Recognition of professional qualifications in EU

The certificates / attestations of fitness issued by other maritime authorities for the performance of functions on board vessels flying the Romanian flag are recognised only under a recognition protocol between the States signatory to the STCW Convention or in accordance with Order No 1252/2014 of the Minister for Transport which transposes: Article 3(2), (3) and (5) of Directive 2005/45/EC on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by the Member States and amending Directive 2001/25/EC and Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training of seafarers, as amended by Directive 2012/35/EC.

Certificates/attestations of fitness issued by / or under the authority of a State which is not a party to the STCW Convention will not be recognised.

The recognition certificates issued previously under Regulation I/10 by a maritime administration body or authority of another State Party to the STCW Convention will not be accepted as a basis for recognition

In accordance with Article 13 of Law No 162/2017, ASPAAS authorises financial auditors who have been authorised in another Member State.

According to the Order of the President of ASPAAS No 54/2018, financial auditors who have been authorised in another Member State and who request authorisation in Romania must cumulatively meet the following conditions:

• to have the right to practice as a financial auditor¹ in the home Member State²;
• to meet the conditions of good reputation provided for in Article 5 of Law No 162/2017;
• to pass the aptitude test organised by ASPAAS, in accordance with the provisions of Article 13(3) of Law No 162/2017;

¹ “Profession of financial auditor” means the profession of auditor, regardless of the name under which that profession is regulated in that Member State.

² “Home Member State” means the Member State in which the financial auditor is authorised in accordance with Article 3(1) of Law No 162/2017.

Architects acquire the right of signature granted by the Romanian Order of Architects, in accordance with the law, if they have the full exercise of civil rights, if they meet the conditions of honour and apprenticeship or, as appropriate, practical professional experience, provided by Law 184/2001 on the organisation and exercise of the profession of architect, republished, as amended, and Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, consolidated. Architects obtaining the right of signature shall be registered in the Tabloul Național al Arhitecților (National Register of Architects – TNA), in accordance with the law.

Before acquiring the right of signature, the diploma issued within an architectural

institution from the EU, EEA or the Swiss Confederation will be recognised in Romania by the Comisia Națională de Recunoaștere a Calificărilor (National Commission for the Recognition of Qualifications – CNRC). If the diploma was obtained on the territory of a third country, its recognition will be made by the Centrul Național de Recunoaștere și Echivalare a Diplomelor (National Centre for Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas – CNRED).

Also, the Romanian Order of Architects can automatically recognise the qualification title and the right of signature, in the case of architects citizens of EU, EEA or Swiss Confederation member states who meet the conditions provided in Article 5 and Article 6 of Law No 184/2001 and have the right to sign on the territory of one of these states or an equivalent right.

The modes of recognition of the professions of archivist and archival assistant in Romania are the same for Romanian citizens as well as for citizens of Member States of the EU or of the European Economic Area, and of the Swiss Confederation, who wish to pursue their profession in Romania.

The authority competent to recognise the professions of archivist and archival assistant is the National Archives of Romania [Arhivele Naționale ale României].

In order to check compliance by the applicant who is a citizen of a Member State with the requirements of this law, the National Archives of Romania accepts as evidence the documents issued by the competent authorities in the Member States concerned and, in justified cases, an aptitude test.

For the archivist, it is necessary to have any diploma/certificate issued by a competent authority of a Member State of the EU or of the EEA, or of the Swiss Confederation, attesting to completion of university studies with a bachelor’s degree in archival studies or in the fields listed in the Romanian National Occupational Standard: language and literature, applied modern languages, history or cultural studies, supplemented with an archival refresher training course, or to have completed postgraduate archival studies, or a master’s or doctor’s degree in archival studies.

For the archival assistant, it is necessary to have any diploma/certificate awarded by a competent authority of a Member State, attesting to the fact that the holder has completed secondary education and attended vocational training to obtain qualification as an archival assistant.

The field of disabled people and of children registered in the welfare system covers several regulated professions falling under the remit of the National Authority for Rights of Disabled People, Children and Adoptions [Autoritatea Națională pentru Drepturile Persoanelor cu Dizabilități, Copii și Adopții – ANDPDCA].

A professional foster parent is the natural person, certified in accordance with Government Decision No 679/2003, whose work at home consists in raising, caring and educating the children they foster, as required for their successful development.

The persons interested in becoming foster parents (EU citizens), will find information on the website of the National Authority for Rights of Disabled People, Children and Adoptions (ANDPDCA) on the procedure to follow and the required documents.

In accordance with Law No 448/2006 on the protection and promotion of the rights of disabled people, as republished, as subsequently amended and supplemented, one of the specific measures that public authorities are required to take in order to ensure that disabled people have access to the physical, informational and communicational environment is to provide licensed sign language and deaf-blind language interpreters.

Central and local authorities and institutions, both public and private, ensure that licensed sign language or deaf-blind language interpreters are provided for direct relations with hearing-impaired or deaf-blind people.

The methodology for certifying sign language and deaf-blind language interpreters was approved by Order No 671/1640/61/2007 of the Minister for Labour, Family and Equal Opportunities, of the President of the National Authority for Disabled People and of the Minister for Education, Research and Youth, as subsequently amended and supplemented.

Sign language and the specific language of deaf-blind people are officially recognised as means of communication specific to hearing-impaired or deaf-blind people.

A professional personal assistant is the certified natural person who provides care and protection in their home for severely disabled adults or for adults with a progressive disability, qualified as such under the law, and represents one of the protection measures established by the committee for assessment of disabled adults, which are set out in the individual rehabilitation and social integration programme.

The rights and obligations of the professional personal assistant are included in Section 3 – Professional personal assistant of Law No 448/2006 on the protection and promotion of the rights of disabled people, republished, as subsequently amended and supplemented.

The conditions for obtaining the certificate, the certification procedures and the status of the professional personal assistant are approved by Government Decision No 548/2017 approving the conditions for obtaining the certificate, the certification procedures and the status of the professional personal assistant.

The template certificate of the professional personal assistant is approved by Order No 1691/2018 of the Minister for Labour and Social Justice.

The mandatory minimum standards for the care and protection of severely disabled adults or adults with a progressive disability by the professional personal assistant were approved by Order No 1069/2018 of the Minister for Labour and Social Justice.

The Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System [Ordinul Biochimiștilor, Biologilor și Chimiștilor în Sistemul Sanitar din România – OBBCSSR] is the authority competent to regulate the pursuit of the professions of biochemist, biologist and chemist in the Romanian health system in accordance with Law No 200/2004 on recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications for regulated professions in Romania, as subsequently amended and supplemented.

Recognition of the profession of biochemist

In order to be employed as a biochemist in the Romanian health system, the applicant must send the required documents in Romanian, in a duly certified form, to the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System, by regular mail or courier.

The profession of biochemist may also be recognised by sending the documents in electronic form to the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System, through the Electronic Single Point of Contact.

Recognition of the profession of biologist

In order to be employed as a biologist in the Romanian health system, the applicant must send the required documents in Romanian, in a duly certified form, to the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System, by regular mail or courier.

The profession of biologist may also be recognised by sending the documents in electronic form to the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System, through the Electronic Single Point of Contact.

Recognition of the profession of chemist

In order to be employed as a chemist in the Romanian health system, the applicant must send the required documents in Romanian, in a duly certified form, to the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System, by regular mail or courier.

The profession of chemist may also be recognised by sending the documents in electronic form to the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System, through the Electronic Single Point of Contact.

The professional qualifications for biochemists, biologists and chemists from the Member States of the EU, who wish to pursue their profession in Romania, are recognised in accordance with Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, in conjunction with national legislation and the internal rules of the Order of Biochemists, Biologists and Chemists in the Romanian Health System.

The professions of legal adviser, authorised interpreter and translator, judicial technical expert and authorised forensic expert are regulated by the Ministry of Justice [Ministerul Justiției] under specific procedures.

Legal adviser

The procedure for recognising the professional qualification of legal adviser of the citizens of Member States of the EU or of the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, following an internship in the field of Romanian law, in order for the profession to be admitted and pursued in Romania, is accessible on the website of the Ministry of Justice here.

The procedure for test-based recognition of the professional qualification of legal adviser acquired in another Member State of the EU, or of the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, in order for the profession to be admitted and pursued in Romania, is accessible on the website of the Ministry of Justice here.

Interpreter and translator

The Ministry of Justice recognises the qualification of interpreter and translator acquired in the Member State of the EU or the European Economic Area, or in the Swiss Confederation, in order for the profession to be pursued in Romania on a permanent, temporary or occasional basis.

Judicial technical expert and authorised forensic expert

The Ministry of Justice recognises certificates or other similar documents attesting to the status of technical judicial expert or authorised forensic expert issued/delivered by the competent authorities in the Member State of the EU or of the European Economic Area, or in the Swiss Confederation, in order for the profession to be pursued in Romania on a permanent, temporary or occasional basis.

Recognition of the profession of tax consultant and tax advisor

For citizens of the Member States of the EU, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, who have obtained evidence of formal qualifications in one of these States and who want to pursue the tax consultancy activity in Romania, the Chamber of Tax Consultants and Tax Advisors [Camera Consultanților Fiscali] automatically recognises that evidence of formal qualifications based on an application accompanied by supporting documents. More information on the documents required for recognition of the profession of tax consultant and tax advisor can be found on the website Electronic Single Point of Contact.

The Chamber of Tax Consultants and Tax Advisors is the authority competent to grant recognition of the profession of tax consultant and tax advisor. The professional qualification of tax consultant and tax advisor is recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications.

Citizens of the Member States of the EU, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation may also pursue the activity of tax consultancy in Romania, if they are holders of evidence of formal qualifications acquired within the territory of a third country, if they have professional experience of 3 years in tax consultancy within the territory of the Member State where they have been granted recognition of their professional qualifications.

Acquisition of the right to temporarily/occasionally practice the valuation profession

In compliance with Art. 28 paras. (5)-(8) of the GO no. 24/2011, valuers, either natural or legal persons, who are citizens or, respectively, nationals of an EU Member State, an EEA Member Country or, respectively, The Swiss Confederation, may temporarily or occasionally exercise the authorized valuation profession.

The temporary exercise of the valuation profession may not be longer than 3 months.

The occasional exercise of the valuation profession is understood as a single, specific valuation assignment, to be indicated in the application.

Together with the right to the temporary/occasional exercise of the valuation profession, the successful applicants also acquire the duties attached to the profession, as provided for in the GO no. 24/2011.

In order to be able to exercise the profession either temporarily or occasionally, the applicants who comply with the requirements provided for, will be issued a certificate granting them such a right, but they will not receive the ANEVAR membership ensigns or be held by the duty to pay the annual membership fee.

Should one person apply several times in one year, the person must meet the application requirements every time.

Requirements and application file for natural persons to temporarily/occasionally exercise the valuation profession

Natural persons may temporarily or occasionally practice the valuation profession, provided they have cumulatively met the following requirements:

• they are citizens of an EU Member State or an EEA Member Country/The Swiss Confederation;
• they provide evidence that they are entitled to practice the valuation profession in an EU Member State or an EEA Member Country/The Swiss Confederation, in compliance with the legislation in their country of residence.

The application file in order to be registered in the Tables of the Association must comprise the following documents, in their legalized Romanian translation:

• filled out and signed standard registration application form;
• evidence in support of their EU Member State or EEA Member Country/The Swiss Confederation citizenship;
• a certificate issued by the competent authority of an EU Member State, or, respectively, an EEA Member Country/The Swiss Confederation showing that the citizen of that state/country is rightfully entitled to practicing the valuation profession;
• a certificate showing that the applicant is rightfully established in the Member State/country of residence for the purpose of practicing the valuation profession;
• a document issued by the competent authority of the EU Member State, or, respectively, the EEA Member State/The Swiss Confederation showing that at the date of its issuance, i.e. within 30 days before the submission of the application file for registration, the citizen of that state/country has not been banned, even for a limited time, to practice the profession;
• a statement regarding the valuation services that will be delivered by that person, i.e. asset valuation, business valuation, valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, of personal property, of shares and of other financial instruments;
• proof of the payment of the registration fee, as per the amount established by the Board of Directors.

Natural persons who acquire the right to exercise the valuation profession are held by the duty to complete 20 hours of professional education within 3 months from their registration in the Tables.

The application file will be sent in the following ways:

• By postal services to the following address: no.7 Scărlătescu, 1st District, 011158, Bucharest;
• Via email at contact@anevar.ro.;
• Through – PCUe https://edirect.e-guvernare.ro/SitePages/landingpage.aspx.

In Romania, the Body of Expert Accountants and Licensed Accountants in Romania [Corpul Experților Contabili și Contabililor Autorizați din România] is the competent authority in the field covering the profession of expert accountant and licensed accountant.

Under the legislation in force, the citizens of another Member State of the EU, or of the EEA, or the Swiss Confederation, and Romanian citizens who have qualified as a expert accountant / licensed accountant in such States, are granted recognition of the status of expert accountant or licensed accountant acquired in the Member State of origin if they pass the aptitude test in accordance with Law No 200/2004, as subsequently amended and supplemented, and Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications. The status of expert accountant / licensed accountant must be certified by the recognised competent authorities of the Member States of origin in a professional certification document (title/attestation/certificate/diploma/etc.) and a document granting the right to pursue the profession (licence, etc.) in that State.

In Romania, recognition of the profession of pharmacist is granted by the Ministry of Health [Ministerul Sănătății], in collaboration with the Romanian College of Pharmacists [Colegiul Farmaciștilor din România].

In order to be recognised with the qualification of pharmacist acquired in a Member State, a State belonging to the European Economic Area, or in the Swiss Confederation, the national applicants from those States shall submit the following to the Ministry of Health:

• an application for recognition of qualification for the purpose of establishment within the territory of Romania;
• the copy of the nationality document;
• the copy of official evidence of formal qualifications;
• the certificate issued by competent authorities of the Member State of origin or the Member State from which the applicant comes, attesting to the fact that the official evidence of formal qualifications is that specified in Directive 2005/36/EC;
• the document relating to the physical and mental health of the holder, issued by the Member State of origin or the Member State from which they come;
• evidence issued by the Member State of origin or the Member State from which the applicant comes concerning their good character or repute or that they have not been in a situation that suspends or prohibits the pursuit of that profession in the event of serious professional misconduct, or attestation of the absence of temporary or final suspension from the pursuit of that profession or of criminal convictions;
• the attestation issued by banks, including insurance undertakings from one of the Member States, the States of the EEA or the Swiss Confederation, that the holder is insured against the financial risks arising from their professional liability in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in Romania regarding the terms and extent of cover.

The documents listed in points (5) to (7) are valid for 3 months from the date of issue.

If, for access to and pursuit of that profession, the Member State of origin or the Member State from which the applicant comes does not issue the document referred to in point (5) to its citizens, the applicant shall submit an attestation equivalent to the health certificate issued by that Member State. If the Member State of origin or the Member State from which the applicant comes does not issue the document referred to in point (6) to its citizens, the applicant shall submit the attestation issued on the basis of their declaration on oath or a solemn declaration by the competent judicial or administrative authority or, where appropriate, the notary or professional organisation qualified in this respect in that State.

All the documents issued by Member States must be accompanied by the certified translation into Romanian.

Recognition of physiotherapist qualifications

The recognition is performed for professional purposes, in order to obtain the right of free practice for the profession of physiotherapist.

The professional recognition is made, as the case may be, with compensatory measures which consist in carrying out an adaptation stage or taking an aptitude test.

The recognition of official qualifications in physiotherapy obtained in another Member State of the European Union, in the states belonging to the European Economic Area and in the Swiss Confederation aims to facilitate the right of establishment and access of the holder to the profession of physiotherapist in Romania.

The exercise of the profession is done after obtaining the quality of member of the Romanian College of Physiotherapists (CFZRO), of the free practice authorization accompanied by the annual approval, as a result of the recognition of the qualification.

The profession of dental technician is recognised by the Order of Dental Technicians in Romania [Ordinul Tehnicienilor Dentari din România – OTDR] on the basis of a procedure.

The procedure is applicable for individuals getting established in Romania and holding professional qualifications obtained in a Member State of the EU, the EEA, the Swiss Confederation or in third countries by:

• citizens of the EU, the EEA, and the Swiss Confederation (including Romanian citizens);
• family members of a citizen of a Member State of the EU, the EEA, and the Swiss Confederation;
• long-term beneficiaries of the resident status granted by one of the Member States of the EU, the EEA, and the Swiss Confederation;
• citizens of third countries who are beneficiaries of the permanent resident status in Romania.

For professional qualifications obtained in a Member State of the EU, the EEA, and the Swiss Confederation, the file must contain the following:

• the standard application form (available at otdr.ro);
• copy of a valid nationality document (passport or identity card);
• certified copies and sworn translations of documents certifying the professional qualification (diploma, transcript of records and syllabus);
• a certificate of conformity issued by the competent authority of the Member State of origin or of the Member State from which the applicant comes, where qualification was obtained, showing that the evidence of formal qualifications obtained entitles the applicant to access the profession of dental technician or to pursue it on its territory and indicating, pursuant to Article 11 of Directive 2013/55/EU, the level of qualification obtained. (original document and certified translation);
• a certificate of current professional status issued by the competent authority of the Member State of origin or of the Member State from which the applicant comes. In the case of applicants from Member States where the profession is unregulated, a certificate issued by last employer is accepted. (original document and certified translation);
• proof of professional experience (copy and certified translations);
• proof of attendance at refresher training or continuing vocational training (certified copies of diplomas);
• proof of payment of the file examination fee: RON 150 (copy); this fee may be paid to one of the following OTDR accounts: RO54BRDE080SV70392720800 (BRD Brasov) or RO55BTRL04301205D48051XX (Banca Transilvania – Bucharest Unirii branch).

For professional qualifications obtained in third countries, the file must contain the following:

• the standard application form (available at otdr.ro);
• a copy of a valid nationality document (passport or identity card);
• the certificate of equivalence issued by the Ministry of National Education [Ministerul Educației Naționale] (certified copy);
• certified copies and sworn translations of documents attesting to the professional qualification (diploma, transcript of records and syllabus);
• the document attesting to the fact that the evidence of formal qualifications obtained in the third country has been recognised first in an EU Member State where the applicant has acquired a minimum of 3 years of professional experience (certified translation and copy of the original document); professional experience must be attested by a competent authority in the Member State concerned;
• proof of professional experience issued by the authorities of the State from which the applicant comes (certified copy and certified translation);
• proof of attendance at refresher training or vocational training (certified copies of diplomas);
• proof of payment of the file examination fee: RON 150 (copy); this fee may be paid to one of the following OTDR accounts: RO54BRDE080SV70392720800 (BRD Brasov) or RO55BTRL04301205D48051XX (Banca Transilvania – Bucharest Unirii branch).

In the case of permanent establishment, in order to access the profession of dental technician within the territory of Romania (permanent provision of services), the recognition of professional qualifications will be followed by registration in the OTDR in accordance with the ‘Regulation on the procedure for registration in the OTDR’.

In the case of permanent establishment, in order to access the profession of dental technician within the territory of Romania (permanent provision of services), the recognition of professional qualifications will be followed by registration in the OTDR in accordance with the ‘Regulation on the procedure for registration in the OTDR’.

In the case of temporary or occasional provision of services by dental technicians who are:

• citizens of a Member State of the EU, or of the European Economic Area, or of the Swiss Confederation;
• family members of a citizen of one of the States referred to above;
• beneficiaries of the long-term resident status granted by one of the Member States of the EU, the EEA, or the Swiss Confederation.

they must inform the Ministry of Health of the provision of dental technician services within the territory of Romania and be registered with the OTDR for this period.

In accordance with the Romanian Classification of Occupations (RCO), a profession is a specialisation (qualification) obtained through studies.

A regulated profession is a professional activity or set of activities that constitute that profession in Romania, regulated by national law.

A regulated professional activity is a professional activity for which access to or the pursuit of that activity in Romania is directly or indirectly subject, in accordance with Romanian legislation, to the possession of a document attesting to a certain level of training.

Activities pursued under a professional title, if use of such a title is reserved only to holders of documents attesting to that level of training, are deemed to be regulated professional activities.

Activities carried out by members of a professional organisation are also deemed to be regulated professional activities if that organisation:

• has as its main purpose the promotion and maintenance of a high standard in a certain professional field;
• is recognised under Romanian law for achieving that purpose;
• issues to its members a document attesting to the level of training;
• requires its members to observe a set of rules of professional conduct drawn up by it;
• confers on its members the right to use a professional title or its abbreviated form and to enjoy the status corresponding to that level of training.

A list of regulated professions in Romania and the competent authorities corresponding to each regulated profession are laid down in Law No 200 of 2004 on the recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications for regulated professions in Romania, as subsequently amended and supplemented, and may be consulted by accessing the Regulated Professions Database.

In order to have access to or pursue a regulated profession in Romania, any diploma, certificate or attestation of competence obtained in another Member State that entitles the holder to pursue the same profession in that Member State will be recognised as having the same effects as those obtained in Romania.

The National Centre for Recognition and Equivalence of Diplomas (CNRED) is the assistance centre in Romania tasked with providing assistance to citizens and assistance centres in other Member States on the recognition of professional qualifications, including information on national legislation governing professions and the practice thereof, on labour and social security legislation, and on the rules of professional ethics, where applicable.

The European Professional Card (EPC) is an electronic procedure that can be used to have a regulated profession recognised in another Member State. The EPC is an electronic certificate attesting that the professional has met all the requirements for the temporary and occasional provision of services in a host Member State.

For the time being, the EPC procedure can be used only for the professions of: general care nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, mountain guide and estate agent.

If a citizen’s profession is regulated in the Member State where that citizen wishes to pursue their profession, it may be necessary to obtain recognition of professional qualifications in that country.