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Directive 2005/36/EC

Directive 2005/36/EC governs the recognition of professional qualifications in the European Union. For doctors, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, nurses, midwives and architects it provides for automatic recognition, provided the minimum training requirements are met.

EU legal act of 7 September 2005

Professional Qualifications Directive, EU recognition directive

Directive 2005/36/EC

The directive is the legal basis for a medical degree earned in the EU being valid in all other member states. It relies on harmonised minimum standards: six years of study or 5,500 hours of teaching in human medicine, five years in dentistry.

Sectoral professions

  • Doctor – Annex V point 5.1.1
  • Dentist – Annex V point 5.3.2
  • Veterinarian – Annex V point 5.4.2
  • Pharmacist – Annex V point 5.6.2

Psychologists and psychotherapists are not covered; no automatic procedure applies to them.

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