Autorisation/registration process in Norway

How to apply for Authorisation as a Doctor in Norway

Step 1 – Submit your application for registration to the Helsedirektoratet (Norwegian Directorate of Health)

The application has to be made online. If you are in Norway and have Norwegian ID or D number, you can use the electronic application form in Altinn. However, if you do not have these then you will apply on an alternate link to Altinn. The application fee is 1665kr and is paid online. The link to apply without Norwegian ID or D number is:

https://www.altinn.no/ui/Authentication/SelfIdentified

The documents that need to be submitted with the application are:

1.      Copy of Passport

2.      Medical Diploma

3.      Transcript/Diploma Supplement

4.      A detailed overview of the curriculum showing the specific subject content (not only the name of the subject) and the duration of the education.

Requirements for the curriculum:

·         The theoretical content must be stated in the learning objectives for each individual subject.

·         The scope of each subject must be expressed in either ECTS or the number of hours for each subject.

·         The number of work placements or clinical practice studies with each period's length, objective, venue and evaluation results must be stated.

·         Practice must be expressed with number of weeks, hours, or ECTS within each field of practice and Department, which include areas/List of institutions where the practical training experience is conducted. The curriculum must be valid for those years the applicant studied, e.g. if you studied from 2010–2015 the curriculum has to cover those years.

·         The curriculum also needs to provide detailed contact information to the educational institution.

·         Authorization from the country the applicant graduated from and/or the country you have worked in. If your profession is not regulated in the country you have graduated from, or worked in, please inform about this.

·         Detailed work certificate showing where and what you have been working with.

·         Education as Medical Practitioner: Verification of diploma and transcript through ECFMG (mentioned in Step 2)

PS! All the documents must be colour and combined in one PDF file.

Step 2 – Attestation from ECFMG

Use the following link to attest your medical degree. You just have to create an account, upload you degree and pay the application fee.

http://www.ecfmgepic.org/instructions-norway.html

Once you have done it, they will send your degree for attestation to your institute in your home country. They will send confirmation directly to Helsedirektoratet upon verification.

STEP 3 – Waiting time

Once you have submitted application to Helsedirektoratet and ECFMG you just have to wait to hear from Helsedirektoratet. Normal processing time for Non-EU graduates is 6-8 months.

Step 4 – Decision letter

When you have received a decision letter from Helsedirektoratet you will either be considered equivalent to the corresponding Norwegian education or not. If you do not then you will have to add another step in order to get authorisation. That step is to work required hours in different departments in your decision letter. All have to fulfil these four requirements:

1.      Document language skills at B2 level. You can also fulfil this requirement by documenting language skills in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at the same level. Documentation of the following will be considered to correspond to the B2 level in Norwegian:

·         Examination in Norwegian or Norwegian as a second language on the “VG3-level” (393 hours) from Norwegian upper secondary school

·         Level 3 examination in Norwegian for foreign students at Norwegian universities with the grade C or better

·         Examination from the 1-year course (60 ECTS) in Norwegian language and culture for foreign students, taken at a university or a university college, with the grade C or better

·         Completed all 9 or 10 years of primary and lower secondary school where the language of instruction was Norwegian

·         Completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) courses Norwegian A or Norwegian B at least at standard level with the grade 3 or better

2.      Complete and pass a course on Norwegian health services, health legislation and society (required for all professions) (Norwegian: kurs i nasjonale fag)

3.      Complete and pass a course in safe handling of medicines (only required for  medical practitioners, dentists, nurses and pharmacists) (Norwegian: kurs i legemiddelhåndtering)

Exams mentioned in the Step 2 and 3 are held together and are arranged by Folkeuniversitetet, and Oslo, and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. Fee for these courses is 8050 kr. To get enrolment you have to submit the decision letter received from Helsedirektoratet and language certificate. Further information can be found on these links:

https://www.folkeuniversitetet.no/Yrkesrettede-utdanninger-og-kurs/Helse-og-oppvekst/Kurs-i-nasjonale-fag

http://www.hioa.no/Studier-og-kurs/HF/Evu/Nasjonale-fag

4.      Pass a proficiency test (only required for medical practitioners, dentists, nurses and health care workers ) (Norwegian: fagprøve)

Step 5 – When you have done all these step (mentioned in your decision letter) you have to again apply for authorisation to Helsedirektoratet and pay new application fee. (Repeat step 1)