1. Recognition of professional qualifications Adoption of acquis in Latvian legislation Gunta Araja, National coordinator of recognition of professional qualifications, Latvia

2. Framework legislation Law on regulated professions and recognition of professional qualifications determines the basic requirements for regulated professions and principle of recognition for foreign professional qualifications Adopted June 2001, entered in force 1 January, 2003, amended 8 April,2004

3. Medical professions Minimum training requirements are determined by the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers for nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists and doctors Minimum training requirements are determined by the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers for nurses, midwives, dentists, pharmacists and doctors List of automatically recognized EEA qualifications and conditions for acquired rights in respective professions are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers List of automatically recognized EEA qualifications and conditions for acquired rights in respective professions are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers

4. Other legal acts Medical Treatment law Medical Treatment law Law on pharmaceutical activities Law on pharmaceutical activities Regulates medical activities and determines quality standards in Latvia Regulates pharmaceutical activities and determines quality standards in Latvia

5. Administrative structure The Ministry of Health is responsible for health care policy The Ministry of Health is responsible for health care policy The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for recognition of professional qualifications in regulated professions The Ministry of Education and Science is responsible for recognition of professional qualifications in regulated professions

6. Contactpoint (information institution) Contactpoint (information institution) Academic information centre (Latvian ENIC/NARIC) for all medical professions

7. Competent authorities The competent authorities for recognition of foreign qualifications are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers (17 December, 2002) and are those institutions, who authorise Latvian medical specialists or pharmacists to independent practice The competent authorities for recognition of foreign qualifications are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers (17 December, 2002) and are those institutions, who authorise Latvian medical specialists or pharmacists to independent practice

8. Nurses General care nurses General care nurses Specialised nurses Specialised nurses Medical Vocational education centre Medical Vocational education centre Latvian Nurses asociation Latvian Nurses asociation

9. Midwives Medical Vocational education centre Medical Vocational education centre Latvian Nurses asociation Latvian Nurses asociation

10. Dentists Latvian Doctors Association Latvian Doctors Association Pharmacists Latvian Pharmacists Association

11. Doctors Union of professional organizations of Medical practiotiones of Latvia Union of professional organizations of Medical practiotiones of Latvia Latvian Doctors Association Latvian Doctors Association Surgeon Surgeon Other doctors Other doctors

12. Language requirements Are determined by State language law on the level of knowledge and responsibility Language requirements are not a part of professional qualification recognition procedure

13. Certification of Latvian qualifications Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, 22 April, 2004 Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, 22 April, 2004 Certificates of acquired rights and conformity are issued by competent authorities Certificates of acquired rights and conformity are issued by competent authorities Dates of conformity are notified to the European Commision, September,2004 Dates of conformity are notified to the European Commision, September,2004

14. Migration Outgoing migration to other EU countries - doctors, nurses Outgoing migration to other EU countries - doctors, nurses Incoming migration from countries outside EEA Incoming migration from countries outside EEA The numbers of migration are not high in both cases The numbers of migration are not high in both cases

15. Further developments Further development of system for issuing certificates on acquired rights and conformity of qualifications is needed Further development of system for issuing certificates on acquired rights and conformity of qualifications is needed Possibilities to acquire state language in order to ensure the rights of cosumers and migrating professionals will be developed Possibilities to acquire state language in order to ensure the rights of cosumers and migrating professionals will be developed

16. Thank you very much! Paldies!