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Our recognition schemes

Here you will find an overview of our recognition schemes for individuals with foreign education.

Recently edited : 20. March 2025

Recognition of foreign higher education

This is a recognition procedure for persons with higher education acquired abroad.

The education programme is evaluated against the Norwegian degree structure. A recognition leads to a decision that describes the duration of the education programme, the number of credits it is worth and if it is equivalent to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD. The recognition does not say anything about the academic content of the education programme.

Recognition of higher education is voluntary, and is intended as an aid for those who wish to enter the Norwegian job market.

Recognition Procedure for Persons without Verifiable Documentation (UVD-procedure)

This is a recognition procedure for persons with documentation that cannot be verified. The applicant will be referred to this procedure if we have made a decision that the higher education qualification from abroad cannot be granted general recognition due to unverifiable documentation.

Qualifications Assessment

This assessment contains information about the applicant’s highest completed qualification, work experience and language proficiency. The document contains information on the documentation that formed the basis for the individual assessment. The Assessment is valid for a limited time, and has a validity of three years from the date of issue.

Our Qualifications Assessment is not a legal binding document, but a standardized statement from us, which contains relevant information in connection with admission to further studies and job applications etc.

Turbo evaluations

We have two turbo evaluations. One is aimed at employers who have job seekers with foreign higher education. The other assists the universities and university colleges with the assessment of applicants' foreign higher education in connection with PhD admission.

Recognition of professional qualifications: teachers in school and kindergarten with foreign higher education

To obtain a permanent position as a teacher, you must be recognised as a qualified teacher. Kindergarten teachers must be recognised as a head of kindergarten and an educational supervisor to obtain a permanent position in kindergarten.

Recognition of foreign tertiary vocational education

This is a recognition scheme for persons with a completed foreign tertiary vocational education. It includes an assessment of the education in comparison to the Norwegian education system. The applicant gets an assessment of the level and scope of the education, and what it usually can be used for in the country where it is completed. The assessment is document-based, and does not assess the vocational content of the education.

Our recognition of foreign tertiary vocational education is voluntary and is a tool to help job seekers in the Norwegian job market.

Recognition of foreign vocational education and training

We assess the scope, level and vocational content of foreign vocational education and training in comparison to a Norwegian craft or journeyman’s certificate. The evaluation does not consider work experience that was not part of the vocational education and training.

Recognition of vocational education and training means that the applicant's qualification is comparable with a Norwegian craft or journeyman’s certificate.

Recognition is voluntary and is intended as an aid for those who wish to enter the Norwegian job market by providing information about their qualifications.

The recognition scheme is limited to selected countries and qualifications. The countries currently included are Denmark, Iceland, Poland, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. An overview of the qualifications covered by the recognition scheme can be found on the website below.