Recognition of foreign qualifications

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Recognition of foreign qualifications

We are currently experiencing a high volume of queries and response times may be longer than usual. New comparability statements may take 12 weeks to complete. We appreciate your understanding.

The National Academic Recognition Information Centre of Ireland (NARIC Ireland), is hosted by QQI, recognises foreign qualifications by providing online comparability statements. Comparability statements compare international qualifications to award types and levels on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)（https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qqi.ie%2Fwhat-we-do%2Fthe-qualifications-system%2Fnational-framework-of-qualifications&data=05%7C02%7CdBrach%40qqi.ie%7C94e6af8768a04262471808decc847a48%7C190234163dd04df48e8a6fa858d28e32%7C0%7C0%7C639173066552155521%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C4000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s88bAkPZWx8R4K2KBSKnlspyScDMix4AsS6Y9MYlZbw%3D&reserved=0） where possible.

NARIC Ireland's free online database（https://qsearch.qqi.ie/WebPart/Search?searchtype=recognitions） has over 2,000 qualifications from more than 170 countries. Comparability statements are often required for further study, employment, or work permits.

Use the information below to understand how to use NARIC Ireland s Foreign Qualifications Database.

Search the database here:

NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications Database（https://qsearch.qqi.ie/WebPart/Search?searchtype=recognitions）

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About NARIC Ireland database

NARIC Ireland’s searchable  Foreign Qualifications Database（https://qsearch.qqi.ie/WebPart/Search?searchtype=recognitions）  has over 2000 qualifications from more than 160 countries and allows you to freely download a  comparability statement that compares your academic qualification to an Irish qualification of a similar major award-type and level on the Irish  National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ（https://www.qqi.ie/what-we-do/the-qualifications-system/national-framework-of-qualifications） ), where possible.

If your qualification is  not  listed in the database, you can apply for advice on the  general academic recognition of your qualification here（https://forms.qqi.ie/naric/award-queries） .

Please note:

a comparability statement only provides advice and is not a legal document;

your qualification should be awarded by a nationally recognised awarding body in your country of origin;

comparability statements are generic and non-personalised;

decisions on recognising your qualification for employment, training or educational purposes will be made by the individual employer, competent authority or education and training admissions staff;

If you have a professional qualification, decisions on recognition are made by the  appropriate Irish authority for your profession（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-11/Regulated%20Professions%20and%20Competent%20Authorities.pdf） .

Guide to using the NARIC Ireland database

Here, you’ll find easy-to-follow information on how to get your foreign academic qualification recognised in Ireland. Our guides will walk you through using the NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications Database, so you can quickly check how your qualification compares to an award-type and level on the Irish NFQ（https://www.qqi.ie/national-framework-of-qualifications） .

Using the NARIC foreign qualifications database

NARIC Guide - Arabic（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Arabic%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - Chinese（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Chinese%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - English（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20English%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - French（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20French%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - Gaeilge（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Gaelige%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - Polish（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Polish%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - Portuguese（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Portuguese%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - Russian（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Russian%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide -Spanish（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-Spanish%20V1.pdf）

NARIC Guide - Ukrainian（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-07/NARIC%20Guide%20-%20Ukrainian.pdf）

Watch this YouTube video on advice on foreign qualifications with QQI（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8-JuXuCFOk）.

Listen to this podcast to find out more about recognition of qualifications（https://qqi.podbean.com/e/5-recognition-of-qualifications-home-and-abroad%e2%80%94trailer-2/）at home（https://qqi.podbean.com/e/5-recognition-of-qualifications-home-and-abroad%e2%80%94trailer-2/）and abroad（https://qqi.podbean.com/e/5-recognition-of-qualifications-home-and-abroad%e2%80%94trailer-2/）.

Professional Qualifications Recognition

NARIC Ireland provides advice on the academic recognition of a foreign qualification by comparing it, where possible, to a major award type and level on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Decisions on professional recognition are made by the  appropriate Irish authority for your profession（https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2022-11/Regulated%20Professions%20and%20Competent%20Authorities.pdf） . We do not comment on professional awards, regulated professions, licences to practice or agreements made between different sectors of industry from one or more countries.

For more details, see: General information on regulated professions and professional recognition in Ireland（https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7527-professional-qualifications-recognition/） .

Employers: Supporting your fair and informed recognition of foreign qualifications

Recruitment from the modern talent pool includes the fair recognition of international qualifications. NARIC Ireland publishes formal comparability statements for ‘major’ (typically high volume, complete) academic qualifications.

A comparability statement compares foreign qualifications to award-types and levels on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)（https://www.qqi.ie/national-framework-of-qualifications）. Important points to note in relation to comparability statements include the following:

Comparability statements are generic, based on careful research and are fully quality assured.

Applicants may link the comparability statement for their qualification as part of the recruitment process.

Employers can also explore the NARIC Ireland database to confirm the comparability of qualifications.

NARIC Ireland does not provide personalised statements.

Comparability statements are not issued for professional awards or for licenses.

Employers should verify and authenticate qualifications in the usual way.

The decision to recognise a qualification is the responsibility of the employer.

NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications Database

This trusted resource（https://qsearch.qqi.ie/WebPart/Search?searchtype=recognitions） supports informed, confident recognition decisions. Comparability statements clearly reference foreign qualifications to the levels of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and the award types which are familiar, e.g. honours Bachelor degree, Masters etc.

How to use the database:

Step 1: Search by selecting the country where the qualification was issued.

Step 2: A published comparability statement explains how the qualification relates to the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

Step 3: Download the comparability statement for NFQ level comparison and additional information on the award type.

Recognition of Irish qualifications abroad

NARIC Ireland is a member of ENIC-NARIC, the  European Network of Information Centres-National Academic Recognition Information Centres.  This network   offers advice on the recognition of qualifications across Europe by providing information on education, training, and qualifications systems within individual countries. It uses the Lisbon Recognition Convention to ensure qualifications obtained in one country are recognised in all the others.

If you would like to have your Irish qualification recognised abroad, we recommend the following resources:

For higher education and training qualifications -  ENIC-NARIC（https://www.enic-naric.net/individual-wishing-to-studywork-abroad.aspx） .

For further education and training qualifications - refer to the  National Reference Point（https://europa.eu/europass/en/national-europass-centres）  for the country in question.

NARIC Ireland statistics

NARIC Ireland aims to present data on the usage of its recognition service from around the world to help QQI meet its strategic objectives and to help identify trends and areas needing improvement and better communication.

NARIC Ireland 2023 - 2025 statistics on the recognition of foreign qualifications（https://www.qqi.ie/what-we-do/engagement-insights-and-knowledge-sharing/our-data/naric-ireland-2023-statistics-on-the）

NARIC Ireland supporting refugees

People with  refugee status or who have subsidiary protection（https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/act/66/enacted/en/html） , have the right to seek and enter employment, to carry on business, trade or professions, and to access education and training as a citizen.

NARIC Ireland services support the fair recognition of qualifications from home in line with the  Lisbon Recognition Convention（https://rm.coe.int/168007f2c7）