Professional Qualifications PART 1 General provisions Citation and commencement 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) Regulations 2023 and come into force on 1st December 2023. Extent and application 2 1 Subject to paragraph (2) and (3) , these Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 2 Any amendment, repeal or revocation made by these Regulations has the same extent and application as the provision amended, repealed or revoked. 3 Paragraphs 1, 2, 6 and 7 of Schedule 3 do not apply in relation to Wales. Interpretation 3 1 In these Regulations— “ adaptation period ” means— in the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on the holding of professional qualifications obtained in Switzerland, a period of supervised practice, subject to an assessment and which may be accompanied by further education or training or both, of a regulated profession under the responsibility of a qualified member of that profession; in the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on the holding of professional qualifications obtained otherwise than in Switzerland, a period of supervised practice, subject to an assessment and which may be accompanied by further training, of a regulated profession under the responsibility of a qualified member of that profession; “ applicant ” means a specified state professional who— wishes to access and pursue a regulated profession for which the possession of professional qualifications is required; possesses professional qualifications for the same profession in a specified state; and makes an application; “ application ” means an application to a regulator of a regulated profession, by an applicant, for recognition of their professional qualifications; “ aptitude test ” means a test limited to the professional knowledge of a specified state professional, made by the regulator with the aim of assessing the ability of the professional to pursue a regulated profession; “ EEA EFTA free trade agreement ” means the free trade agreement between Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland done at London on 8th July 2021 ; “ legal regulator ” means one of the following— the Executive Council of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland; the Faculty of Advocates; the General Council of the Bar; the Law Society; the Law Society of Northern Ireland; the Law Society of Scotland; “ medical regulator ” means one of the following— the General Chiropractic Council; the General Dental Council; the General Medical Council; the General Optical Council; the General Osteopathic Council; the General Pharmaceutical Council; the Health and Care Professions Council; the Nursing and Midwifery Council; “ professional activity ” means an activity which forms part of a regulated profession; “ professional experience ” means the lawful and effective practice of the relevant profession; “ professional qualifications ” includes qualifications or professional experience; “ register of Swiss lawyers ” means a legal regulator’s register of Swiss qualified lawyers undertaking an adaptation period; “ specified state ” means a state specified in Schedule 1; “ specified state professional ” means a natural person who has obtained professional qualifications in a specified state; “ Swiss legal title ” means the Swiss professional title of Avocat, Advokat, Rechtsanwalt, Anwalt, Fürsprecher, Fürsprech or Avvocato; “ Swiss qualified lawyer ” means a natural person who has obtained a Swiss legal title; “ Switzerland Recognition of Professional Qualifications Agreement ” means the agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Swiss Confederation on Recognition of Professional Qualifications done at London on 14th June 2023; “ UK legal title ” means the UK professional title of Advocate, Barrister or Solicitor; “ UK qualified lawyer ” means a natural person who has obtained a UK legal title. 2 For the purposes of these Regulations, “ regulator ” does not include— a in relation to professional qualifications obtained in Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein or the Kingdom of Norway, a regulator to the extent that it regulates a regulated profession specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2; b in relation to professional qualifications obtained in Switzerland, a regulator to the extent that it regulates a regulated profession specified in Part 2 of Schedule 2; c a “ Welsh regulator ” as defined by the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Wales) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2023. Amendments to legislation for the purposes of, and in connection with, implementation of international recognition agreements with specified states 4 Schedule 3 contains amendments to legislation for the purpose of, and in connection with, implementing — a Chapter 12 of the EEA EFTA free trade agreement (recognition of professional qualifications); b the Switzerland Recognition of Professional Qualifications Agreement. Amendments to legislation consequent upon the commencement of section 5(1) of the Professional Qualifications Act 2022 and revoking other retained EU recognition law 5 Schedule 4 contains amendments to legislation— a consequent upon the commencement of section 5(1) of the 2022 Act (revocation of general EU system of recognition of overseas qualifications); and b revoking other retained EU recognition law . PART 2 Recognition of professional qualifications obtained in a specified state Application of Part 2 6 1 Subject to paragraph (2), this Part applies to a regulator that receives an application. 2 This Part does not apply to medical regulators except in relation to an application— a for registration in the General Practitioner Register kept under section 34C of the Medical Act 1983 or in the Specialist Register kept under section 34D of that Act; ... b to use a title prescribed under section 26(3) of the Dentists Act 1984 ; or c for registration in the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Register kept under article 5(1) of the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024. Recognition of professional qualifications 7 1 Subject to regulation 8, where a regulator receives an application, the regulator must recognise the applicant’s professional qualifications. 2 A regulator that recognises an applicant’s professional qualifications under this regulation must— a enable that person to access and pursue the regulated profession; b for the purpose of access to and pursuit of the regulated profession, treat the applicant as if they had obtained their professional qualifications in the United Kingdom or that part of the United Kingdom for which the profession is regulated. Refusal to recognise professional qualifications 8 1 A regulator may refuse to recognise an applicant’s professional qualifications if— a those professional qualifications are not comparable to the professional qualifications required to access and pursue the same profession in the United Kingdom or that part of the United Kingdom for which the profession is regulated; b one or more of Conditions 1, 2, 3 or 4 is met; or c the applicant fails to meet any requirement imposed in accordance with regulation 11 (knowledge of language). 2 Condition 1 is met where— a there exists a substantial difference between the applicant’s professional qualifications and the essential knowledge or skills required to practise the regulated profession; and b the applicant fails to pass, or refuses to take, an aptitude test or fails, or refuses to complete, an adaptation period or to undertake both imposed in accordance with regulation 9 (aptitude tests and adaptation periods). 3 Condition 2 is met where— a the regulated profession comprises one or more professional activities that cover substantially different matters from those covered by the applicant’s professional qualifications; and b the applicant fails to pass, or refuses to take, an aptitude test or fails, or refuses to complete, an adaptation period or to undertake both imposed in accordance with regulation 9 (aptitude tests and adaptation periods). 4 Condition 3 is met where requiring the applicant to take an aptitude test, to complete an adaptation period or to undertake both in accordance with regulation 9 (aptitude tests and adaptation periods) would amount to requiring the applicant to acquire the professional qualifications required to practise the regulated profession. 5 Condition 4 is met where access to and pursuit of a regulated profession by a person whose professional qualifications were obtained in the United Kingdom is subject to conditions other than the possession of specific professional qualifications and the applicant fails to meet those conditions. Aptitude tests and adaptation periods 9 1 Subject to paragraph (1A), a regulator may require an applicant to take an aptitude test, standardised or otherwise, or to complete an adaptation period or to undertake both where— a there exists a substantial difference between the applicant’s professional qualifications and the essential knowledge or skills required to practise the regulated profession; or b the regulated profession comprises one or more professional activities that cover substantially different matters from those covered by the applicant’s professional qualifications. 1A A legal regulator wishing to impose a requirement under paragraph (1) in relation to an applicant who is a Swiss qualified lawyer— a may not require the Swiss qualified lawyer to undertake both an aptitude test and an adaptation period; and b must allow the Swiss qualified lawyer to choose whether to take an aptitude test or to complete an adaptation period in accordance with regulation 9A (adaptation periods for Swiss qualified lawyers). 2 A regulator must consider whether any requirement to take an aptitude test or to complete an adaptation period or to undertake both is proportionate to the difference sought to be addressed. 3 If requested to do so by an applicant, a regulator must, to the extent possible, provide its reasons in writing for requiring the applicant to take an aptitude test or to complete an adaptation period or to undertake both. 4 Where a regulator requires applicants to undertake an aptitude test, the regulator must schedule tests with reasonable frequency and at least once a year. Adaptation periods for Swiss qualified lawyers 9A 1 A legal regulator must establish and maintain a register of Swiss lawyers and publish the names of those on the register. 2 If a Swiss qualified lawyer chooses to complete an adaptation period under regulation 9(1A), the legal regulator— a subject to sub-paragraph (b), must enter the name of the Swiss qualified lawyer on its register of Swiss lawyers; b may refuse to register the Swiss qualified lawyer, or may cancel such registration, where the Swiss qualified lawyer fails to meet any conditions that apply to the UK qualified lawyers it regulates; c must require the Swiss qualified lawyer to complete an adaptation period of— i at least three years’ effective and regular practice of the law that the UK qualified lawyers it regulates practise; or ii less than three years’ effective and regular practice of the law that the UK qualified lawyers it regulates practise if the Swiss qualified lawyer possesses suitable professional experience; d must require the Swiss qualified lawyer to use the Swiss legal title during the adaptation period; e may prevent the Swiss qualified lawyer from carrying out certain professional activities during the adaptation period; and f must apply the same rules of professional conduct to the Swiss qualified lawyer during the adaptation period that apply to the UK qualified lawyers it regulates. 3 Where a legal regulator recognises an applicant’s professional qualifications under regulation 7 (recognition of professional qualifications), the legal regulator must— a in addition to the matters referred to in regulation 7(2), permit the Swiss qualified lawyer to use the UK legal title for which it is responsible; and b remove the name of the Swiss qualified lawyer from its register of Swiss lawyers. 4 A legal regulator must give reasons in writing for refusing to register a Swiss qualified lawyer or cancelling the registration of a Swiss qualified lawyer under paragraph (2)(b). 5 A legal regulator must provide a right of appeal against its decision to refuse to register a Swiss qualified lawyer or against its decision to cancel the registration of a Swiss qualified lawyer under paragraph (2)(b). Appeal against Law Society decision to refuse or cancel registration 9B 1 A Swiss qualified lawyer may appeal to the High Court against— a the refusal of the Law Society to enter their name on its register of Swiss lawyers; b a decision of the Law Society to cancel their registration on its register of Swiss lawyers. 2 On an appeal under paragraph (1), the High Court may make such order (including as to payment of costs) as it thinks fit. 3 The decision of the High Court on an appeal under this regulation is final. Appeal against Law Society of Scotland decision to refuse or cancel registration 9C 1 A Swiss qualified lawyer may appeal to the Court of Session against— a the refusal of the Law Society of Scotland to enter their name on its register of Swiss lawyers; b a decision of the Law Society of Scotland to cancel their registration on its register of Swiss lawyers. 2 On an appeal under paragraph (1), the Court of Session may make such order (including as to payment of costs) as it thinks fit. 3 The decision of the Court of Session on an appeal under this regulation is final. Procedure to be followed on application for recognition 10 1 A regulator must— a within one month of receiving an application, acknowledge receipt in writing to the applicant and inform the applicant if any document is missing from the application; b give the applicant adequate time to complete the requirements and procedures of the application process; c deal promptly with the application and notify the applicant of its decision in writing before the end of the period of four months beginning with the day after the day on which the complete application was submitted. 2 A regulator may require an applicant to provide, in their application, evidence of their professional qualifications. 3 The evidence a regulator may require under paragraph (2) must be no more than is necessary to demonstrate that the applicant holds professional qualifications that are comparable to the professional qualifications required to access and pursue the same profession in the United Kingdom or that part of the United Kingdom for which the profession is regulated. 4 Where access to, and pursuit of, a regulated profession by a person whose professional qualifications were obtained in the United Kingdom is subject to conditions other than the possession of specific professional qualifications, a regulator may require the applicant to provide, in their application, evidence to demonstrate that they satisfy those conditions. 5 The evidence a regulator may require under paragraph (4) must be no more than is necessary to demonstrate that the applicant satisfies those conditions. 6 Without prejudice to any power of a regulator to make provision about the authentication of copies of documents, a regulator must accept copies of documents in place of originals unless it requires original documents to protect the integrity of the recognition process. Knowledge of language 11 1 A regulator may require that an applicant demonstrates they possess the language skills necessary for practice of a regulated profession. 2 If a regulator requires an applicant to undertake a language test, the test must be proportionate to the activity to be pursued. Appeals 12 A regulator must provide a right of appeal for an applicant against its— a decision to refuse to recognise an applicant’s professional qualifications; and b failure to notify the applicant of its decision in respect of an application within the time period referred to in regulation 10(1)(c). Fees 13 1 Any fee charged by a regulator in connection with an application must be— a reasonable and proportionate to the cost of administering the application; and b transparent and published in advance. 2 In the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on professional qualifications obtained in Switzerland, any fees must be payable by electronic means. 3 In the case of an applicant who makes an application in reliance on professional qualifications obtained otherwise than in Switzerland, any fees must be payable by electronic means through the regulator’s website. PART 3 Provision of information and dealing with enquiries Application of Part 3 14 This Part does not apply to medical regulators except in relation to an application— a for registration in the General Practitioner Register kept under section 34C of the Medical Act 1983 or in the Specialist Register kept under section 34D of that Act; ... b to use a title prescribed under section 26(3) of the Dentists Act 1984 ; or c for registration in the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Register kept under article 5(1) of the Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024. Provision of information 15 A regulator must, in relation to a regulated profession, make information about the following matters available to specified state professionals— a the relevant laws to be applied regarding disciplinary action, financial responsibility or liability and any other relevant matters; b the principles of discipline and enforcement of professional standards, including disciplinary jurisdiction and consequential effects on practising a regulated profession; c the processes and procedures for the ongoing verification of competence; d the criteria for, and procedures relating to, revocation of registration; e the documentation required of professionals and the form in which it should be presented; and f the acceptance of documents and certificates issued in relation to professional qualifications and other conditions that apply to the practice of a regulated profession. Enquiries relating to professional qualifications and other conditions of practice 16 A regulator must deal promptly with enquiries from specified state professionals about— a the professional qualifications required to practise the regulated profession; and b the conditions that apply to the practice of the regulated profession. Kevin Hollinrake Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Department for Business and Trade 29th November 2023