Healthcare counsellor

How to apply

If you are educated in Sweden

As of 1 July 2019 healthcare counsellor is a licensed profession in Sweden. During a transitional period until 1 July 2024, those who do not have a degree in healthcare counselling can apply for a license if you have worked as a counsellor in the healthcare sector.

You can apply for a license if you have an undergraduate degree in social work or a relevant field, and have: 

1. Practised as a counsellor in the healthcare sector for at least five years,
   or,
2. Practised as a counsellor in the healthcare sector for at least two years and have obtained supplementary training.

The application fee is 990 SEK and the processing time is approximately two months. Your application can be submitted either digitally or by post and must include:

• A copy of your diploma from your undergraduate degree.         
• A copy of a diploma or certificate from relevant supplementary training.
• A certificate of service from an employer.

More information on the application process and the documentation required can be found at The National Board of Health and Welfare's website. 

Qualification in an EU Member State or EEA

If you are qualified to practice as a healthcare counsellor in another EU Member State or EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland) and want to work as such in Sweden, you need to apply for a license with the National Board of Health and Welfare. To obtain a license, you are also required to have sufficient language skills in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian. 

If neither your profession nor your qualification is regulated in the country where you are educated, you have to submit a certificate of service. The certificate must show that you have practiced the profession for at least one of the last ten years in one or more EU or EEA countries where the profession or qualification is not regulated.

The application fee is 990 SEK and the processing time is approximately three months. Your application can be submitted either digitally or by post and must include:

• Your diploma         
• A certificate from the competent authority proving that you have not been prohibited from pursuing your profession, such as Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Current Professional Status. If there is no register from where you can obtain such a certificate, a certificate with information from the country's criminal register shall be provided.
• A document from the school or university where you were trained describing which courses you have taken, including the course content and their duration. 
• A copy of a certificate or diploma attesting to your language skills in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian.         

More information on the application process and the documentation required can be found at The National Board of Health and Welfare's website.