Apply for Recognition of International Qualifications

Welcome to the CORU Recognition process.  If you have acquired the qualification outside the Republic of Ireland and you want to work in the Republic of Ireland in a role where you need to be registered as Health and Social Care Professional, you will need to engage with CORU through a two-step process. Recognition is the first step.

When you have obtained your qualification outside the Republic of Ireland, you must apply to have your qualification recognised by CORU before you are able to join the register.

Having your qualification recognised means that your qualification (and, if necessary, any additional postgraduate training and professional experience) is assessed to see if you meet the Standards of Proficiency for the profession you intend to practise in the Republic of Ireland.

To get onto the register in the Republic of Ireland, you need to:

1. Apply to have your qualification recognised: You apply for qualifications recognition via the Recognition portal and you will be required to submit information related to your qualification, including placements and internships and your employment history. You can start your application for Recognition by clicking here.
2. Apply to join the register: Once we have received all the required documentation to progress you application for qualifications’ recognition, you will be notified by email to begin your registration application. We would encourage you to start this second stage of the process as soon as possible, so as not to delay your application to register, if your qualification is assessed as meeting the required Standards of Proficiency. You can start your application for Registration by clicking here.

   Overview of the Recognition process once all documentation has been received:

Tips to help progress your application

The qualifications assessment process relies on the documents you provide. The more information you can give us, the faster we can reach a decision. CORU needs to be satisfied that you have the knowledge, skill and competence to practise your profession in Ireland, so it is essential that you read the Standards of Proficiency before filling in information on placements and providing additional information on employment and postgraduate learning. If you can provide the evidence to show how you have met the required standard, the Registration Board will have the evidence to reach a decision without delay. This section and our Guidance document set out what you need to provide to make a complete application.

Key Terms

This page includes several important terms that are explained below to help you understand the Recognition Application Process:

Assessment: Your application for Recognition will be evaluated against the Standards of Proficiency for the profession you are wanting to be registered in the Republic of Ireland.

Certified Documents: During the Recognition Application process, you must have several documents certified. This means a solicitor, lawyer or notary public must review your documents and confirm they are true copies of the originals, by signing and stamping them.

Compensation Measure: If your application does not fully meet the Standards of Proficiency, you may need to complete additional training or pass an exam to address the identified deficiencies. There are two options for this:

• Period of Adaptation (Supervised practise): A placement in an Irish health and social care setting.
• Aptitude Test: An in-person exam to demonstrate your understanding.

Competent Authority: The Competent Authority is a State appointed agency responsible for approving qualifications for registration and/or practise in a profession. It varies from State to State but Competent Authorities are usually State Agencies or professional bodies, sometimes it is the Ministry of Education. You need to identify who is the Competent Authority for your profession in the State where you qualified. If you have trouble identifying your Competent Authority, we may be able to assist, please contact recognition@coru.ie if you need help.

Eligibility Criteria: To be considered by the Registration Board, your application must meet the eligibility criteria for the Recognition process. This includes being eligible to register or practise in the country/countries where you qualified.

File Complete: When the Recognition Department has received all of your documentation, including third party verifications your application will be deemed ‘File Complete’ and will be prepared for an Assessment.

Letter of Recognition: The Letter of Recognition is a confirmation from CORU that your qualification (and, if applicable, work experience) meets the Standards of Proficiency. Once you receive this letter, your registration application (if already submitted) can be finalised and prepared for a decision.

Registration Board: The Registration Board is in charge of registering professionals. They recognise qualifications from outside Ireland and approve applications to join the register.

Standards of Proficiency: These are the requirements for graduates from an Irish-approved programme to be eligible for the Register. Make sure your application meets and clearly addresses these standards. You can find the standards here.

Third Party Verification Documents: These are documents, generated from the application portal, which you need to have signed, stamped and sent in by a relevant organisation to confirm the information you have provided.

Application Process

To start the Recognition process, please read our Guidance Notes and when you are ready click the ‘Apply for Recognition’ below on this page.

We want you to come to work in the Republic of Ireland and we want your application process to be as seamless as possible. Because you did not get your professional qualification in the Republic of Ireland we you will need you to provide the following certified documents as part of your application for Recognition of your Qualifications:

• Certificate of relevant qualification
• Academic transcript in full
• Syllabus/Module Handbook of the course/training you undertook
• Confirmation from a Competent Authority (see key terms) that your qualification would allow you to register and/or practise in the state where you qualified
• Descriptors of your previous working history, internships, placements, relevant research undertaken and any CPD certifications.

The recognition process can have a number of outcomes:

• Recognise Your Qualification: If your application meets the Standards of Proficiency, your qualification will be recognised. This means that your qualification and experience is recognised as meeting the standards of the Irish qualification. If your qualification does not meet the Standard required additional post qualifying experience and Lifelong learning will be considered and your qualification may be recognised on this basis.
• Compensation Measure: If your qualification, and any additional learning supplied, do not meet the Standard, you may be required to complete a Compensation Measure, which could be a Period of Adaptation (clinical experience in Ireland) or an Aptitude Test (examination). For more information, visit our Compensation Measure webpage.
• Refuse Your Application: An application may only be refused in very limited circumstances, including failure to complete the compensation measure (after two tries), and if you are ineligible to apply.

The application fee for recognition of international qualifications is €410.

If you have any further queries, we will be happy to help, please contact us at  recognition@coru.ie or 01 293 3160 (10:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday).

Please refer to the below boxes by clicking the downward arrow to expand them. Please make sure to read them before you start your application.

Application steps

Standards of Proficiency

Applications for recognition are assessed against the standards of proficiency for the profession, the standards required of graduates from an Irish approved program for entry to the Register.

Applications received before 01 June 2024 were assessed against six domains:

• Domain 1: Professional Autonomy and Accountability
• Domain 2: Interpersonal and Professional Relationships
• Domain 3: Effective Communication
• Domain 4: Personal and Professional Development
• Domain 5: Provision of Quality Services
• Domain 6: Knowledge, Understanding, and Skills

Professions that were assessed against the six domains can be found below:

• Dietitians
• Dispensing Opticians (General Division)
• Dispensing Opticians (Contact Lenses Division)
• Occupational Therapists
• Optometrists
• Physiotherapists
• Radiographers and Radiation Therapists
• Social Workers
• Speech and Language Therapists

Applications received on and after 01 June 2024 will be assessed against five domains:

• Domain 1: Professional Autonomy and Accountability
• Domain 2: Communication, Collaborative Practice, and Teamworking
• Domain 3: Safety and Quality
• Domain 4: Professional Development
• Domain 5: Professional Knowledge and Skills

Professions that will be assessed against the five domains can be found below:

• Dietitians
• Dispensing Opticians
• Medical Scientists
• Occupational Therapists
• Optometrists
• Physiotherapists
• Podiatrists
• Social Care Workers
• Social Workers
• Speech and Language Therapists

NOTE:  Applications for Radiography and Radiation Therapy are still being assessed against six domains.  Please keep up-to-date on our website for future updates on when this is due to change. 

If you have any further queries please contact us at recognition@coru.ie. 

Further Information

You can find further information below: