Nostrification (Nostrifizierung, nostrifikace, nostryfikacja)

Nostrification is an academic procedure. A university with a comparable programme compares your degree with its own and, if it is equivalent, declares it the same as the domestic degree. It is used mainly in Central European countries and mostly for degrees from outside the EU, because EU qualifications in medicine and nursing are recognised under Directive 2005/36/EC.

Nostrification is not a licence to practise. The Czech education ministry notes that professions such as physicians need separate professional recognition, and in Austria the Medical University of Vienna asks for confirmation from the Austrian Medical Chamber that nostrification is needed for your work.

Doctors and dentists apply to one medical university. The Medical University of Vienna requires a confirmation from the Austrian Medical Chamber (or Dental Chamber) that nostrification is necessary, charges a fee of €150 in advance that is lost if the application is refused or withdrawn, and does not allow the same application at more than one university. Documents need an apostille or full diplomatic legalisation, and those not in German or English need a translation by an Austrian court-sworn translator. A successful applicant receives the Austrian degree, Dr. med. univ. or Dr. med. dent. See Austria for the full route.

A public university authorised to teach a comparable programme decides. The education ministry (MŠMT) gives the fee as CZK 3,000 and a basic decision period of 30 days, which can be extended for complex cases. The Ministry of Health then requires doctors, dentists and pharmacists trained outside the EU to pass the approbation exam (aprobační zkouška), with the recognition decision as a condition, before it recognises their competence to practise. See Czechia.

For nursing and midwifery degrees, the Polish nursing chamber explains that nostryfikacja is carried out by universities with high research ratings in the relevant field, under a 2018 regulation. The fee may be up to 50% of a professor's salary, and the university must decide within 90 days of a formally complete application. See Poland.

• Exams. Universities can set exams before nostrification is complete; the Vienna procedure includes an examination stage after the investigation.
• Language. Exams and placements are in the national language, so start learning early.
• Documents. Legalisation and sworn translations take time; prepare them first.

1. Confirm which body decides for your profession and country, and whether you need nostrification at all.
2. Have your diploma and transcript legalised or apostilled as the university requires.
3. Order sworn translations where needed.
4. Apply to one university and pay its fee.
5. Complete any exams it sets.
6. Apply to the health regulator for the licence or exam that follows, using the nostrification decision as evidence. In Czechia, for example, the Ministry of Health asks for a certified copy of that decision.