Recognition of an EU medical specialist’s qualification
How a medical specialisation obtained in an EU country is recognised in Italy: automatic recognition for harmonised specialisations and the documents required.
Recognition of a medical specialist’s qualification obtained in a European Union country
A person who has obtained a medical specialisation in a State of the Union gains access to practice in Italy through automatic recognition, where the specialisation is among those harmonised by the directive. We follow the whole case, from the verification of the qualifications to the annotation with the order.
How it works
Specialist medical training obtained in a Union country, where it corresponds to a specialisation common to the Member States and listed in Directive 2005/36/EC, benefits from automatic recognition, without a fresh assessment of its content. Competence lies with the Directorate-General for the Healthcare Professions of the Ministry of Health, which verifies the conformity of the qualifications and the possession of the requirements. The application concerns both the basic medical training qualification and the specialisation qualification.
Submission of the application
The application, on stamped paper and on the ministerial form of the D series with the corresponding annex, is addressed to the Directorate-General for the Healthcare Professions and Policies for the National Health Service, Office 2, at Viale Giorgio Ribotta 5 in Rome. The basic qualification of doctor and the specialisation qualification are declared, with an indication of the order with which to register. Transmission is by certified email to dgrups@postacert.sanita.it, by ordinary post or by hand.
The Ministry’s assessment
The Ministry verifies that the documentation is complete and that the specialisation conforms to the requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC. For harmonised specialisations no compensation measures are provided. A specialisation not among those common to the Member States follows the general system instead, with a comparative assessment and possible compensation measures.
Recognition decree
The procedure is normally concluded within three months of submission of the complete documentation, with the issue of the decree, the precondition for practice of the specialist profession in Italy.
Language check and registration with the order
The Order of Physicians and Dentists verifies the knowledge of Italian necessary for practice and proceeds to registration on the register, with annotation of the recognised specialisation.
The documents
The documentation must be submitted complete and compliant. The precise list is contained in the annex to the ministerial form, but the essential elements are the following.
- The basic medical training qualification obtained in the State of origin
- The specialist medical training diploma obtained in the State of origin
- The certificate of conformity from the competent authority of the State of origin
- A translation into Italian certified as conforming by the Italian consular mission or sworn before an Italian court
- Authenticated copies of the documents, at the consulate or any Italian municipality, without colour photocopies
- A valid identity document and an application on stamped paper, on the D-series form, with a sixteen-euro stamp for each qualification to be recognised
Key points
The Declaration of Value is not required. For Union qualifications, in professional recognition it is replaced by the declaration of conformity of the State of origin, under Directive 2005/36/EC.
Automaticity for harmonised specialisations. Specialisations common to the Member States and listed in the directive are recognised without compensation measures. A non-harmonised specialisation is assessed under the general system, which may entail an aptitude test or an adaptation period.
Relationship with the basic qualification. Recognition of the specialisation presupposes the qualification of doctor. The two qualifications may be submitted with the same application.
Knowledge of the Italian language. It is a precondition for practice, verified by the order within the limits allowed by the directive, as a safeguard for the safety of care.
Timeframes and costs. The procedure is normally concluded within three months of submission of the complete documentation, with a sixteen-euro stamp for each qualification to be recognised, paid online through the PagoPA platform.
Legal references: Presidential Decree 394 of 1999, Directive 2005/36/EC, Legislative Decree 206 of 2007.
Explore further
A specialisation obtained in a third country follows a different route, with the Declaration of Value and possible compensation measures. The linked pages deal with the recurring tools of the case.
Talk to us
Send us the basic qualification, the specialisation diploma and the State where they were obtained. We set up the case and follow the whole procedure, through to registration with the order.
Write to us at info@riconoscimentititoli.comRequest a preliminary assessment
For a preliminary assessment of your case, send us your qualification and tell us the purpose for which you need recognition. We will assess the route and follow the whole procedure, from the documents to the final decision.
Request an assessmentWrite to us at info@riconoscimentititoli.com, in Italian, English, Spanish or French. We receive visitors by appointment only, arranged by telephone or e-mail.
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