The number of applications for the right to practise a health care and social welfare profession will increase in the spring – the Finnish Supervisory Agency advises applying in good time
Social welfare and health care graduates are currently entering the working life, and at the same time the number of applications for the right to practise is increasing considerably. The Finnish Supervisory Agency is preparing for the busiest processing period of the year to ensure that newly graduated applicants can start their work as smoothly as possible.
In spring and summer, the agency processes thousands of applications, which causes congestion in the service. All applications are processed in the order they are received, and the processing of individual applications cannot be speeded up with separate requests. The Finnish Supervisory Agency processes all Finnish applications to practice within 30 days of receipt. The processing time is longer for foreign qualifications: Applicants having completed their qualifications within the EU will be sent a request for additional information within 30 days of receipt of the application, and the total processing time is usually 3–4 months, whereas the processing time for applications from persons qualified outside the EU/EEA is at least 4 months.
We encourage graduates to apply for the right to practice immediately after graduation, once the information on the completed qualifications appears in the Virta or Koski information service. Students should take the application processing time into account when arranging work shifts, and the employer should be asked to prepare for a possible delay.
Electronic application speeds up processing
Those who have completed their qualifications in Finland can apply for the right to practice through the e-service for matters concerning the right to practise a social welfare or health care profession. Electronic applications speed up processing, and no separate attachments need to be included with the application. The applicant will receive an immediate confirmation of receipt of the application, as well as the decision directly to their service account. In addition, when it is possible to apply for the right to practise via the e-service, a paper application submitted instead of an electronic application will be subject to a fee that is 20% higher, in accordance with the applicable fee regulation. The availability of electronic application should always be checked first in the e-service. If the professional title you are applying for and your qualification can be found in the service’s selection list, it is recommended to submit the application electronically, as the fee for a paper application is 20% higher.
Those using paper applications must complete the form carefully and attach all the required documents. If an applicant applies for several rights to practice, a separate application on a secure form must generally be completed for each right, and a fee will be charged separately for each right.
The right to practice required by a graduate depends on the field from which they have graduated and whether the occupational title is legalised or protected. Persons who have completed health care qualifications are entitled to work temporarily in the position of a legalised professional for up to 30 days after graduation, provided that no more than ten years have passed since the start of their studies.
Those who have graduated in protected professions can work in relevant positions immediately after graduation, subject to the employer’s discretion. However, the employer may require registration if they wish, so we also recommend that those who have graduated in a protected profession should register.
Registration for medical students proceeds partly automatically. Universities report information on those who have completed their fourth and fifth year studies at a Finnish university directly to the authorities. The decision will be sent by post to the address in the Population Information System, or as a suomi.fi message if the applicant has activated suomi.fi messages. Foreign students must register with the central register for health care professionals in order to work temporarily in the position of a legalised health care professional in Finland.
The right to practice appears in the Julki Terhikki and Suosikki services
Information on the granted right to practice appears in the Julki Terhikki and Suosikki information services within 1–2 days of the decision. Julki Terhikki and Suosikki are public information services where anyone can check a social welfare and health care professional’s right to practice. The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English, so foreign authorities, for example, can also check the up-to-date rights of professionals to practice from the information service.
The Finnish Supervisory Agency reminds applicants that submitting applications immediately after graduation and once the qualification has been recorded makes it easier for them to enter working life and ensures that they can start working in the profession without delay.
Read more
More detailed, profession-specific instructions for applying for the right to practice a social welfare or health care profession
Central registers of social welfare and health care professionals JulkiTerhikki and JulkiSuosikki
Finnish Supervisory Agency’s e-service - website (in Finnish)
Instructions for e-service concerning the right to practice a social welfare or health care profession
Enquiries
Head of Group Kaisa Saukko, +358 29 5255201
Head of Group Maarit Mikkonen, +358 29 5254883