The certificate of conformity

The certificate of conformity, sometimes called certificate of compliance or attestation of conformity, is the document with which the competent authority of an EU Member State confirms that a professional qualification obtained there meets the minimum training requirements laid down by Directive 2005/36/EC. It is the key document for the automatic recognition of the professions with harmonised training, and the Italian ministries require it from doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives, veterinary surgeons, pharmacists and architects who apply for recognition of an EU qualification. Without it the application falls into the general system, with the comparison of training and the possible compensatory measures.

What it certifies

The Directive sets, for seven professions, minimum conditions of training agreed by all Member States: duration, content, practical component, and the title that the training leads to in each country, listed in Annex V. A qualification that meets those conditions is recognised automatically in every other Member State. Since the authority of the host State cannot check for itself whether a specific diploma meets them, the home authority certifies it: the certificate of conformity states that the qualification named in it complies with article 21 of the Directive and corresponds to the title listed in the Annex, or, for qualifications awarded before the reference date or under earlier rules, that the holder has acquired rights under article 23 through professional experience. For the general system professions the home authority issues instead a certificate stating the level of the qualification under article 11 and whether the profession and the training are regulated.

Who issues it

The competent authority designated by the Member State for the profession: a ministry of health, a professional council or chamber, a university or an education authority, depending on the country and the profession. In Italy, for example, the Ministry of Health issues it for health professionals trained in Italy who move abroad, and the Ministry of University for architects. Each authority has its own form, fees and timing, from a few days to several weeks. The certificate is issued in the language of the issuing State and must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Italian when filed with an Italian ministry, unless issued in a multilingual form.

Certificate of conformity and certificate of good standing

The two documents are often confused. The certificate of conformity concerns the training and is issued once. The certificate of good standing, or certificate of current professional status, concerns the person and states that the professional is registered, has no disciplinary sanctions and is not suspended or struck off; it is issued by the professional body and is valid for three months, so it must be requested close to the filing of the application. Italian ministries require both for EU applications, and for third-country applications they require the certificate of good standing together with the Dichiarazione di valore, since no certificate of conformity exists outside the Directive.

After Brexit

British authorities no longer issue certificates of conformity under the Directive for qualifications awarded after the end of 2020, because the United Kingdom is no longer bound by it. Holders of British qualifications applying in Italy document their training with the qualification, the transcript, the Dichiarazione di valore and the certificate of good standing issued by the British regulator, and are assessed under national rules, as explained on the page on qualifications obtained outside the EU. Qualifications awarded and recognised before that date keep their recognition.

How the firm helps

The firm identifies the authority competent to issue the certificate in the country of qualification, prepares the request in the form that authority requires, obtains the certificate of good standing in time for the filing, translates both documents by sworn translation and assembles the application for the Italian ministry together with the other documents of the professional recognition procedure. For professionals whose home authority is slow or unresponsive, the firm corresponds with it directly and, where the certificate cannot be obtained, prepares the application under the general system with the evidence of training that the Directive allows.

Frequently asked questions

I am an engineer: do I need a certificate of conformity?

Engineering is not among the professions with automatic recognition, so there is no certificate of conformity in the strict sense. The home authority issues a certificate on the level of the qualification and the regulation of the profession, which the Italian Ministry of University uses in the general system assessment.

Does the certificate expire?

The certificate of conformity does not, since it concerns the training. The certificate of good standing is valid for three months from issue, and the Italian ministries reject older ones.

My qualification was awarded before my country joined the EU: is it covered?

The Directive provides for acquired rights: the home authority certifies that the qualification, although awarded before the reference date, is treated as compliant, usually on the basis of professional experience of at least three consecutive years in the previous five. The certificate of conformity states this expressly.

Can the certificate be sent directly from the home authority to the Italian ministry?

Some ministries accept it, and the Internal Market Information System allows authorities to exchange documents directly. In practice the applicant usually obtains the certificate and files it with the application, with a sworn translation, which avoids delays.