Dentists

Scope

a) Only qualifications acquired in a Member State and listed in the Annex of the relevant Directive are eligible for mandatory and automatic recognition throughout the European Community. For specialist qualifications in orthodontics or oral surgery, recognition is mandatory and automatic only for the Member States specified in the Directive.

In the case of other specialisations, which are either not covered by the Directive or are covered only in respect of the host Member State, recognition is mandatory and given on a case-by-case basis, but only after the host Member State has compared the training received in the Member State of origin or the Member State from which the applicant comes and that required in the host Member State, and it has taken into account professional experience, additional training and any continuing training undertaken by the applicant. Applicants may in some cases be asked to undergo additional training.

b) In very special cases, doctors' qualifications acquired in Italy, Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia or the former Czechoslovakia may be given recognition under the Dentists Directive.

c) The authorities of the host Member State have, as a rule, three months in which to process your application to take up the activity concerned. Decisions not to grant recognition must be reasoned decisions, and it must be possible to appeal against them to the national courts.

Formalities in Spain

National procedures in force 

Applications for recognition should be sent to the:

• Ministerio de Educación y Cultura
  Subdirección General de Títulos, Convalidaciones y Homologaciones
  Paseo del Prado 28, 4ª planta - E-28014 Madrid
  Tel: +34-91-506 56 00 
  Tel: +34.91.701.85.00 
  Fax: +34-91-420 33 25
  E-mail: información@educ.mec.es

Information and/or documents to be submitted to the competent authorities 

Certified photocopies of the following documents:

• Certificate(s) or diploma(s) qualifying you fully to practise as a dental surgeon in your country of origin or last country of residence. 
• A sworn translation of these documents into Spanish.
• Document providing proof that you hold the nationality of a Member State of the European Union.

The documents must be certified by one of the following authorities: 

• Office (Registro) of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (Madrid) or offices of the government sub-delegates (Subdelegaciones del Gobierno) in the rest of Spain; 
• Spanish diplomatic and consular missions (embassies or consulates); 
• notary.

Fees

The processing of applications for recognition of qualifications is totally free of charge. Applicants are, however, responsible for their own document translation and attestation fees.

Reference documents 

• Royal Decree 675/1992 of 19 July 1992

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2005
Reproduction is authorised.