Obtaining a licence if you are educated outside EU and EEA

På svenska

If you would like to practice as a dental hygienist in Sweden, you will need a Swedish licence. The title dental hygienist is protected by law. In other words, you may refer to yourself as a dental hygienist only if you have a licence. To obtain a licence you need to learn Swedish.

Apply for a licence through Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare

To get a licence via the National Board of Health and Welfare, you need to go through 5 different steps. Take one step at a time. You start by applying to have your education assessed and in the last step you apply for the licence.

Good to know:

You do not need to be able to speak Swedish to have your education assessed, step 1. But to pass steps 2–5, you need to be able to speak Swedish. You send a certificate of your language skills at the latest when you apply for licence, step 5.
While waiting for our decision you can practice a health care profession that does not require a licence, for example dental nurse or pharmaceutical technician.

How long does it take?

The length of time it takes to complete the various steps that lead to a Swedish licence will vary according to your particular situation. Usually it takes 2–4 years.

To step 1

You will need to know Swedish

You do not need to be able to speak Swedish to have your education assessed, step 1. But to pass steps 2–5, you need to be able to speak Swedish. You send a certificate of your language skills at the latest when you apply for licence, step 5.

To demonstrate your language skills, you must have an approved grade or certificate in one of the following:

Swedish 3 or Swedish as a Second Language 3 at a municipal upper secondary adult education programme (Komvux).
Swedish at Level C1 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
A course or exam that satisfies the entry requirements for higher education studies, please see antagning.se.

Equivalent proficiency in Norwegian or Danish

Equivalent proficiency in Norwegian or Danish will also satisfy the requirements for Swedish. You will need to provide certification that your language skills meet the entry requirements at a Norwegian or Danish college or university.

A health care provider can assess language skills

You can also prove your language skills by letting a health care provider assess if you have the language skills that are needed in order to work in your profession. The health care provider should fill in the form and describe how the assessment has been made.

Form for assessment of language skills (in Swedish)

What is a licence?

A licence is proof that a practitioner has the skills and qualifications that a profession requires. A total of 22 different healthcare professions demand licences in Sweden. To put it another way, those particular professions are regulated by law. A licence is permanent but may be revoked due to malpractice, gross incompetence or conviction for a serious criminal offence.

If you do not have a Swedish personal identity number, residence permit or address

We do not require that you have a Swedish social security or coordination number, a residence permit or that you live in Sweden to have your education assessed (step 1). However, you need a Swedish social security or coordination number when it's time to apply for a licence (step 5).

In order to practice or go to school in Sweden you will have to obtain a residence or work permit from the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket).

It is important that you notify us if you have updated your personal data, e.g. get a social security number or coordination number or change your name, so that we can update the information in the register for Healthcare professionals (HOSP).

Is your education not equivalent to the Swedish?

If you do not have a post-secondary degree or if your education is not equivalent to the system in Sweden, you can go to school to obtain a Swedish degree and then apply for a licence to practice your profession.

Go to universityadmissions.se and studera.nu to learn about application procedures and admission requirements. The college or university that admits you may determine that you can use your previous education to expedite completion of its programme.

Publication date: 2020-05-06