Aptitude test (EU recognition)

Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications defines an aptitude test as a test of the professional knowledge, skills and competences of the applicant, carried out or recognised by the competent authorities of the host Member State, to assess the applicant's ability to pursue a regulated profession there.

It is one of two compensation measures under the general system of recognition. The other is an adaptation period, which the European Commission describes as a practice period under guidance of up to three years. The test is limited to the subjects where the authority has found substantial differences, and it must take account of the fact that you are already a qualified professional.

Under the Directive, a host country may require a compensation measure if your training covers substantially different matters from its own, or if the profession there includes activities that do not exist in the corresponding profession in your home country. Before imposing one, the authority must check whether your professional experience or formally validated lifelong learning already covers the difference.

The general rule is that you choose between an aptitude test and an adaptation period. The Directive lets countries derogate from that choice in specific cases, for example for professions requiring precise knowledge of national law, and for some doctors, dentists and nurses who fall outside automatic recognition. The Directive also says you must be able to take the aptitude test no later than six months after the decision imposing it.

• Ireland, nurses: the NMBI lets applicants to the General and Psychiatric Nurses divisions choose between a period of adaptation and an aptitude test, while other divisions are offered adaptation only. The aptitude test is run by RCSI's Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. The test for general nurses has a theory test, which must be passed first, and a practical OSCE, both at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. RCSI charges €2,800 (€2,500 when paid by an eligible employer), which includes two attempts at each part.
• Germany: for EU qualifications, an Eignungsprüfung covers the differences found. For doctors with third-country qualifications, the law uses the Kenntnisprüfung, which is based on the whole German state examination.
• Netherlands: doctors, dentists and nurses with non-EEA qualifications take the BI-test within the certificate of competence procedure.

1. Apply for recognition to the competent authority for your profession.
2. Read the decision: it should state the substantial differences and the measures offered.
3. Tell the authority which option you choose, where you have a choice.
4. Register with the body that runs the test and prepare using its published content.
5. Once you pass, complete registration.

• Letting a decision expire. NMBI says its decision letters are normally valid for 12 months, so plan your test date early.
• Preparing only clinical content. The Directive allows the test to cover the professional rules that apply in the host country, as well as the subjects on the authority's list.
• Not asking for the list of subjects. The authority must draw up the subjects not covered by your qualification, which tells you what to study.

For Ireland, see our NMBI aptitude test and adaptation guide.