Becoming a legalised medical doctor or dentist in Finland
Legalisation process varies a bit depending whether you are qualified outside or inside the EU/EEA member states. If you are qualified outside the EU/EEA member states you have to do six month internship which we will arrange for you.
Being a doctor in Finland
Number of doctors and dentists
Finland has 3.5 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants (compare to Swedens 4.5 and Norways 5.4), Number of dentists is also under the average in EU.
Median salary
Median salary for a doctor is 6.725 €/month and for a dentist 7.750 €/month (median salary in Finland being approximately 3.000 €/month)
Where are they working
About half of the doctors and dentists are employed by the university or central hospital. Third is employed by the private sector such as private health stations and medical industry. Due to high and increasing need for the medical professionals the unemployment rate is in practice 0 %.
Legalisation process in a nutshell
1. Recognition of the medical degree
At first Valvira (National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health) has to recognize your medical degree.
2. Six month internship (for those of outside the EU/EEA)
If you are trained outside EU/EEA area you need to perform medical training for at least 6 months in a Finnish hospital or health center. Sufficient level of Finnish (at least level 3 in Finnish YKI language test is required). You get paid for the training.
3. Examinations
After you have passed the language test and done the training (if required) you can sign for the examinations. Examinations comprise of three parts: clinical exam; Finnish healthcare system exam and practical patient exam.
4. Limited licence to practice
During the examination process (which takes at least some months) Valvira will grant you a limited licence to practice as a doctor or dentist.
5. Legalisation
After passing the exams Valvira will give you the doctor's or dentist's license.
Getting legalised with Nordic MediLink
Learning Finnish and passing the language test
When you are a licensed medical doctor or dentist in your country it is fairly easy and simple to get license to practice your profession also in Finland. The hardest part is to fulfill the requirement for the sufficient level of the Finnish language. We provide you the tools and the support to reach that level. Depending on the applicant self-study takes from 6 to 18 months. You practice by using phone app and taking part in the lessons that are held distance.
Job agreement with a Finnish Welfare District and moving to Finland
Once you have passed the language test and demonstrated sufficient level of Finnish we will introduce you to the Finnish Welfare District. You will make employment agreement directly with them. After entering into employment agreement you (and your family) will move to Finland and you start working at the Finnish Welfare District either in a hospital or in a health center. We help you with the practicalities regarding your moving to Finland (e.g. with the immigration bureaucracy and finding an apartment).
Finalizing legalisation process
Once you have started working in Finland you will take part of the exams described above. After passing the exams you are legalised doctor or dentist. Your employment relationship with the Welfare District will continue until further notice without any stops during the whole process and after the process.