For some professions it is necessary to obtain an official recognition before you can practice in Norway.

Health professions | Teaching | Law | Auditing | Veterinary practice | Seamen

If you are a

You will need an authorisation [?] to practice your profession. Additional training is sometimes required to obtain final recognition.

For EU citizens there are directives that regulate the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in a EU country. The evaluation of qualifications obtained in countries outside the European Union may take longer, and often, the result includes additional training before authorisation is granted.

Below is a list of bodies that evaluate professional qualifications for authorisation. They can also give more information on what documents you must submit. Remember that you should always send certified copies of your original documents in addition to any necessary translations. You can find more details on certification and translations here.

Health professions
Authorisation is needed to practise the following health professions:
Audiologist, Auxiliary nurse, Care worker, Certified prosthetist, Chiropodist, Chiropractor, Clinical nutritionist, Dental hygienist, Dental secretary, Dental technician, Dentist, Health worker for the mentally retarded, Medical laboratory technologist, Medical practiotioner/Doctor, Medical secretary, Midwife, Nurse, Occupational therapist, Optometrist, Orthoptist, Paramedic, Perfusionist, Pharmacist, Pharmacy technician, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Radiographer.

The Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel
Statens autorisasjonskontor for helsepersonell (SAFH)
Postboks 8053 Dep
0031 Oslo
Visiting address: Calmeyersgate 1
Telephone: 21 52 97 00
e-mail: postmottak@safh.no

On SAFH's website you will find more information on legislation and details about the different professions that require authorisation. You can also download application forms, both in Norwegian and English.

Doctors with a medical degree from abroad Outside the European Union) must:
- pass a Norwegian proficiency test
- attend and pass a Norwegian medical terminology course
- work for at least 6 months, with a temporary licence, in a Norwegian hospital
- attend and pass a supplementary course

The Norwegian Registration Authority has more information.

Teaching
Teacher training for pre-primary through 13th grade

The Directorate of Education
Utdanningsdirektoratet
Postboks 2924 Tøyen
0608 Oslo
telephone: 23 30 12 00
e-mail: post@utdanningsdirektoratet.no

If you are entitled to work as a teacher within the EU/EEA, your qualifications are assessed according to EU/EEA Directives, indicating at what age level and which subjects you may teach in Norway.

Please note: All applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA must apply for general recognition by NOKUT and enclose their decision when applying for assessment of teacher qualifications. Contact NOKUT (Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education) on postmottak@nokut.no and order the application form for recognition of higher education. You can also download and print the form from NOKUT's website.

The Directorate of Education (Utdanningsdirektoratet) provides detailed information and an application form in their website.

The only course (apart from regular teacher training) that prepares for teaching in Norwegian schools is in Agder University in Kristiansand. The one-year part-time course includes social science, language and education. Read more about it - in Norwegian - here.

Law

The Supervisory Council for Legal Practice
Tilsynsrådet for advokatvirksomhet
Postboks 720 Sentrum
0106 Oslo
telephone 22 00 75 00
e-mail: tilsynet@online.no
www.tilsynet.no

Laywers trained in a EU/EEA country may apply for a licence to practice in Norway, and must document EU citizenship and a licence to practice law from their home country.

Lawyers trained outside the European Union can apply for a license to practice the law of the degree-awarding country, and international private law.

Click here to read more about regulations guiding the process of application.

Veterinary surgeon, veterinary nurse

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet)
Office for Animal Health personnel
Postboks 383
2381 Brumundal

Visiting address:
Mattilsynets hovedkontor (main office)
Ullevålsveien 76
0454 Oslo

telephone 23 21 68 00
fax 23 21 68 01
e-mail: postmottak@mattilsynet.no
www.mattilsynet.no

If you have veterinary training from an EU/EEA country, you can click here to download the application form (pdf format) for a licence to practice in Norway.

If you are trained in a country outside the European Union, you will need additional training to practice in Norway. This means that you should contact Norges Veterinærhøgskole (Norwegian School of Veterinary Science) before you apply for authorisation.

Guidelines for how to apply for authorisation and a licence are listed here.

Auditing
- accountant, auditor, estate agent

The Banking, Insurance and Securities Commission
Kredittilsynet
Postboks 100 Bryn
0611 Oslo
telephone 22 93 98 00
www.kredittilsynet.no

Click here for more information.
Most of the information is in Norwegian.

If your training has taken place in a country outside the European Union, you need to contact an institution offering the same or a similar degree to get an evaluation of your educational background. In Oslo, you are advised to contact Høgskolen i Oslo (Oslo College) and BI (Norwegian School of Management) for information on how to proceed.

An EU-trained person will need additional courses in subjects such as jurisprudence and Norwegian tax law.

Seamen
- sea captain, chief officer

The Norwegian Maritime Directorate
Sjøfartsdirektoratet,
sjømannsavdelingen
Postboks 8123 Dep
0032 Oslo
telephone 22 45 45 00
e-mail: postmottak@sjofartsdir.no
www.sjofartsdir.no

Visiting address: Stensberggata 27

Contact the office on the phone number above if you want an application form. The form is available in both English and Norwegian.

The Maritime Directorate has general information on legislation and certificates in their website - in Norwegian. Regulations concerning qualification requirements, issue of certificates and certificate rights for personnel on Norwegian ships are listed here.

International cooperation and regulations: www.sjofartsdir.no/no/Regelverk2/

Last modified 30/11/2008