Extension of the recognition scheme for foreign vocational education and training
Waiters (servitører), roofers (taktekkere) and tinsmiths (blikkenslagere) have the opportunity to apply for NOKUT recognition of their education and training from abroad as of Monday 1st November.
– We’re happy that we yet again can extend the recognition scheme for foreign vocational education and training with further qualifications. This group of applicants did not previously have a real possibility for recognition of their qualifications from abroad. The recognition scheme is now available for 22 professions from five countries, says NOKUT director Kristin Vinje.
On a par with Norwegian trade- and journeyman’s certificates
The recognition entails that NOKUT evaluates whether the foreign education and training programme can formally be given the same status on a par with a Norwegian trade- and journeyman’s certificate, in addition to comparing the curricula to ensure the professional requirements are met.
– Recognised skilled worker competence means that the employee is qualified for more positions and can for example use the NOKUT recognition in salary negotiations. For companies, it can make a difference to employ recognised skilled workers on occasions where a specified amount of the workforce is required to be recognised skilled workers. This is subsequently a scheme that benefits individual employees, employers as well as the Norwegian society, explains the NOKUT director.
The fourth extension in five years
Immigrants from the five countries that are presently included in the recognition scheme represent a significant part of the migrant workers Norway. The countries are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.
– This is the fourth time we extend the recognition scheme since it was established in November 2016, explains Silje Molander, who leads the section for recognition of vocational education and training in NOKUT. She adds that NOKUT plans one more extension in 2022.
– NOKUT has received more than 3300 applications to this recognition scheme during the approximately five years in which it has been operational. Nearly 1500 persons have had their competence recognised as comparable with Norwegian trade- and journeyman’s certificates. The majority of the qualifications that have received recognition are in the professions of wood products carpenter (trevaresnekker), motor vehicle mechanic (bilmekaniker) and plumber (rørlegger), says Molander.
NOKUT’s recognition scheme for foreign vocational education and training includes the following qualifications:
- Bricklayer (murer)
- Butcher (slakter)
- Cabinet maker (møbelsnekker)
- Carpenter (tømrer)
- Cook, institutional cook (kokk)
- Cosmetologist (hudpleier)
- Glazier (glassfagarbeider)
- Hairdresser (frisør)
- Industrial concrete worker (betongfagarbeider)
- Industrial machinery mechanic (industrimekaniker)
- Meat cutter (kjøttskjærer)
- Motor vehicle mechanic, light and/or heavy vehicles (bilmekaniker, lette og/eller tunge kjøretøy)
- Retail butcher (butikkslakter)
- Plumber (rørlegger)
- Roofer (taktekker) – NEW
- Sausage maker (pølsemaker)
- Tinsmith (blikkenslager) – NEW
- Upholsterer (møbeltapetserer)
- Waiter (servitør) – NEW
- Wood products carpenter (trevaresnekker)
Collaboration with industry regarding experts
NOKUT is dependent on assistance from industry experts in the recognition process to assess the professional content of foreign qualifications.
– We collaborate well with the state authority’s advisory council for vocational education and training, that recommends the industry experts which NOKUT use in the recognition scheme. Approximately 100 industry experts have been appointed and instructed, and currently conduct assessments of professional content of the qualifications that form part of the recognition scheme, Molander concludes.
Read more about the recognition scheme
Webinars about the scheme
NOKUT would like to inform about the scheme as best as possible, and regularly arranges webinars. In connection with the extension with the new professions, webinars for the building- and construction professions will take place on 23. November and for the restaurant- and food processing profession on 24. November.