Professional recognition
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In Italy professions are divided into two categories:
- legally “non-regulated” professions
- legally “regulated” professions
Non-regulated professions: are those that may practised without the need for holding a specific qualification. These professions are open without bias to both Italian and foreign qualification holders.
Anyone who wishes to practise a non-regulated profession in Italy and who holds a foreign qualification has no need to obtain legal or formal recognition to join the Italian job market.
Examples of professions which are NOT regulated: those including advertising, communication, various artistic and musical sectors (ex. interior designer, actor, dancer, composer, orchestral conductor, musician – instrumentalist, designer, fashion designer, artist, director, stage designer, sculptor, etc.), linguistic services (interpreters and translators), marketing, and many others besides.
It could prove useful to attach a document describing the characteristics of the foreign qualification: this allows a potential employer to understand it better.
Regulated professions: are those whose practice is regulated by national legislation. The law establishes both the minimum qualification necessary and the further requisites of training in the practice of the profession (for ex. internship and/or State exam for a professional license) and the norms of the professional code of ethics.
The practice of such professions is protected by law and is limited exclusively to persons qualified according to the specific legislation for the type of regulated profession.
Those who hold a foreign professional qualification need the recognition of the competent Italian authority in order to legally practise the corresponding profession in Italy. “Professional qualification” means the title which allows the practice of a specific regulated profession in the Country which issued it.
Italy recognises foreign professional qualifications (the so-called professional recognition) by applying:
- community legislation to qualifications emanating from the EU; more precisely the 2005/36/EC and 2013/55/EU directives, which define the recognition of the foreign profession: the competent Italian authority may subordinate recognition to compensatory measures (aptitude test or adaptive internship);
- Articles 49-50 of Presidential Decree n. 394/99, and the following Presidential Decree 334/04, for qualifications emanating from outside the EU, through which the possibility of professional recognition via compensatory measures for non-EU qualifications is foreseen.
For further information a Assistance centre for recognition of professional qualifications has been set up within the Department for European Policies of the Prime Minister’s Office (e-mail: centroassistenzaqualifiche@politicheeuropee.it).
For further information kindly consult the following website: Recognition of professional qualifications.
For information regarding professional recognition of foreign qualifications in Italy, kindly contact the competent authorities or the Help centre for professional qualification recognition.
CIMEA has no authority for such procedures, and will therefore decline to answer questions linked to professional recognition.
The Italian authorities charged with undertaking professional recognition and the relative professions under their jurisdiction are indicated below (this is not a complete list).
Ministry of Health
Professions: Allergologist; Pathologist; Biologist; Chemist; Dermatologist and Venereologist; Dietician; Educator; Hematologist; Pharmacist; Physiotherapist; Geriatrics; Dental hygienist; Nurse (pediatric); Speech therapist; Doctor/Specialised Doctor; Veterinarian; Dentist; Midwife; Optician; Chiropodist; Psychologist; Psychotherapist; Audiometrician; Acoustic aid technician; Cardiovascular pathophysiology technician; Environmental and workplace prevention technician; Psychiatric rehabilitation technician; Neurophysiopathology technician; Orthopedic technician; Biomedical laboratory sanitary technician; Medical radiology sanitary technician; Childhood neuro- and psychomobility therapist; Veterinarian.
Ministry of Justice
https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_2_4_1.wp
Professions: Agriculture and foresty advisor; Agricultural technician; Social worker; Specialist social worker; Actuary; Junior Actuary; Lawyer; Agricultural biotechnologist; Agronomist; Accountant / Tax advisor; Geologist; Junior geologist; Surveyor; Journalist; Junior civil engineer; Civil and environmental engineer; Information systems engineer; Junior information system engineer; Junior industrial engineer; Industrial engineer; Intermediary; Assistant agronomist; Construction environment and territory Industrial Engineer; Chemical Industrial engineer; Electric and Automation Industrial Engineer; Mechanical and Energetic Efficiency Industrial Engineer; Informatics Industrial Engineer; Food technologist.
Ministry of Education
https://miur.gov.it/web/guest/riconoscimento-professione-docente
Professions: Secondary school teacher; Primary school teacher; Kindergarten teacher; Childcare worker.
Ministry for Universities and Research
https://www.miur.gov.it/libera-circolazione-dei-professionisti
Professions: Junior architect; Architect; Curator of the Architectural and Environmental Heritage; Landscape architect; Junior Planner; Land Planner; Research staff in Italian universities and public research bodies.
Ministry of Labour
Professions: Civil thermal plants technician; Installation of ventilation equipment; Labour law expert; Aesthetician.
Ministry of Economic Development
Professions: Hairdresser; Wholesale intermediary; Real estate agent; Chartered loss adjuster; Pest controller; Car mechanic; Consultant on industrial property; Electrician; Intermediary for purchase; Forwarding agent; Laundering; Retail or food and beverage administration (food sale, restaurants, bars etc.).
Ministry of Interior
https://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/4075db7e78cd31e0162111238
Professions: Persons in charge of security checks in entertainment venues and public places (bouncers); Special security guard; Private Investigator or corporate investigator employed by a private investigation agency; Persons in charge of safety checks in sports venues (stewards); Owner of a private investigation agency or corporate investigation agency; Owner of a private surveillance agency.
Ministry of Tourism
https://www.ministeroturismo.gov.it/professioni-turistiche/
Professions: Tour manager; Travel agency manager; Tourist guide.
Ministry of Sustainable Infrastructure and Mobility
Professions: Warden; Driving school teacher; Driving school instructor; Third-category seafarers - Local traffic and coasting fishing personnel.
Sports office
https://www.sport.governo.it/it/
Professions: Medium mountain guide; Mountain guide; Volcano guide; Ski instructor.