior teachers, psychologists and childcare workers. For persons with Finnish vocational qualifications, it is the employer who assesses whether the eligibility criteria are met. As a rule, persons with education or professional qualifications from other countries are required to have their professional qualifications recognised by the Government of Åland. The eligibility requirements in childcare and basic education are set out in the Åland decree on childcare and basic education.
Truck and bus drivers must have a professional qualification to drive vehicles for goods and passenger transport. This requirement is based on common EU rules and aims to ensure that drivers have sufficient knowledge of e.g. road safety, health and safety, service and transport.
A professional qualification certificate is awarded on completing the education and passing the examination at Åland Vocational College. The certificate is valid for five years; to maintain the qualification, regular further training is required thereafter. More information is available on the website of the Government of Åland.
An alcohol passport, also known as a serving passport, shows that the person in charge of a licensed premises is familiar with the rules governing the serving of alcohol.
In Åland, Finland’s Alcohol Act applies, with certain exceptions. Anyone who works with serving alcohol must know the specific provisions that are different in Åland and Finland. An alcohol passport issued by Åland Upper Secondary School is also valid in mainland Finland. More information on alcohol passports and the regulations on serving alcohol can be found on the website of the Åland Environmental and Health Protection Authority (ÅMHM).
Persons who handle unpackaged food, e.g. in restaurants and cafés, are generally required to have a hygiene passport. The hygiene passport is a certificate of competence in food hygiene and is awarded following a written test organised by Åland Vocational College. More information on the hygiene passport and the applicable requirements can be found on the websites of the Åland Environmental and Health Protection Authority (ÅMHM) and the Finnish Food Authority.
More information
The Info Norden website contains information on the authorisation and recognition of foreign qualifications in the other Nordic countries, as well as contact details for the authorities that can answer questions.
Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.
NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.