Recognition of education qualifications from other countries
Croatian citizens, foreign nationals and stateless persons have the right to recognition of foreign education qualifications
Depending on the type of foreign education qualification for which recognition is sought, we distinguish between the following:
- recognition of primary and secondary school qualifications and duration of such education programmes:
- recognition of foreign education qualifications attesting the completion of primary and secondary education in general programmes, grammar school programmes and art programmes for the purpose of employment or continuation of education – under the competence of the Education and Teacher Training Agency
- recognition of foreign education qualifications attesting the completion of vocational secondary education programmes for the purpose of employment or continuation of education – under the competence of the Agency for Vocational Education and Training.
- recognition for the purpose of continuing primary or secondary education is under the competence of the education institution to which the applicant submits the requestfor continuing education
- recognition of primary education for the purpose of continuing secondary education is under the competence of the secondary education institution to which the applicant submits the request for continuing education
- recognition of higher education qualifications and duration of study programmes:
- for the purpose of continuing education in the Republic of Croatia (academic recognition and recognition of duration of study programmes) – under the competence of universities, polytechnics and colleges
- for the purpose of employment in the Republic of Croatia (recognition of professional titles) – under the competence of the National ENIC/NARIC Office of the Agency for Science and Higher Education
Recognition of professional qualifications
The procedure for recognition of a foreign higher education qualification can be initiated for the purpose of employment in the Republic of Croatia, based on the foreign higher education qualification obtained abroad.The recognition of professional qualifications implies formal validation of foreign higher education qualifications issued by the competent authority, for the purpose of employment. The Act on the Recognition of Foreign Education Qualifications repealed the Act on the Recognition of Equivalence of Foreign School Certificates and Diplomas, which included the so-called validation process.
Academic recognition and recognition of the duration of programmes
The academic recognition of higher education qualifications is carried out for the purpose of continuation of education at a higher education institution in Croatia by universities, polytechnics and colleges.A request for recognition of the duration of a study programme at a foreign higher education institution can be submitted to the Academic Recognition Office, in case a study programme was started abroad and its completion is sought in Croatia.
A list of competent offices with contact details is available on the website of the Agency for Science and Higher Education
Recognition of professional qualifications (regulated professions)
Persons who have acquired their professional qualification abroad ( acquired through formal education, additional training or by taking an examination of professional competence) and wish to work in a regulated profession in the Republic of Croatia must undergo the procedure for recognition of a foreign professional qualification, which is regulated by the Act on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications. It is important to note that this procedure differs from the procedure for recognition of foreign higher education qualifications.According to the Act on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications, parties seeking the recognition of foreign professional qualifications apply directly to the competent authorities for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, which are usually chambers or ministries competent for regulating employment in a particular profession.
The Ministry of Science and Education is the competent authority for the following regulated professions:
- primary school teacher;
- secondary school teacher;
- expert associate in a school;
- expert associate in an early childhood and care institution;
- early childhood and care professional.
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