Danish authorisation for veterinary surgeons based upon EU-law

This page gives an overview on the rights based upon the directive on the recognition of professional qualifications (directive 2005/36).

The rules laid out here are applicable to people who want to practice the profession as a veterinary surgeon in another country than the one where they obtained their qualifications.

The directive sets up a system for the recognition of professional qualifications based upon automatic recognition of qualifications, that is a diploma, or recognition based on professional experience through either acquired rights or the general system for the recognition of evidence of training. The most common procedure to use is the one based upon automatic recognition of qualifications (the diploma in veterinary medicine). The paths to acquiring an authorisation are described further below. Firstly, however, you must ensure you are eligible.

People eligible under the EU directive on the recognition of professional qualification must have:

• A qualification according to the directive, and
• Be one of the following:
• a national of an EU member state.
• a European Union rights entitled person from an EU member state.
• a national of an EEA country (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland.
  

Automatic recognition of qualifications, that is based upon diploma, is done according to chapter III of the directive. The rules are found in article 38 – the professional qualification must comply with the criteria in annex V, point 5.4.2.

It is crucial that your diploma:

• states the exactly same title of the degree awarded,
• is awarded from a university that is listed, and
• that it is within the reference date.

The directive is implemented in the Danish order on veterinary surgeons in Denmark for EU and EEA nationals.

However, the specific title you must hold and from which university, depending on the country where you obtained your diploma, are not listed in the order, why you must look in point 5.4.2 to see if the title and university correspond exactly to your diploma. There are specific titles for each country/each university. Please note, that for some countries a certificate is required in addition to the diploma.

Furthermore, you must have begun the education that grants you the diploma after the reference date mentioned in annex V, point 5.4.2 at the member state in question.

Please note, that for a few countries there are further specific requirements.

In case the diploma does not correspond to the information in point 5.4.2. 

You need a certificate in case the diploma does not correspond to the information in point 5.4.2. The certificate, in the situations mentioned above, you must obtain from the competent authorities in the country of education.

The certificate should be stating that your diploma fulfils the requirements for recognition according to article 38 of the directive. If the name of your qualification, which meets the minimum criteria for training, does not correspond to the name listed in point 5.4.2 of annex V, you must obtain a change of designation certificate from the competent authorities in the country where you obtained the diploma. 

The certificate should be accompanying your application for authorisation or sent directly from the authorities to us. The titles and universities applicable for EEA countries can be found in point d) in Annex VII to the EEA Agreement. The titles and universities applicable for Switzerland can be found in annex III to the Agreement with the Swiss Confederation: free movement of persons. 

In case your qualification is not listed in point 5.4.2 – and no certificate can be obtained

Your qualification may still be recognised under an acquired rights regime or the general system for the recognition of evidence of training. See further below for more information.

In case the diploma falls outside the reference period 

In case the diploma falls outside the reference period (which is the case, when the education is commenced prior to the country joined the EU) you also need a certificate. 

The certificate, in the situations mentioned above, you must obtain from the competent authorities in the country of education. The certificate should be stating that your diploma fulfils the requirements for recognition according to article 38 of the directive. The certificate should be accompanying your application for authorisation or sent directly from the authorities to us. 

Another option in case you commenced your education prior to the reference date, is that you obtain an attestation from the competent authorities in the member state (where you have been practicing as veterinary surgeon) stating that that you have been effectively and lawfully practising the profession as a veterinary surgeon for at least 3 consecutive years during the 5 years prior to the attestation being issued. This is the general principle of acquired rights as laid down in article 23(1). Read more about the system of acquired rights regime further below. 

In case the evidence of your formal qualifications, that is your diploma, does not qualify for automatic recognition of qualifications, confer above, your application for authorisation as veterinary surgeon may be assessed upon the acquired rights regime according to article 23 of the directive.

You may submit evidence of formal qualifications (diploma/certificate), which attests successful completion of training which began before the reference dates laid down in annex V, point 5.4.2 of the directive, and which is accompanied by a certificate stating that you have been effectively and lawfully engaged as a veterinary surgeon for at least 3 consecutive years during the 5 years preceding the award of the diploma/certificate.

Your application must furthermore enclose a document proving your identity and nationality, a letter of good standing, and the veterinary oath. The details hereof and the process for applying can be found below under the section "Application procedure for authorisation".

Please note, that for a few countries there are further specific requirements – see article 23(2) to (5).

In case your veterinary qualification does not qualify for recognition under the automatic recognition of qualifications or under the acquired rights regime, your application may be processed under the general system for the recognition of evidence of training, confer chapter I of the directive (articles 10-14). Under this system, your professional qualification may be recognised if you have full access to the profession as veterinary surgeon in the home country (EU member state/EEA country).

Note, that for the profession of veterinary surgeon the directive has introduced common minimum training standards and the profession is regulated in all member states. It is therefore not all situations mentioned under the general system for the recognition of evidence of training in chapter I that are applicable in this context.

Please have a look at article 11 of the directive for which levels of qualification are applicable to the general system for the recognition of evidence of training. Article 12 describes the equal treatment of qualifications.

Specifically for applicants with education from a third country

Specifically for applicants with education from a third country applying for a Danish authorisation as veterinary surgeon after their education has been recognised in another EU member state/EEA country/Switzerland may have their application assessed according to article 3(3) of the directive.

The evidence of formal qualifications issued by a third country will be regarded as evidence of formal qualifications if you have 3 years' professional experience as a veterinary surgeon on the territory of the member state which recognised that evidence of formal qualifications in accordance with article 2(2). This article grants the member state the possibility, according to national law, of awarding its nationals, who obtained the professional qualifications outside a member state, permission to exercise the regulated profession as a veterinary surgeon.

Your application must furthermore enclose a document proving your identity and nationality, a letter of good standing, and the veterinary oath. The details hereof and the process for applying can be found below under the section "Application procedure for authorisation".

There are some obligations that follow when you practise as a veterinary surgeon in Denmark:

• You are for example under governmental supervision
  
• You may be called in to perform tasks of a veterinary surgeon in situations where the government lacks veterinary surgeons at time of a crises
• In some situations you are obliged to report your client to the police in case your client does not comply with your veterinary advise.

The title of veterinary surgeon is a title protected by law. If you a not entitled to claim to be a veterinary surgeon, you risk of being fined.

In Denmark, only veterinary surgeons are allowed to claim to be veterinary surgeons and practice the profession, with the exclusive right to treat animals for a disease where the treatment requires veterinary insight; write prescriptions for animal drugs; and state that you are a veterinary surgeon or use a title impressing that you are one/allowed to perform tasks as one.

If you are authorised as a veterinary surgeon in an EU member state/EEA country/Switzerland and only want to work in Denmark occasionally or temporarily you may qualify for temporary registration, without having to apply for a Danish authorisation as veterinary surgeon. This follows from the Danish order on veterinary surgeons in Denmark for EU and EEA nationals and titel II of the directive.

Be aware, that in Denmark only people with a Danish authorisation as veterinary surgeons, that may for example write prescriptions. See the more about restrictions above.

For example if a veterinarian live in Germany or Sweden and work in Denmark on a daily basis it is not considered to be temporary or occasional. One must apply for a Danish authorisation as veterinary surgeon. If the veterinarian, on the other hand, only work in Denmark a few days a month, it would fall within the scope of temporarily or occasionally.

Before you provide your services in Denmark, you must make a written declaration in advance to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

What the declaration must contain

The first time you make the declaration you must submit the following information and documents. The documents must be submitted/uploaded in a good quality, clear and legible. If we consider the quality insufficient, the documents must be sent in again:

• Proof of identity and nationality
   A copy of your valid EU identity card or passport. Note, that if the names in your identification document do not correspond to the one of your diploma, you should also enclose a document proving the name change. That could be a marriage certificate or official name change certificate. In case you derivate community rights – the required documents. See more in the section about eligibility above.
  
  
• Letter of good standing
  The letter of good standing must be issued from the competent authority in the country where you have obtained your diploma. A letter of good standing is valid for 3 months after the date of issue and must be valid when we receive it.
  
  
• Evidence of professional qualifications (for example diploma)
  Attach a copy of your diploma in the original language. 
  
  
• Information
  In relation to whether you intend to prescribe drugs.
  
  

The declaration must be renewed once a year, if you intend to continue to providing services on a temporary or occasional basis during that year.

The assessment of the temporary and occasional nature of the services is made on case-by-case basis. Factors coming into play are duration, frequency, regularity and continuity.

After you have made the declaration, including the documents/information required, you
may provide your services immediately.

Please, check in section below "Application procedure for authorisation" for information on

• How and where to submit your declaration,
• Use and exchange of personal data, and
• Representative – Power of attorney.