General care nurses

Applications  

1. Submitting applications for the recognition of foreign qualifications

• Applications for foreign qualification recognition can be submitted in person, by post on the address Hrvatska komora medicinskih sestara (Croatian nursing council), Maksimirska 111/II, 10 000 Zagreb or by e-mail via hkms@hkms.hr
• In accordance with the Directive 2005/36/EC and the Law on regulated professions and the recognition of foreign professional qualifications there is a difference between the general and the automatic system. Depending on the kind of process which needs to be taken, there is a difference between the required documentation.

1. Documents which are required for the general system

• Application form (Integrated into the Ordinance of the criteria for the recognition of foreign qualifications)
• Proof of citizenship, uncertified copy accompanied by an unofficial translation on Croatian language
• Proof of previously completed education, uncertified copy accompanied by an unofficial translation on Croatian language
• Proof of formal qualifications or other proof of completed formal education, original or a certified copy accompanied by a certified translation on Croatian language,
• Diploma supplement or the curriculum, uncertified copy accompanied by an unofficial translation on Croatian language
• Proof of vocational training, uncertified copy accompanied by an unofficial translation on Croatian language
• Proof of professional experience, original or certified copy accompanied by a certified translation on Croatian language.

Note: The General Administrative Procedure Act (“Official Gazette” Nr.: 47/09) in Article 14. states that the administrative procedure is being held on Croatian language and on Latin alphabet. In accordance with mentioned Article all the documents in the foreign recognition qualification process needs to be translated into Croatian language on Latin alphabet by the official judicial interpreter for Croatian language.

       III. Documents which are required for the automatic system

• Application form (Integrated into the Ordinance of the criteria for the recognition of foreign qualifications)
• Proof of citizenship in original or in an uncertified copy accompanied by the presentation of the documents in original (in accordance with the Article 4. Paragraph 3. of the Ordinance of the criteria for the recognition of foreign qualifications).
• Proof of formal qualifications or other proof of completed formal education for education which started after the reference date from Annex V. in original or in an uncertified copy accompanied by the presentation of the documents in original (in accordance with the Article 4. Paragraph 3. of the Ordinance of the criteria for the recognition of foreign qualifications).
• Certification of a passed state exam if is required by the specific laws of the home state and is written in the Annex V. of the Directive 2005/36/EC, in original or in an uncertified copy accompanied by the presentation of the documents in original (in accordance with the Article 4. Paragraph 3. of the Ordinance of the criteria for the recognition of foreign qualifications).
• Ceritificate of conformity issued by the regulatory body of the home state where it is certified that the qualifications acquired through education are in accordance with the Directive 2005/36/EC

Note: The administrative procedure is being held on Croatian language and on Latin alphabet.All the documents in the foreign recognition qualification process needs to be translated into Croatian language on Latin alphabet by the official judicial interpreter for Croatian language.

1. Recognition of internships completed abroad (carried out by the Ministry of Health)

The recognition of internships is carried out at the request of the party which completed the procedure for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications before the Croatian Nursing Council. The party has to submit the following documentation with the application for the recognition of internship:

• Original or a certified copy of the proof of citizenship,
• Original or a certified copy of the proof of the change of surname,
• Certified copy of the decision issued by the Croatian Nursing Council  on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications,
• Certificate issued by the competent authority on the completed internship accompanied by the curriculum of the internship and its duration (in the original),
• Certified copy of the certificate on the passed professional exam,
• Employer’s certificate of the acquired profession-related experience (if any).

Note: The process of recognition of internship completed abroad and the taking of state exam is not mandatory for all candidates who have completed the foreign qualification process. Candidates who have regulated the obligation of internship and the state exam for the lower level of education are obligated to take in again in order to obtain licence to work. Also, in accordance with the Article 176. of the Healthcare Act, healthcare workers who have obtained their education in one of the EEA are not obligated to take the state exam at the Ministry of Health.

Fees

400 HRK for the costs of the foreign qualification process

Payment instructions:

Recipient: Hrvatska komora medicinskih sestara

IBAN: HR8024840081101957224

Model: HR00

Payment reference: Date of birth of the applicant

Payment purpose: trošak postupka priznavanje inozemnih stručnih kvalifikacija

600 HRK for the state exam at the Ministry of Health

Recipient: Državni proračun Republike Hrvatske/ State budget

IBAN: HR1210010051863000160

Model: HR62

Payment reference: 7005-47107-100145

Payment purpose: troškovi polaganja stručnog ispita

Competent authorities and regulations

Hrvatska komora medicinskih sestara

Maksimirska 111/II, 10 000 Zagreb

+385 1/2444-303

hkms@hkms.hr

Ministarstvo zdravstva Republike Hrvatske

Ksaver 200a, 10 000 Zagreb

+385 1/4607-555

pisarnica@miz.hr

Zakon o zdravstvenoj zaštiti (NN 100/18, 125/19)

Zakon o reguliranim profesijama i priznavanju inozemnih stručnih kvalifikacija (NN 82/15 i 70/19, 47/20)

Pravilnik o pripravničkom stažu zdravstvenih radnika (NN 2/11, 14/13, 126/14, 135/15)

Pravilnik o mjerilima za priznavanje inozemnih stručnih kvalifikacija (NN 89/13)

Approval

The decision on the recognition of foreign qualifications

Deadlines:

In the case of candidates who fulfil all the requirements for the automatic recognition of foreign qualification the decision will be made within 30 days.

If there is a significant difference between the professional qualification of the candidate from the professional qualifications which are prescribed for general care nurses in Croatia the candidate shall be via conclusion invited to specify the supplementary measure.

Within the 60 days from the receipt of the candidates statement, HKMS shall issue an interim decision. The interim decision shall set the conditions for the completion of supplementary measures.

HKMS shall make a decision on the recognition of the foreign qualification within the 30 days of the successful competition of the supplementary measure.

After the conclusion of the procedure for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications the candidates shall be directed to the Ministry of Health for the recognition of their internships completed abroad and the approval for taking the professional exam.

Legal remedy and appeals

An appeal can be submitted against the decision of Croatian nursing council in person, by post on the address Hrvatska komora medicinskih sestara (Croatian nursing council), Maksimirska 111/II, 10 000 Zagreb or by e-mail via hkms@hkms.hr.

After the appeal has been made, HKMS will question if it is allowed and made in the correct time frame. If those requirements are not met, the appeal shall be dismissed. If the HKMS decides that the appeal is justified it will change the made decision in part or in total. If the appeal is not dismissed and the HKMS has not changed it’s decision, the appeal with the file shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Health.

Deadline for the decision regarding the appeal: 60 days.

Last update: 20. December 2020.