Practising a profession in another EU country has become easier for general care nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, real estate agents and mountain guides, thanks to the European Professional Card (EPC) launched by the European Commission.
With the EPC, these professions can get their qualification recognised in another EU country more efficiently as the assessment will be made on the basis of existing rules but the mechanism will be simplified through an electronic procedure.
At the same time, the system provides for safeguards preventing abuse: an alert mechanism ensures that EU patients and consumers are adequately protected.
The EPC is an electronic certificate issued through the first fully online EU-wide procedure for the recognition of qualifications. Based on practical experience with its functioning, the EPC may be extended to other mobile professions in the future.