The European Professional Card (EPC)

The EPC is not an actual physical card; rather, it serves as an electronic proof that the applicant's qualifications have been recognized by the country they wish to work in (host country), or that they meet the conditions to provide services temporarily in that country. 

When you apply for the EPC, it is your home country that checks and verifies your documentation. In most cases, the application is forwarded to the authorities in the host country, who will assess whether your qualifications meet the requirements for approval and will issue the EPC.

Once an application is approved, the applicant receives an EPC certificate in PDF format. This certificate includes a reference number that employers can use to verify the validity of the EPC online.

If you plan to settle in the country long-term (establishment) you may also need to register with a professional body or undergo additional checks before starting to practise your profession. You can also check with the national authorities whether this is required in your case.

There are no fees for issuing EPCs in Norway. Please note that other countries might have fees for handling applications for EPC. 

The EPC is optional so you can decide whether to use this procedure or use the standard procedure for professional recognition.

You can use the EPC procedure only if you are:

Real estate agent
Competent authority: The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway

Nurse responsible for general care, Pharmacist or Physiotherapist
Competent authority: The Norwegian Directorate of Health

Mountain guide (not regulated in Norway)

This profession is not regulated in Norway and you do not need to apply for recognition to work in Norway as a Mountain Guide. If you are legally established in Norway and wish to work in another country where the profession is regulated, you may apply for EPC. In these cases, your application will be reviewed and forwarded to the relevant country by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. 

Applying for an EPC

To apply for an EPC, you will need to:

• create an EU Login account, if you don't have one already
• sign in with an EU Login, the European Commission's authentication service (once you have signed in, you will be redirected to the EPC interface)
• complete your EPC profile with your personal information and contact details
• create an application
• upload electronically scanned copies of the relevant documents (each supporting document should be scanned and then uploaded as a separate file.)

submit all relevant documents to your home country authority.
Check the EPC User guide for more detailed information.

Authorities may also ask you to provide certified copies of your documents if they can't verify their validity.

The EPC is valid:

• indefinitely if you are settling long-term
• 18 months if you are providing services temporarily
• 12 months if you are providing services temporarily and your profession is related to public health or safety (for example, you are a physiotherapist or a mountain guide).

If the host country authorities find that your education, training and professional experience don't meet the standards required in that country, they could ask you to undergo an aptitude test or an adaptation traineeship.

If the host country authorities don't make a decision within the legal deadlines, your qualifications are tacitly recognised and you can generate an EPC certificate from your online account.

If the authorities reject your application, they have to explain why and how you can appeal.

For more information on EPC, please see: European Professional Card: your qualifications recognised abroad - Your Europe (europa.eu)