European Professional Card

The European Professional Card (EPC) is an electronic document which you can use to have your professional qualifications recognized in another EU country. You can use the EPC if you want to practice your profession in another EU country on a temporary and occasional basis (temporary mobility) or you want to settle in another EU country and practice your profession there permanently (establishment). EPC is an electronic alternative of the already existing certification and recognition procedures, (including the procedure of certification of professional rights of NACID). EPC is faster, more transparent and easier to manage than the traditional recognition procedures.

Professions for which EPC is available

At present EPC can be issued for the following five professions:

nurse responsible for general care,
pharmacist,
rehabilitation specialist; kinezitherapist
mountain guide,
real estate agent.

If your profession is non-regulated in the host country it is not necessary to apply for an EPC because you have direct access to the labor market.

Bulgarian competent authorities responsible for issuing EPC

Professions which are regulated in Bulgaria, are certified by the corresponding competent authority. All other professions which are non-regulated in Bulgaria are certified by the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID).

At present the following authorities are responsible for issuing EPC in Bulgaria:

The Minister of Health for the regulated professions: Nurse responsible for general care, Pharmacist, Rehabilitation specialist; Kinezitherapist
Ministry of Tourism – for certification of the following regulated profession, acquired in Bulgaria: Mountain guide;
National Centre for Information and Documentation for certification of the following non-regulated profession, acquired in Bulgaria: Real estate agent.

Required documents, Application procedure, Validity of EPC - Your Europe

Qualification holders, employers and all interested parties can find detailed online information about EPC on the web site of Your Europe including checking whether you may apply with the EPC, application procedure, deadlines, required documents, checking formalities in the countries chosen via the EPC simulator, validity of the EPC, options for employers to check the validity of an EPC, and other useful information.

Normative framework

Regulation (EU) 2015/983 of 24 June 2015 on the procedure for issuance of the European Professional Card and the application of the alert mechanism
EUR-Lex - 32015R0983 - EN

Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications
EUR-Lex - 32005L0036 - EN

Ordinance on the terms and conditions for issuance of European Professional Card

Additional information and simulator for the required documents and fees can be found at
Your Europe