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
- dental hygienist
- dental practitioner
- dental technician
- dietitian
- medical doctor
- medical laboratory technologist
- midwife
- occupational therapist
- optician
- pharmaceutical dispenser
- pharmacist
- physiotherapist
- psychologist
- public health nurse
- radiographer
- registered nurse
- specialised dental practitioner
- specialist doctor
- speech therapist
Protected occupational titles
- assistive device technician
- chiropractor
- hospital cell biologist
- hospital chemist
- hospital geneticist
- hospital microbiologist
- hospital physicist
- naprapath
- osteopath
- podiatrist
- practical nurse for social and health care
- psychotherapist
- trained masseur
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
- professional of applied gerontology (geronomi)
- rehabilitation councellor
- social service professional (sosionomi)
- social worker
Protected occupational titles
- disability support worker
- home support worker
- practical nurse for social and health care
Contact information
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +358 295 256 932 (Monday–Friday 9:00–15:00)