We advise you to read the information cIf you have an education from outside the EU/EEA you will be subject to additional requirements before authorisation can be grantedarefully before you apply for authorisation. Then you will be familiar with the requirements of language levels and courses before you start the application process.
Application process
- Step 1: Applicants whose qualifications are considered equivalent, or otherwise has proven to possess the necessary skills, will receive a confirmation that they can proceed with their application for step 2.
- Step 2: You must provide documentation that states you have completed and passed all additional requirements. The right to authorisation will be attained when all additional requirements are completed and passed.
The order, deadline and costs for additional requirements
- The order for implementation: Language requirements must be completed in order to be eligible for admission to the other requirements. There are no requirements for the order in which the other additional requirements are implemented. We recommend that you start your Norwegian training before applying for authorisation. For some of you, three years may be short time to learn Norwegian at the level required, especially for those who do not have previous knowledge of Norwegian language at the time of application.
- The deadline for implementation: Additional requirements must be made during a period of three years from when the education is considered equal or otherwise has proven to possess the necessary skills. You have in total three attempts to complete and pass each course, and if necessary, a proficiency test.
- The costs: The applicant must cover the costs of implementing additional requirements themselves
Submission of documentation after completing the additional requirements
You don't need to reapply for authorisation when you have completed all additional requirements within the three-year deadline.
When you have completed all the additional requirements within the deadline, you must send documentation to godkjenning@helsedir.no
You must send in the following documentation:
- completed language requirements (See more information about the language requirement below. The language requirement is an independent requirement that must be documented even if you have completed the additional requirements)
- completed course in Norwegian health services, health legislation and society (Kurs i nasjonale fag) with course in safehandling of medicine for Pharmacist, Medical Practitioners, nurses and dentists
- completed proficiency test for nurses, medical practitioners and dentists
Remember to mark the subject field in your email with your previous case number.
Processing time: within 3 months.
Have you received a decision to complete additional requirements within three years?
If you have not completed the additional requirements by the three-year deadline, you must reapply for an authorisation.
Language requirements
You must pass an approved Norwegian test at level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference of languages (CEFR) to be granted authorisation in Norway. Alternatively, you can document knowledge and skills in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish on the same level.
The Norwegian Directorate of Health approves the following language tests:
- The Norwegian language test by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills – HK direktoratet (formerly Kompetanse Norge and VOX) with B2 on all subtests.
- Approved language tests that can be measured as level B2 language skills is «Test in Norwegian-higher level» (Norwegian: Test i norsk – høyere nivå) previously called «Bergenstesten» (passed both oral and written test),
"Bergenstesten" has been discontinued and it is not possible to take the test today, but those who have previously passed the test will get this approved.
- Completed and passed all years in a norwegian 9-year lower secondary school (school started before 1997) or 10-year lower secondary school (school started in 1997 and later).
- Completed Norwegian upper secondary school, documented with a diploma.
- Exam in Norwegian or Norwegian as a second language at the VG3 level (393 hours) in a Norwegian Upper secondary school with the Grade 4 or better on both the oral and written part.
- Exam in level 3 in Norwegian for foreign students at the universities with the Grade C or better on both the oral and written part.
- Completed and passed program in Higher Education with minimum 60 credits in Norwegian Language and Social studies for foreign students with the Grade C or better.
- Completed and passed Norwegian A or Norwegian B on the lowest level (standard level) from International Baccalaureate (IB) with the Grade 3 or better.
Combinations of different partial tests are not approved.
Information about the language tests: If you wish to take a test | HK-dir (hkdir.no)
Course in Norwegian health services, health legislation and society (Kurs i nasjonale fag)
You must complete and pass «Kurs i nasjonale fag». The course content provides you knowledge in Norwegian health and care services, health, social security and social rights, cultural understanding, and national focus areas.
The Norwegian Directorate of health has signed an agreement with Folkeuniversitetet as a supplier of courses in Norwegian health services, health legislation and society.
The course is arranged every spring and autumn. For information on registration and implementation for those already registered, see Folkeuniversitetet's website: folkeuniversitetet.no or contact nasjonalefag@folkeuniversitetet.no
If you have already completed the course, you must enclose the course certificate when you apply for authorisation.
Course in safehandling of medicine (pharmacist, medical practitioner, general nurse, dentist)
You must complete and pass the course in safehandling of medicine. The course in safehandling of medicine contains regulations on pharmaceuticals and requisition law, drug handling and medication calculation. The course will be set in conjunction with the national course.
Apply for an exemption from additional requirements
Upon application, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, may exempt you from additional requirements if you can document that you have completed qualification measures that have a similar content to the Norwegian additional requirements. Work experience alone will not form the basis for exemption. There is no exemption from the language requirement.
The application must be submitted by e-mail to godkjenning@helsedir.no enclosed with relevant documentation. The subject line of the e-mail must be marked with application for an exemption from the additional requirements.
Processing time: within 6 months.
Exemption from the proficiency test due to professional approval in another Nordic country
The Norwegian Directorate of Health may grant an excemtion from the requirement for the proficiency test for Medical Practitioner, dentists and General Nurse who can document the right to independent professional practice in another Nordic country within the profession.
If you have full professional rights to practice in a Nordic country, it is important that you document this so that the Norwegian Directorate of Health can consider an exemption from the proficiency test.
You must send the documentation that confirms that you have full rights to practice in another Nordic country with the application for authorisation, or send it to godkjenning@helsedir.no
Remember to mark the subject field with your case number.
The medical proficiency test (medical practitioner, general nurse, dentist)
You must complete and pass the medical proficiency test. The medical test is a practical and oral test that measures whether you have the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for working in the Norwegian health care system.
- Medical practitioner: The medical proficiency test is arranged by the University of Oslo and the course duration is two days. The proficiency test will be available during the spring and during the autumn semester.
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General nurse: The proficiency test is arranged by the Universitetet i Sør-Øst Norge (usn.no). The proficiency test will be available during the spring and during the autumn semester.
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Dentist: The proficiency test is arranged by the University of Oslo. The course duration is two days. The proficiency test will be available during the spring and during the autumn semester.
Extension of the deadline to complete the additional requirements
The Norwegian Directorate of Health may, upon application, extend the deadline for fulfilling the additional requirements by up to one year in cases of delay due to long-term illness or parental/maternity leave.
An application for an extension must be submitted before the original three-year deadline expires and must include supporting documentation:
- For long-term illness, you must provide a medical certificate confirming that the illness prevents you from completing the additional requirements and specifying the duration of the delay.
- For delays due to parental/maternity leave, you must document this with a letter from NAV confirming the granting of parental leave (foreldrepermisjon) or a birth certificate.
Please note that sensitive information should not be sent by e-mail. Therefore, we kindly request that the application be sent by mail to:
Helsedirektoratet,
v/Avd. Autorisasjon
Postboks 220, Skøyen
0213 Oslo