Recognition of Diplomas and Qualifications

(source: European Union)

• I. Information on Community Law
• II. Formalities in France
• III. Useful addresses in France

I. Information on Community law

Basic principle: 

You have the right of establishment as a self-employed or employed person in any Member State of the European Union, subject to recognition of your qualification. There are simplified authorization and registration procedures if you wish merely to provide services in another Member State.

Scope: 

1. Recognition of your qualification is mandatory and automatic only if it was acquired in a Member State and is listed in the Directive. Mandatory and automatic recognition for all Member States therefore applies only if the qualification entitles you to practise general medicine or a medical specialism that is common to all Member States and is listed in the Directive. For qualifications in specialized medicine that are common to only some Member States and are indicated as such in the Directive, recognition is mandatory and automatic only for those Member States. In the case of other specialisms, which are either not covered by the Directive or are covered only in respect of the host Member State, recognition is granted on a case-by-case basis, but only after the host Member State has made a comparison between the education and training received in the Member State of origin and that which is available in the host Member State. Applicants may, in some cases, be asked to undergo additional training.
   
   
2. In specific cases, especially older forms of training undertaken in certain Member States prior to implementation of the Directives or qualifications which have a different designation, recognition may be subject to certain requirements.
   
   
3. There is no provision for the recognition of training received in countries outside the European Union. Such recognition may, however, be granted by Member States but is binding only on the Member State that grants it and does not extend beyond the territory of that Member State.
   
   
4. The authorities of the host Member State have three months in which to process your application to take up the activity concerned. Decisions not to grant recognition must be reasoned decisions, and it must be possible to appeal against them to the national courts.

Main Community instrument concerned: 

Council Directive 93/16/EEC (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 165 of 7 July 1993, p.1), as amended by the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden (OJ No L 1 of 1 January 1995, p.1).

II. Formalities in France

1. How to proceed

All applications for recognition should be sent to the Departmental Board of the Order of Physicians (Conseil départemental de l'Ordre des médecins) for the town or municipality in which you wish to work. You must register with the préfecture or sous-préfecture within one month of setting up your practice. No registration fee is charged. If you are merely providing services, you do not need to register with the Order of Physicians but you will be required to make a prior declaration to the Departmental Board.

2. Information and/or documents to be submitted to the competent authorities

You will have to produce inter alia the following: 

1. a certified copy of your diploma; 
2. a certificate of good conduct or good repute.

3. Fees

Translation costs

4. Contact point

• Departmental Board of the Order of Physicians
  préfecture or sous-préfecture

5. National rules

• L356 of the Public Health Code (Code de la Santé publique); 
• L361 of the same Code (registration); 
• L356-1 of the Code and Decree 86-122 of 23 January 1986 (provision of services)

III. Useful addresses in France

Ministère de L'emploi et de la Solidarité Direction générale de la santé Sous Direction des Professions de Santé 
8, avenue de Ségur F - 75350 Paris 07 SP

Conseil national de l'Ordre des médecins 
180, Bd Haussmann F - 75008 Paris

How to exercise your rights: 

If your application is refused, you may appeal to the national courts.

Other useful addresses, as well as details of other Factsheets, are contained in the Citizens First Guides.

Note: This Citizens First Factsheet is intended to provide guidance on EU law for information purposes only. It has been prepared by the European Commission with the help of national authorities and contains information on the national implementation of EU law. You are advised that the texts of Community legal instruments should be relied upon in case of doubt concerning the extent of a right or obligation arising from EU law.