Recognition of professional qualifications

Main information

You are applying for the recognition of a professional qualification if you are going to pursue a regulated profession in the Czech Republic and your qualification comes from another Member State of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland. Professional qualifications can be obtained through study, practical training within professional practice or a combination of both. The result of the process of recognizing professional qualifications is a decision that you have sufficient knowledge and skills to be able to pursue a specific profession or activity in the Czech Republic.

The competent authority is obliged to decide on your application without delay, but no later than within 60 days from the date of delivery of the complete application, ie. having completed all the mandatory informations and supported by all the documents necessary for the assessment of the application.

The competent authority shall issue a decision:

• recognizing your professional qualification, or
• rejecting the application for recognition of professional qualifications, or
• in the event of significant differences between the achieved and required conditions for the exercise of the profession, imposing compensatory measures. The candidate can choose between an adaptation period (generally not exceeding 3 years) or an apatitude test.

If you have the qualification of nurse responsible for general care, pharmacist, physiotherapist, mountain guide, real estate agent, then you can apply for recognition of a professional qualification via the European Professional Card.

This applies to you if

You are one of the following people:

•  a national of one of the EU Member States, the EEA or Switzerland,
•  a person heaving permanent residence in the Czech Republic,
•  a family member of a person referred to in points 1 and 2,
•  a national of a non-Member State, if you have been granted long-term resident status in the European Union in the Czech Republic or another Member State,
•  a national of a non-Member State, if you have been granted residence in the Czech Republic or another Member State of the European Union for the purpose of scientific research,
•  a family member of the person referred to in point 4 or 5, if you have been granted long-term residence in the territory of the Czech Republic,
•  a person who has been granted asylum or subsidiary protection in the Czech Republic, or a member of his or her family, if you have been granted long-term residence in the Czech Republic,
•  a national of a non-Member State, if you have been granted residence in the Czech Republic or another Member State of the European Union for the purpose of study, pupil exchange, unpaid training or voluntary service,
• a national of a non-Member State, and you are a victim of trafficking in human beings or you have received assistance for illegal immigration and cooperate with the competent authorities if you have been allowed to stay in the Czech Republic or another Member State of the European Union for this purpose,
• applicant for, or holder of, a European Union Blue Card, applicant for or holder of an employee card, applicant for or holder of a seasonal residence permit, applicant for an intra-corporate transferee card or intra-corporate transferee card another Member State of the European Union or the holder of this card, or the holder of a long-term residence permit in the Czech Republic issued for a purpose other than employment, and you are employed in the territory.

You also want to pursue a regulated profession in the Czech Republic and you have a qualification from another EU Member State, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, or you have a regulated profession in one of these countries.

Recognition of professional qualifications does not apply to qualifications obtained outside EU member states, EEA member states and Switzerland.

When to use this service

The service must be addressed before starting of a pursuit of a regulated profession in the Czech Republic.

Vyřízení služby - elektronicky

What you need if you are using this service

A completed application for recognition of professional qualifications, which can be found on the Businessinfo website.

The application must be supported by:

• an identity card or other document certifying nationality and, where applicable, a document confirming the legal status referred to in Section 1, Paragraph 2 of Act No. 18/2004 Coll. on the recognition of professional qualifications,
• proof of professional qualification, proof of other competence,
• proof of payment of the administrative fee.

The evidence shall be presented as a copy, the recognition authority may request the original in order to compare the submitted documents

You can find specific requirements that need to be met for the performance of a regulated profession in the database of regulated professions and activities.

Where and how to solve this service

By sending an application for recognition of professional qualifications by data box or with a recognized electronic signature by e-mail. Contacts for competent authorities can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

How much will you pay

The administrative fee for accepting an application for recognition of professional qualifications is CZK 2,000. If the recognition body is a professional chamber, the amount of the fee for the recognition of professional qualifications is determined by a regulation of this chamber.

You can pay the fee through a stamp affixed to the application or by transfer to a bank account of the competent authority.

Vyřízení služby - osobně

What you need if you are using this service

A completed application for recognition of professional qualifications, which can be found on the Businessinfo website.

The application must be supported by:

• an identity card or other document certifying nationality and, where applicable, a document confirming the legal status referred to in Section 1, Paragraph 2 of Act No. 18/2004 Coll. on the recognition of professional qualifications,
• proof of professional qualification, proof of other competence,
• proof of payment of the administrative fee.

The evidence shall be presented as a copy, the recognition authority may request the original in order to compare the submitted documents.

The documents are submitted together with the translation into the Czech language, if they have not been issued in it.

You can find specific requirements that need to be met for the performance of a regulated profession in the database of regulated professions and activities.

Where and how to solve this service

Send the application to the competent authority, which is responsible for a specific regulated profession. The list of recognition bodies, including contacts, can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

How much will you pay

The administrative fee for accepting an application for recognition of professional qualifications is CZK 2,000. If the recognition body is a professional chamber, the amount of the fee for the recognition of professional qualifications is determined by a regulation of this chamber.

You can pay the fee through a stamp affixed to the application or by transfer to a bank account of the competent authority.

Additional information

What is the benefit of this service

You can practice a regulated profession/activity in the Czech Republic.

Appeal options

An appeal may be lodged against the decision of the competent authority.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.