Is my international qualification valid in Italy?
In Italy your international qualification is not automatically legally valid (with some exceptions).
If you want to continue studying, participate to public calls or apply for a job which requires a specific qualification, you have to have a qualification or vocational certificate valid in Italy.
If your qualification is not valid, you have to apply for recognition. However, not all qualifications are dealt with in the same way. So, depending of your qualification, you will have to apply for recognition in a specific office.
Careful! It is not always necessary to apply to make your qualification recognised if you want to work in Italy, with the exception of the health care sector. For further information, please, visit the qualifyme website (http://qualifyme.it/riconosci-il-tuo-titolo/explorer/)
POSSIBLE OPTIONS
When applying for the recognition of your qualification, there are different applications you can fill in.
? the formal recognition of a qualification
? the formal recognition of a qualification/vocational certificate
? the recognition of a certificate for specific reasons (participating to a single public call, internship, access to training, applying to pay money towards the state pension)
? Using a qualification to enrol in an academic career in Italy (education, vocational training, universities, art schools or music schools)
For all options you have to be fluent in Italian and, sometimes, a certificate is required.
How do I apply to have my international qualification recognised?
To have your qualification or vocational certificate recognised, you have to fill in an application form. Members of a panel assess your academic background and compare it with an Italian one to see if there are differences. In some rare cases the recognition of a qualification is quick and immediate but more often the members of the panel ask the candidates to do training and/or an examination. Sometimes, unfortunately, recognition is not possible.
Careful! The procedure to recognise a qualification is quite complex.
? The original documents have to be legalised and translated in your own country
? Cost for the application to legalise and translate and the revenue stamp must be taken into account as extra expenses (they are different in every country.
? The time of the procedures depends on you but also on the public bodies and on the fact that you might have to pass exams or attend courses. Sometimes the waiting time is long because there are only specific moments during the year when documents are delivered.
Where can I find information on the possible options available, the offices in charge and the documents to hand in?
On the website http://qualifyme.it/ you can find information about:
- where to hand in the application for recognition (offices in charge),
- which documents to bring (needed documents)
- when to hand in the application and the documents (deadline)
For further information you can contact the offices in charge or visit the websites:
? CIMEA - Centro di Informazione sulla Mobilit? e le Equivalenze Accademiche which can help you with the process of recognition
? Punto di contatto nazionale sulle qualifiche which can help you with the process of recognition of your qualifications and vocational certificates
? servizi territoriali which can help you with all the process of recognition by giving you information and assistance
? qualifyme.it is the website where you can also find assistance to guide you through the webpage "trova il tuo percorso" http://qualifyme.it/riconosci-il-tuo-titolo/explorer/
For people who are resident in the Metropolitan City of Turin (ex Provincia) it is possible to go to the help desk sportello Extra-titoli, which is open on Wednesday 14-18 and on Friday 9-13 and it is in the office of the Comitato Urban Barriera di Milano in Corso Palermo 122. It is possible to make an appointment by calling the number: 011/2240995-999
The formal recognition of your qualification
What is the equivalence of the qualification?
The equivalence is a formal recognition of a qualification: it indicates what validity your qualification has in Italy, so what is its legal validity.
There is not just one way to get the equivalence of your qualification because it depends on the qualification you want to have recognised.
| QUALIFICATION | OFFICE IN CHARGE | POSSIBLE OPTION FOR: |
| Middle School (middle school certificate) | MIUR ? School Offices of the local Territories | EU citizens* |
| Secondary school (secondary school certificate) | MIUR ? School Offices of the local Territories | EU citizens* |
| Higher Education ? Bachelor Degree (3 years) | University | EU* and non EU citizens |
| Higher Education ? Master Degree (5 years) | University | EU* and non EU citizens |
| Higher Education ? Doctorate (PhD) | MIUR ** | EU* and non EU citizens |
* Those citizens with a visa for International Protection are considered EU citizens.
** Careful! To apply for the recognition of the qualifications, candidates have to have the certificate of equivalence of their Master Degree
Which documents do I need for the certificate of equivalence?
The documents which are necessary for the certificate of equivalence are not the same for everybody. They differ depending on the academic and professional career you had in your own country: for more complete information, visit qualifyme.it.
You have to hand in the original documents, legalised and often translated: for most options one requested document is the Dichiarazione di Valore. You have to ask for it in the Italian Consulate in the country where you studied or worked and where you got your qualification.
Who assesses my APPLICATION?
Your application is assessed by members of a panel, who first compare your academic background with a similar Italian one and then decide if your qualification has an Italian equivalent: if a match is found, the panel issue a certificate of validity
Which are the possible answers?
The panel can say that:
- your application is successful (certificate of equivalence) because your qualification matches an Italian equivalent.
- you have to enrol in a course and/or do an additional exam (balancing measures) because your background is slightly different from the Italian system: to get the certificate of equivalence you have to pass the exam (generally is a matter of enrolling in a school and doing the exam only for specific subjects).
- Your application is rejected (action of rejection) because your qualification cannot be accepted in Italy
For further information and details on all the possible options, visit qualifyme.it, an internet portal which allows you to get all the information necessary to validate your international qualifications and provides you with support to guide you through the webpage Trova il tuo percorso
For people who are resident in the Metropolitan City of Turin (ex Provincia) it is possible to go to the help desk sportello Extra-titoli, which is open on Wednesday 14-18 and on Friday 9-13 and it is in the office of the Comitato Urban Barriera di Milano in Corso Palermo 122. It is possible to make an appointment by calling the number: 011/2240995-999
File edited by Associazione A Pieno Titolo Onlus ? responsible Sportello Extra-titoli
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