EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL CARD

​Probably you don’t know that some profession is regulated by a card called EPC. In this article, we are talking about it.

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WHAT IS EPC?
 
If your profession is regulated and you need to apply for the recognition of your professional qualifications, you may apply for recognition using the European Professional Card (EPC). The EPC is an electronic procedure you can use to have your regulated profession recognised in another EU country.
For the moment, you can use the EPC procedure only if you are:
 

• a nurse responsible for general care
  
• a pharmacist
  
• a physiotherapist
  
• a mountain guide
  
• a real estate agent
  

 
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE EPC?
Your home country authorities will assist you with your application and check that it is correct and complete. They will also certify the authenticity and validity of your documents.
For any future applications, you won't have to upload your documents again.
If the host country authorities in charge of your application do not take a final decision within the set deadline, recognition will be granted automatically and you will be able to generate an EPC certificate from your online account.
APPLYING FOR AN EPC
To apply for an EPC, you need to:
 

• create an EU Login account, if you don't have one already
  
• sign in with an EU Login, the European Commission's authentication service (once you have signed in, you will be redirected to the EPC interface open as an external link)
  
• complete your EPC profile with your personal information and contact details
  
• create an application
  
• upload electronically scanned copies of the relevant documents (each supporting document should be scanned and then uploaded as a separate file.)
  
• submit all relevant documents to your home country authority.
  

 
 
For each application, both home country and host country authorities may charge fees to examine your file. If they do, you will receive a separate invoice from each authority.
Authorities may also ask you to provide certified copies of your documents if they can't verify their validity.
The EPC is valid:
 

• indefinitely if you are settling long-term
  
• 18 months if you are providing services temporarily
  
• 12 months if you are providing services temporarily and your profession is related to public health or safety (for example, you are a physiotherapist or a mountain guide).
  
• If the host country authorities don't make a decision within the legal deadlines, your qualifications are tacitly recognised and you can generate an EPC certificate from your online account.
  

 
If the authorities reject your application, they have to explain why and how you can appeal.
 
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