Licensed and protected professional titles in healthcare and social welfare
The right to practise as a healthcare or social welfare professional is granted by the Finnish Supervisory Agency on application to professionals trained in Finland and abroad.
Social welfare and healthcare professionals are divided into legalised professionals and professionals using a protected occupational title. Only persons duly legalised by the Finnish Supervisory Agency are allowed to perform the duties of legalised social welfare and healthcare professionals. By contrast, duties in positions under a protected occupational title in social welfare and healthcare may also be performed by professionals who have not registered a protected occupational title. When an employer hires a person to work as a professional under a protected occupational title, the employer is responsible for ascertaining that the person hired is competent to undertake those duties.
Health care professionals
| Licenced professionals | Protected occupational titles |
|---|---|
| dental hygienist | assistive device technician |
| dental practitioner | chiropractor |
| dental technician | hospital cell biologist |
| dietitian | hospital chemist |
| medical doctor | hospital geneticist |
| medical laboratory technologist | hospital microbiologist |
| midwife | hospital physicist |
| occupational therapist | naprapath |
| optician | osteopath |
| pharmaceutical dispenser | podiatrist |
| pharmacist | practical nurse for social and health care |
| physiotherapist | psychotherapist |
| psychologist | trained masseur |
| public health nurse | |
| radiographer | |
| registered nurse | |
| specialised dental practitioner | |
| specialist doctor | |
| speech therapist |
The Finnish Supervisory Agency registers the student status of medical, dental and pharmacy students studying in Finland and records changes to their details, based on notifications submitted by universities. Students who are studying in those fields abroad must register with the Central Register of Health Care Professionals in order to work in Finland as a temporarily legalised health care professional. The Finnish Supervisory Agency also grants the right to practise as an occupational health physician specialising in radiation on application.
Social welfare professionals
| Licenced professionals | Protected occupational titles |
|---|---|
| social worker | practical nurse for social and health care |
| social service professional (sosionomi) | home support worker |
| professional of applied gerontology (geronomi) | disability support worker |
| rehabilitation councellor |
Contact information
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +358 295 256 932 (Monday–Friday 9:00–15:00)