ESA asks Norway to comply with EEA rules on the recognition of professional qualifications for health professionals

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has sent a letter of formal notice to Norwegian authorities for not providing aptitude tests in the recognition process for health professionals educated and trained in other EEA states.

ESA informed the Norwegian government in April 2024 that it had opened an own-initiative case concerning the lack of aptitude tests in the recognition process for clinical nutritionists when assessing professional qualifications obtained in another EEA state. Since then, ESA has been made aware that other health professionals, such as therapists or dental technicians are not offered such tests either. 

When health professionals move across borders in the EEA, their education needs to be recognised in the host country. In many cases, this is done by comparing the training of the applicant with the education required by the host state. When substantial differences are found, measures may be imposed to compensate for lack of professional knowledge. 

Currently, Norway does not offer a choice between an aptitude test or an adaptation period in form of a supervised practice, as required by EEA law, but only provides for the latter one. In addition, the authorities require some professionals, such as clinical nutritionists, to take up their supervised practice in specific limited institutions, for example university hospitals. This leads to uncertainty about whether or when they will have access to such practice. With an aptitude test, applicants could prove that they already acquired the missing parts of the education.  

ESA therefore concludes that Norway does not fulfil its obligations under the EEA Agreement on the recognition of professional qualifications. It is in breach of the EEA rules by maintaining the administrative practice of not providing any aptitude test for health professions in general, and additionally by not providing adequate support specifically to clinical nutritionists to realistically access a supervised practice period. 

A letter of formal notice is the first step in an infringement procedure against an EEA EFTA state. Norway now has two months to express its views before ESA decides whether to take the case further.

Read ESA’s decision here. 

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