An additional five qualifications included in the recognition scheme for foreign vocational education and training

Cooks, institutional cooks, cosmetologists, motor vehicle mechanics for heavy or light vehicles have the opportunity to apply for recognition of their vocational education and training from abroad as of Monday, 15th October.

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– We are delighted that we are once more able to include more qualifications in the recognition scheme for foreign vocational education and training. Skilled workers from abroad lacked until recently a real opportunity to get their education and training recognised in Norway. Now our recognition scheme is available for applicants with 19 different qualifications and opened for qualifications from five countries, says NOKUT’s Director General Terje Mørland.

Recognition of skilled workers from abroad has long been sought after by Norwegian social partners.

– This is the third time we extend the recognition procedure since we started with the scheme in November 2016, adds Silje Molander, Head of Section for Recognition of Professional Qualifications in NOKUT. She adds that NOKUT is planning another extension in 2019.

Molander adds that the five countries included in the recognition scheme represent a considerable amount of work-related migration to Norway. Those are Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

– Polish applicants are notably the largest group with 945 applications since we launched the procedure. Lithuanian applications take second place with 172 applications since last year. Overall we have received around 1300 applications. Up to today, over 400 applicants have received recognition of their foreign qualification as comparable to Norwegian vocational education and training. Most of the applicants apply for recognition as plumber or carpenter.

NOKUT’s recognition for foreign vocational education and training includes the following qualifications:

  • Bricklayer
  • Butcher
  • Cabinet maker
  • Carpenter
  • Cook – NEW
  • Cosmetologist – NEW
  • Glazier
  • Hairdresser
  • Industrial concrete worker
  • Industrial machinery mechanic
  • Institutional cook – NEW
  • Meat cutter
  • Motor vehicle mechanic, light vehicles – NEW
  • Motor vehicle mechanic, heavy vehicles – NEW
  • Retail butcher
  • Plumber
  • Sausage maker
  • Upholsterer
  • Wood products carpenter

Close cooperation with social partners and experts

As the recognition procedure includes an assessment of vocational content, NOKUT requires help from external experts.

– We have a fruitful cooperation with the Norwegian Vocational Training Councils who assist us in finding external experts for the recognition scheme. We have appointed and instructed around 100 experts that assess the vocational content of foreign qualifications as a part of our recognition procedure, states Molander.

Read more about this recognition scheme

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