The European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007

Levels of qualification

20.  For the purpose of applying conditions of recognition under regulation 22, professional qualifications are grouped under the following levels as set out below—

(a) an attestation of competence issued by a competent authority of a relevant European State on the basis of either:

(i) a training course not forming part of a certificate or diploma within the meaning of paragraphs (b), (c), (d) or (e), or a specific examination without prior training, or full-time pursuit of the profession in another relevant European State for three consecutive years or for an equivalent duration on a part-time basis during the previous 10 years, or

(ii) general primary or secondary education, attesting that the holder has acquired general knowledge;

(b) a certificate attesting to a successful completion of a secondary course either:

(i) general in character, supplemented by a course of study or professional training other than that referred to in paragraph (c) and/or by the probationary or professional practice required in addition to that course, or

(ii) technical or professional in character, supplemented where appropriate by a course of study or professional training as referred to in sub-paragraph (i), and/or by the probationary or professional practice required in addition to that course;

(c) a diploma certifying successful completion of either—

(i) training at post-secondary level other than that referred to in paragraphs (d) and (e) of a duration of at least one year or of an equivalent duration on a part-time basis, one of the conditions of entry of which is, as a general rule, the successful completion of the secondary course required to obtain entry to university or higher education or the completion of equivalent school education of the second secondary level, as well as the professional training which may be required in addition to that post-secondary course; or

(ii) in the case of a regulated profession, training with a special structure as set out in Annex II of the Directive, equivalent to the level of training provided for under sub-paragraph (i), which provides a comparable professional standard and which prepares the trainee for a comparable level of responsibilities and functions;

(d) a diploma certifying successful completion of training at post-secondary level of at least three and not more than four years duration, or of an equivalent duration on a part-time basis, at a university or establishment of higher education or another establishment providing the same level of training, as well as the professional training which may be required in addition to that post-secondary course;

(e) a diploma certifying that the holder has successfully completed a post-secondary course of at least four years duration, or of an equivalent duration on a part-time basis, at a university or establishment of higher education or another establishment of equivalent level and, where appropriate, that he has successfully completed the professional training required in addition to the post-secondary course.