MED-NET Conference 1997. Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Proceedings 6.3.

Mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualification in medicine

V. Costigliola (Bruxelles, Belgium)

Diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in medicine

Article 2
Each Member State shall recognise the diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications awarded to nationals of Member States by the other Member States in accordance with Article 23 and which are listed in Article 3, by giving such qualifications, as far as the right to take up and pursue the activities of a doctor is concerned, the same effect in its territory as those which the Member State itself awards.

Article 3
The diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications referred to in Article 2 are as follows:

1. in Belgium:
   "diplôme légal de docteur en médicine, chirurgie et accouchements/wettelijk diploma van doctor in de genees-, heel- en verloskunde" (diploma of doctor of medicine, surgery and obstetrics required by law) awarded by the university faculties of medicine, the Central Examining board or the State University Education Examining Board;
2. in Denmark:
   "bevis for bestaaet laegevidenskabelig embedseksamen" (diploma of medical practitioner required by law) awarded by a university faculty of medicine and "dokumentation for gennemfoert praktisk uddannelse" (certificate of practical training issued by the competent authorities of the health service);
3. in Germany
   1. "Zeugnis über die ärztliche Staatsprüfung" (the State examination certificate in medicine) awarded by the competent authorities, "Zeugnis über die Vorbereitungszeit als Medizinalassistent" (certificate stating that the preparatory period as medical assistant has been completed) insofar as German law still requires such a period to complete medical training; .
   2 "Zeugnis über die ärztliche Staatsprüfung" (the State examination   certificate in medicine) awarded by the competent authorities after 30 June 1988 and the certificate attesting to the practice of medicine during a period of practical training ("Arzt im Praktikum");
4. in Greece:
   "Ptychio Iatrikis" (degree in medicine) awarded by:
   - the faculty of medicine of a university, or
   - the faculty of health sciences, department of medicine, of a university;
5. in Spain:
   "Título de Licenciado en Medicina y Cirugia" (university degree in medicine and surgery) awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science or the rector of a university;
6. in France:
   1. "diplôme d'État de docteur en médicine" (university diploma of doctor of medicine) awarded by the university faculties of medicine, the university joint faculties of medicine and pharmacy, or by the universities;
   2. "diplôme d'université de docteur en médicine" (university diploma of doctor of medicine) where that diploma certifies completion of the same training course as that set down for the State diploma of doctor of medicine;
7. in Ireland:
   a primary qualification granted in Ireland after passing a qualifying examination held by a competent examining body and a certificate of experience granted by that body which give entitlement to registration as a fully registered medical practitioner;
8. in Italy:
   "diploma di laurea in medicina e chirurgia" (diploma of graduate in medicine and surgery) awarded by a university, accompanied by a "diploma di abilitazione all'esercizio della medicina e chirurgia" (diploma conferring the richt to practice medicine and surgery) awarded by the State Examining Commission;
9. in Luxembourg:
   "diplôme d'État de docteur en médicine, chirurgie et accouchements" (State diploma of doctor of medicine, surgery and obstetrics) awarded by the State Examining board, and endorsed by the Minister of Educations, and "certificat de stage" (certificate of practical training) endorsed by the Minister for Public Health;
10. in the Netherlands:
    "universitair getuigschrift van arts" (university certificate of doctor);
11. in Portugal:
    "carta de curso de licenciatura em medicina" (diploma confirming the completion of medical studies) awarded by a university, and the "diploma comprovativo da conclusao do internato geral" (diploma confirming the completion of general internship) awarded by the competent authorities of the Ministry of Health;
12. in the United Kingdom:
    a primary qualification granted in the United Kingdom after passing a qualifying examination held by a competent examining body and a certificate of experience granted by that body which gives entitlement to registration as a fully registered medical practitioner.

Diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in specialised medicine common to all member states

Article 4
Each member State shall recognise the diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in specialised medicine awarded to nationals of Member States by the other Member States in accordance with Articles 24, 25,26 and 29 and which are listed in Article 5, by giving such qualifications the same effect in its territory as those which the Member State itself awards.

Article 5

1. The diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications referred to in Article 4 shall be those which, having been awarded by the competent authorities or bodies listed in paragraph 2 correspond, for the purpose of the specialised training concerned, to the qualifications recognised in the various Member States and listed in paragraph 3.
2. The diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications awarded by the competent authorities or bodies referred to in paragraph 1 are as follows:
   (a) in Belgium:
   "titre d'agrégation en qualité de médicin spécialiste/erkenningstitel van geneesheer specialist" (formal evidence of having qualified as a medical specialist) issued by the Minister responsible for public health;
   (b) in Denmark:
   "bevis for tilladelse til at betegne sig som speciallaege" (certificate concerning the title of specialist) issued by the competent authorities of the health service;
   (c) in Germany:
   "fachärztliche anerkennung" (recognised certificate of medical specialist, issued by the Landesärztekammer (Chambers of Physicians of the Land concerned));
   (d) in Greece:
   "Titlos Iatrikis Eidikotitas" (certificate of medical specialisation) awarded by the Nomarchies (prefectures);
   (e) in Spain:
   "Titulo de Especialista" (professional qualification of specialists) awarded by the Ministry of Education and Science;
   (f) in France:
   "certificat d'études spéciales de médicine" (certificate of specialised studies in medicine) issued by a university faculty of medicine, university joint faculties of medicine and pharmacy or by universities certificates of qualified medical specialist, drawn up by the Council of the Ordre de médicins "certificat d'études spéciales de médicine" (certificate of specialised studies in medicine) issued by a university faculty of medicine, university joint faculties of medicine and pharmacy or equivalent certificates drawn up under a decree of the Minister for Education "diplôme d'études spécialisées de médicine délivré par les universités" (diploma of specialised studies in medicine awarded by a university);
   (g) in Ireland:
   certificate of specialist doctor issued by the competent authority recognized for this purpose by the Minister of Health;
   (h) in Italy:
   "diploma di medico specialista, rilasciati dal rettore di una universita" (diploma of specialised doctor, granted by a rector of a university);
   (i) in Luxembourg:
   "certificat de médicin spécialiste" (certificate of specialist doctor) issued by the Minister for Public Health on the advice of the medical college;
   (j) in the Netherlands:
   "getuigschrift van erkenning en inschrijving in het Specialistenregister" (certificate of recognition and registration in the Register of Specialists) issued by the "Specialisten-Registratiecommissie (SRC)" (commission for the Registration of Specialists (CRS)) "getuigschrift van erkenning en inschrijving in het Register van Sociaal-Geneeskundigen" (certificate of approval and registration issued by the "Sociaal-Geneeskundigen Registratie-Commissie (SGRC)" (Board of Registration of Doctors of Social Medicine);
   (k) in Portugal:
   "grau de assistente" (assistant grade), awarded by the competent authorities of the Ministry of Health, or "título de especialista" (professional qualification of specialist) awarded by the professional association for medical practitioners;
   (l) in the United Kingdom:
   certificate of completion of specialist training issued by the competent authority recognised for this purpose.

The titles currently used in the member states which correspond to the specialised training courses in question are as follows:

Diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in specialised medicine peculiar to two or more member states

Article 6
Each Member State with provisions in this matter laid down by law, regulation or administrative action shall recognise the diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in specialised medicine awarded to nationals of Member States by the other Member States in accordance with Articles 24, 25, 27 and 29 and which are listed in Article 7, by giving such qualifications to the same effect in its own territory as those which the Member State itself awards.

Article 7

1. The diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications referred to in Article 6 shall be those which, having been awarded by the competent authorities or bodies listed in Article 5 (2). correspond for the purposes of the specialised training in question to the designations listed in paragraph 2 of this Article in respect of those Member States which give such training.
2. The designations currently used in the Member States which correspond to the specialist training courses in question are as mentioned in the figure on the next two pages.

Article 8

1. Nationals of Member States wishing to acquire one of the diplomas, certificates or other evidence of formal qualifications of specialist doctors not referred to in Articles 4 and 6, or which, although referred to in Article 6, are not awarded in the Member State of origin or the Member State from which the foreign national comes, may be required by a host Member State to fulfil the conditions of training laid down in respect of  the speciality by its own law, regulation or administrative action.
2. The host Member State shall, however, take into account, in whole or in part, the training periods completed by the nationals referred to in paragraph 1 and attested by the award of a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal training by the competent authorities of the Member State of origin or the Member State from which  the foreign national comes provided such training periods correspond to those required in the host Member State for the specialised training in question.
3. The competent authorities or bodies of the host Member State, having verified the content and duration of the  specialist training of the person concerned on the basis of the diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications submitted, shall inform him of the period of additional training required and of the fields to be covered by it.

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