About the recognition

Who needs recognition?

To qualify for the professions in Norway, it is mandatory to have a kindergarten teacher's education or an equivalent qualification in kindergarten/pre-school pedagogy and kindergarten management. A Norwegian kindergarten teacher’s education qualifies for both professions and we give a joint recognition for both head of kindergarten/educational supervisor.

It is only head of supervisor and educational supervisor that are regulated professions in kindergarten, and only these professions require recognition.

There may still be a requirement for recognition if the position is to help fulfil the requirement for pedagogical staffing in kindergarten, even if the position has another name than educational supervisor. The kindergarten should at least have one educational supervisor per seven children under three years of age, and at least one educational supervisor per fourteen children above three years of age. If your position is to contribute to fulfil the requirement for pedagogical staffing, you need to have the recognition as head of supervisor/educational supervisor.

Can I work in kindergarten without recognition?

If you do not have recognition, you can work as head of kindergarten or educational supervisor in kindergarten if your municipality gives you a dispensation from the education requirement. If you apply for a job as educational supervisor in kindergarten, it is up to the employer to apply for dispensation from the municipality. In other words, you can apply for all types of positions in Norwegian kindergartens, also before you receive a recognition.

You can also work as kindergarten teacher or educational supervisor without recognition if the kindergarten has covered the minimum criteria for the number of educational supervisors and your position comes in addition to this.

If you have a kindergarten teacher’s education or similar education from abroad, it can be a good idea to apply and see if you meet the requirements.

If you wish to apply for other positions in Norway, you do not need a recognition of your professional qualifications from abroad. It is up to the employer to assess if you have the necessary qualifications for positions that are not regulated by Norwegian law.

What you need to obtain recognition?

To obtain recognition as a head of kindergarten or educational supervisor in a kindergarten, you must hold a professional qualification equivalent to that of a head of kindergarten or educational supervisor in a kindergarten from another country and be qualified to practise the profession.

Being qualified to practise the profession means that you are fully qualified to work in the profession in the country where you completed your education. If the profession is regulated in the country where you obtained your qualification, you must be able to document that you are qualified to practise the profession.

The purpose of professional recognition is to enable you to bring your profession with you from another country. We assess applications in accordance with the Professional Qualifications Act.

We assess whether your professional qualification meets the requirements regarding level, scope, subject specialisation, pedagogical competence and knowledge of kindergartens in Norway. Higher education and professional experience as a head of kindergarten or educational supervisor in a kindergarten may contribute towards meeting the requirements.

Your education must be directed towards pedagogical work and leadership in a kindergarten and meet the following requirements:

• Pedagogical studies equivalent to 30 ECTS credits in pedagogy relating to children of kindergarten age (0-6 years), including supervised practical training in a kindergarten.
• Level and scope equivalent to two years of higher education /120 ECTS credits
• Courses within at least three of the following subject areas related to kindergarten education:
  • Communication, language and text
  • Body, movement, food and health
  • Art, culture and creativity
  • Nature, environment and technology
  • Quantities, spaces and shapes
  • Ethics, religion and philosophy
  • Local community and society

In addition, you must document that you have knowledge of kindergartens in Norway.

If your education does not meet the requirements above, there are substantial differences between your qualification and Norwegian kindergarten teacher education. If we determine that these substantial differences have not been compensated for by relevant professional experience or similar qualifications, you may be offered the opportunity to complete and pass a compensation measure in order to obtain recognition.

This arrangement applies only to citizens of EEA countries and the United Kingdom who hold professional qualifications from the EEA or the United Kingdom.

How can I document knowledge about kindergartens in Norway?

You can fulfil the requirement by working at least six months in a kindergarten in Norway. You must have held a position equivalent to at least 50 percent during the six-month period. Work experience may include work practice, work training, and language practice. You do not have to work as a head of kindergarten or pedagogical supervisor in this period, it is sufficient that you have worked in the capacity of a kindergarten teacher or similarly.

If you have completed and passed studies or courses that provide knowledge about kindergartens in Norway, this may help fulfill the requirement. The studies or course must provide knowledge of the Norwegian kindergarten system, including its characteristics, history, social mandate, legal basis and governing documentation. The study or course must be taken at a public provider (municipal, regional or national) or an accredited higher education institution, and you must provide documentation that you have completed the studies or course.

If you have completed courses or studies that do not award credits (ECTS), you must still have at least three months of work experience from a Norwegian kindergarten in addition to the study/course to meet the requirement. The work experience must correspond to at least 50 percent during the three-month period.

If you have completed studies that award credits, the study must provide at least 15 ECTS to meet the requirement on its own. Shorter studies may, in combination with work experience from a Norwegian kindergarten, fulfill the requirement.

Other documentation beyond what is described here, will be assessed as part of an evaluation of each individual case.

This requirement does not apply for applicants who have Norwegian, Sami, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish or Faeroese as their first language.

Regulations

• Requirements for head of kindergarten or educational supervisor in kindergarten is regulated in the Kindergarten Act §§ 24 and 25 (lovdata.no) (in Norwegian).
• Requirements for recognition is regulated in forskrift om godkjenning av yrkeskvalifikasjoner for styrer og pedagogisk leder i barnehage fra annen stat (lovdata.no) (in Norwegian).
• General rules for recognition of professional qualifications is regulated in the Professional Qualifications Act and forskrift om godkjenning av yrkeskvalifikasjoner (lovdata.no) (in Norwegian).
• Rules for the recognition of professional qualifications is regulated in the Professional Qualifications Directive: Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (eur-lex.europa.eu).
• Requirements for educational personell is regulated in forskrift om pedagogisk bemanning og dispensasjon i barnehager (lovdata.no) (in Norwegian).
• Requirements for Norwegian language skills is regulated in the Kindergarten Act §§ 27 og 28 (lovdata.no) (in Norwegian)
• Rules for appeals is regulated in the Public Administration Act chapter VI (lovdata.no).