Recognition of qualification and education in the Czech Republic (nostrification)
Prepared by: PhDr. Veronika Polišenská, PhD.,Mgr. et Mgr. Jan Mareš, Ph.D.
The conditions of recognition of the equality and the nostrification is specified by the Act no 12/2005 Coll. On Conditions of Recognition of Equality and Nostrification of Diploma from Foreign Schools.
More detailed information regarding the recognition of qualification and education in the Czech Republic can be found on the website of the Ministry of Education: see the brochure „Recognition of Foreign Education and Qualificaions in the Czech Republic“. Additional useful information about the education system of the Czech Republic are on the Ministry of Interior website.
Each university provides on their websites information regarding the steps for recognition of education, e.g. Charles University, Masaryk University, Palacky University in Olomouc, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Ostrava University.
Websites of the Ministry of Education state:
„Exemptions from authentication and/or simplification of the authentication process are laid down in bilateral international legal assistance treaties and in The Hague Convention (Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, which was adopted in The Hague on 5th October 1961 and promulgated under No. 45/1999 Coll.).“
The Brochure of Ministry of Education states further that:
„If you file an application for the recognition of validity, the Regional Authority shall assess the content and scope of education completed at a foreign school in comparison with education pursuant to a similar framework educational programme in Czech Republic.“
Public universities therefore base their conclusion upon the level of similarity of content and scope of the education with its own educational content (EuroPsy certificate). Therefore, we recommend to consult and compare the scope of education with its specification in EuroPsy – European Certificate in Psychology, which can be found in Appendix II.
The EuroPsy European Certificate in Psychology (henceforth EuroPsy) is intended to provide a standard of academic education and professional training which informs the clients, employers and colleagues that a psychologist can be considered to have gained the necessary competences for the provision of psychological services. It is based upon a 6-year educational and training programme, which also includes one-year practice under supervision. More information can be found here.
If the content of study is not in accordance with the content of the study of the given university or with EuroPsy European Certificate in Psychology, the application will be denied. The appeal is in the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. Therefore, we recommend that the applicants for nostrification check the conditions of EuroPsy Certificate and eventual addition of study. Currently, no university offers the possibility of addition to study, however, there is a possibility of consultation at the Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education.