General information

According to the previous provisions, foreign national who is required to register himself with an Italian Order to pursue professional activity, shall embark on different ways, depending on the following circumstances:

- foreign national holding diploma and professional qualification obtained in Italy.
It is possible to submit the application for registering with an Italian Order, competent in the   territory chosen to pursue the profession, even if he does not hold Italian citizenship.

- foreign national holding a professional qualification obtained in a European community state member.
Before submitting formal application to register with Italian Orders, he is required to submit a professional recognition application to the Italian competent Authority (MIUR) Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca.

- foreign national holding a professional qualification obtained in non European countries.
Before submitting formal application to register with an Italian Order, he is required to submit a professional recognition application to the Italian competent Authority (MIUR) Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca. MIUR is empowered to issue a ministerial decree, published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic, and shall grant that recognition subject to a further compensatory measure, such as an aptitude test or a period of supervised practice for the purpose of qualification adjustment.
The foreign national holding a "recognition decree" shall submit formal application to register  with an Italian Order.

Presidential Decree no. 394 of 31.8.1999 (regulation implementing the consolidating act enacting "provisions governing immigration and alien status") article 47, co. 2 requires that foreign national shall register himself in a professional register, even if he does not hold Italian citizenship, except for the case provided in Legislative Decree n.29 of 3rd February 1993,  article 37.
The regular stay of aliens within the Italian territory, for at least five years, is preferential condition for registering.

Foreign professionals who have obtained their professional qualifications in non European countries and wish to pursue the profession in Italy, registering, according to law, with one of the Italian Orders, must comply with the rules governing the stay of aliens in Italy, that is the Presidential Decree no. 394/99 (regulation implementing the consolidating act enacting "provisions governing immigration and alien status), articles 49-50, in conjunction with the Presidential Decree no. 334/04 (regulation amending and supplementing DPR no. 394/99, in matters of immigration).

The Italian competent authority is "Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (MIUR)" and it is empowered by Italy specifically to issue or receive training diplomas and other documents or information and to receive the applications, and take the decisions about the recognition of professional qualifications, referred either to free provision of services or freedom of establishment.

MIUR can grant the recognition subject to a further compensatory measure, such as an aptitude test or a period of supervised practice for the purpose of qualification adjustment;
The detailed rules governing the adaption period (such as duration, further training) and the adaption test (written and oral examinations matters) shall be laid down by MIUR.
In case of failing performance evaluation, the applicant can repeat the adaption period but shall wait six months before repeating the test.