Qualification Process for Nurses Trained Outside the EU and EEA in the “Continuing Professional Education for Nurses Granted with a Diploma in General Nursing Outside the EU/EEA” Project .
Gather documents
GATHER THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLYING TO BRIDGING EDUCATION PROGRAM
- Gather the documents required for applying for the right to practise following the Valvira instructions. You may gather the documents already before applying to the pathway education. See the current instructions on the Valvira website.
- Official document verifying your identity and nationality (e.g. passport, ID card)
- Nursing education degree certificate *
- Supplement to your nursing degree or transcript of records *
- A certificate that your right to practice as a nurse has not been restricted or withdrawn. (e.g. Certificate of Current Professional Status) *
- Reliable proof of your Finnish or Swedish language proficiency (e.g. a National Certificate of Language Proficiency YKI test) *
- A description of the content of your nursing studies provided by the educational establishment *
- Job references from your employer for the period after you have graduated as a registered nurse *
- Certificate of continuing education related to the nursing profession if you have attended continuing education*.
* Original document and a reliable translation into Finnish, Swedish or English
Application for the bridging education program
APPLY FOR A NURSING BRIDGING EDUCATION PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
- Bridging education programs are provided by universities of applied sciences. Find the nearest university of applied sciences, which offers nursing education and nursing bridging education programs. Find out when the next application deadline is for the program
- Apply for the bridging education program. Follow the guidelines and timetable of the university of applied sciences.
- Participate in the student selection process according to the University of Applied Sciences guidelines. You will receive a decision on your selection and instructions on how to start your studies in the bridging education program
Apply the right to practise from Valvira
APPLY FOR THE RIGHT TO PRACTISE FROM VALVIRA
- Apply for a right to practise nursing following the instructions from Valvira. There are two stages in the Valvira nurse licensing process. The first application is made at the beginning of your studies, after the competency assessment has been completed. The second application will be made after you completed your studies (step 7).
Initial assessment of competences and PSP
PARTICIPATE IN THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF YOUR COMPETENCES AND THE PREPARATION OF YOUR PERSONAL STUDY PLAN
- At the beginning of your licensing training/pathway studies, your nursing competence will be assessed in an initial competence assessment. You will be assessed based on, for example, qualifications, work experience, interviews and competence assessment tests. Competence assessment can include knowledge tests, skills demonstrations and simulations.
- Personal study plan will be done based on the initial assessment. The personal study plan includes theoretical studies and clinical placements in the different clinical environments. In addition, a plan for Finnish language studies will be drawn up for you if your Finnish language skills are not yet on sufficient level.
Completion of studies
COMPLEATE YOUR STUDIES ACCORDING TO YOUR PERSONAL STUDY PLAN
- Complete your studies according to the personal study plan drawn up for you. The competence assessment will continue throughout your bridging education program, and your personal study plan may be amended if necessary, during your studies.
- At the end of your bridging education program, you will receive a certificate of completion of your studies. You will need this certificate when you apply for a the right to practise as a nurse from Valvira (step 7).
Certificate of language proficiency
OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE OF FINNISH OR SWEDISH
- Sufficient oral and written language in Finnish or Swedish are required to work as a nurse in Finland.
- The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish. You must be able to demonstrate your language skills in either Finnish or Swedish. You can demonstrate sufficient language skills by, for example:
- A general language examination (YKI).
- A Finnish certificate of completion of Finnish comprehensive school. The certificate must have an approved mark in Finnish or Swedish as your mother tongue or as a second language.
- A certificate of completion of upper secondary school or a matriculation certificate with an approved grade in Finnish or Swedish as a mother tongue or second language.
- a certificate stating that you have completed the upper secondary school syllabus in Finnish or Swedish as a mother tongue or as a second language.
- a certificate stating that you have completed a vocational qualification in Finnish or Swedish.
- a certificate stating that you have completed a course of study in official Finnish or official Swedish at a university or university of applied sciences.
- a maturity certificate in Finnish or Swedish for university and polytechnic degrees.
Apply the right to practise from Valvira after completing the studies
APPLY FOR A RIGHT TO PRACTISE NURSING AFTER COMPLETING
- Apply for a nursing licence according to the instructions from Valvira.
A License to practise nursing decision
OBTAIN A NURSING LICENCE FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD OF HEALTH
- The decision will be published on JulkiTerhikki, where it will be open to public scrutiny.
The training has been funded by the Service Centre for Continuous Learning and Employment. The Service Centre promotes the competence development of working-age people and the availability of skilled labour. The operations of the Service Centre are overseen by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.