Search results

More than 65 percent of the recognition procedures for foreign professional qualifications obtained in EU member states end with a full equivalence. The positive recognition rate for Austria and the Czech Republic is the highest as it reaches 93 percent. It is followed by the Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Applicants from Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and France have the highest chances of positive ruling since their success rate is over 90%. The highest recognition rate has the Netherlands with about 96%. Those from Italy, Austria, Romania and Hungary received a positive ruling in over 89% of the cases.

Applicants from Belgium, Hungary, Libya, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Italy and Romania have the highest chances of positive ruling since their success rate is over 85%. The highest recognition rate has Austria with about 92%. Those from Greece received a positive ruling in over 80% of the cases.

Recognition as a recruitment strategy: The Horst Busch Elektro-Technik GmbH in Hamburg specifically recruits skilled workers who have obtained their professional qualifications abroad. This Hamburg-based electrical company does not only facilitate the professional recognition of employees who hold foreign qualifications – it also covers the associated costs of the recognition process. They are feeling confident: given the shortage of qualified personnel in this field, this investment will pay off in no time.

The BQ-Portal had the opportunity to present the results of the study “Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Company Perspective” in Brussels twice in a row. First, the IW office in Brussels invited participants to the European Economic and Social Committee to discuss the results with representatives of the EU Commission and other European stakeholders. In addition, Members of the European Parliament, Nela Riehl and Brigitte van den Berg, invited participants for an exchange on the question: How can the transferability of qualifications within Europe be improved?

The success rate differs depending on the country, in which the applicants were trained. Recognition rates tend to be higher in the geographically and culturally closer countries than in the more remote countries.

The majority of applications for recognition are filed by foreign general care nurses. Further professions we selected for a detailed overview are doctors, office clerks, electronics technicians and motor vehicle mechatronics technicians. The range of countries of origin is enormous. Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked first with 1.518 applications processed.

The majority of recognition notifications is granted to the applicants from Poland. The general care nurses stand here on the first place. Then come physiotherapists and doctors, followed by non-regulated professions such as office clerks, sellers and motor vehicle mechatronics technicians.

The majority of applications for recognition are filed by foreign doctors wishing to have their license to practice medicine recognized. The range of countries of origin is enormous. Romania ranks first with 561 applications processed. Syria, a non-European country, ranked second, followed by Austria. Some 400 applications processed were filed by those trained in Egypt.