Qualifications in Ireland and Northern Ireland – comparisons
There are many different types of awards and qualifications available in Ireland and Northern Ireland. When travelling between the two jurisdictions whether to live, work or study, it is useful to know how your qualifications translate in the other jurisdiction.
The seventh edition of ‘Qualifications can cross boundaries – a rough guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland‘ was published by QQI in 2019. The leaflet is a ready reckoner for employers, learners and other interested parties, designed to enable broad comparisons to be drawn between qualifications and their levels In Ireland and Northern Ireland. The leaflet is available to download here.
North
- UK ENIC is the UK National Information Centre for the recognition and evaluation of international qualifications and skills and provides services for individuals and organisations to compare international qualifications against UK qualification framework levels. It is a Government service, managed by ECCTIS Ltd.
South
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is responsible for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training and validates programmes and makes awards for certain providers in these sectors.
- QQI is also responsible for the maintenance, development and review of the The National Framework of Qualifications which allows workers and students to compare qualifications and to make decisions about their choice of programme or course, knowing that it will be recognised at home and abroad. All qualifications included on the NFQ will be listed in the Irish Register of Qualifications.
- QQI – Qualifications Recognition also provides advice on the academic recognition of foreign qualifications which can be used for the purpose of access to employment and / or further study. Qualifications Recognition acts as the Irish centre in an international network known as NARIC, the National Academic Recognition Information Centre. This Network shares information on qualifications and education systems around the world.
- The Europass initiative, launched in 2005 aims to help people make their skills and qualifications more clearly and easily understood in Europe, thus facilitating the mobility of both learners and workers. The Irish National Europass Centre (NEC) is located at Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Further information is available at www.europass.ie.
Europe – Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ)
Under the EU Directives for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications provisions are made whereby professionals qualified in one (home) Member State can seek professional recognition of their qualifications in another (host) Member State for the purpose of practising their profession in that host Member State.
These Directives apply only where the profession is regulated in the host Member State i.e where the practice of the profession is confined by law, regulation or administrative procedure to persons who hold specific qualifications, or registration/recognition from a specific competent authority or professional body.
There are a number of professions which are regulated in the South. Examples include teaching, medicine and physiotherapy. Access to regulated professions is regulated by law and in order to work in that profession in Ireland, you need the approval of the designated competent authority.
The EU MRPQ no longer applies to Northern Ireland.
Cross-Border
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the Common Travel Area (CTA) was signed by the UK and Irish government in 2019, reinforcing both parties existing commitments to the CTA as the UK prepared for exiting the EU.
The MoU states that recognition of professional qualifications ‘is an essential facilitator of the right to work’ and therefore, both the UK and Irish government have agreed to ensure there are adequate routes to recognition for qualified professionals across the UK and Ireland.
To uphold the CTA commitments, both the UK and Irish governments are encouraging their respective regulatory bodies to engage with their regulatory counterparts, to ensure that arrangements are agreed and in place to allow for the continued recognition of professional qualifications. For more see UK Government website.
See also:
Page last checked: January 2023
This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.
If you would like to suggest amendments or highlight new information that could be useful to others please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
