Although Finland is often regarded simply as a Nordic country, it has much to offer. It is a highly developed country with a regulated health care system, and becoming a medical doctor there requires both the right education and the legal right to practice medicine.
Nevertheless, becoming a doctor in Finland is competitive and highly regulated. To ease the transition, this article looks at the main steps to becoming a medical doctor in Finland.
How to Become a Doctor in Finland
Step 1. Be Proficient in the Finnish Language
Even though many people in Finland speak English well, English alone is not enough for studying or practicing medicine in Finland. Medical studies and medical licensing routes generally require strong Finnish or Swedish skills. Therefore, you must be proficient in Finnish or Swedish in order to study and become a medical doctor in Finland.
Although Finnish is quite distinct from other languages, it does not have to be impossible to learn. Today, you have the option of both in-person and online courses, as well as several language-learning applications. In addition, newcomers who have an integration plan with the authorities may be eligible for integration training that includes Finnish or Swedish language studies and information about Finnish society and working life.
Step 2. Obtain a Degree in Medicine
This is, of course, a crucial step to becoming a medical doctor in Finland. Similar to other Nordic countries, the Finnish educational system holds strong international recognition. Therefore, if given the opportunity, you should consider studying medicine at a Finnish university. However, acceptance into a Finnish medical program is no easy task.
Candidates must meet the university’s general eligibility requirements and follow the current admissions criteria for medicine. Applicants normally apply through the national admissions system and must complete the medical entrance examination, which is held once a year at the end of May and is the same for all medical faculties in Finland. The entrance examination is in Finnish or Swedish. There is no English-taught medical track in Finland, and medical studies are conducted in Finnish or, in some cases, Swedish.
Once admitted, students have six years of medical studies to complete. Medical studies in Finland form a Licentiate of Medicine degree worth 360 ECTS credits, with bachelor’s- and master’s-level studies integrated into the degree. Once graduates obtain their diploma, they receive the title of Licentiate of Medicine. However, they must still apply to the Finnish Supervisory Agency for the legal right to practice as a physician before working independently.
Step 3. Complete a Mandatory Residency Period
Finland does not require all medical graduates who completed their degree in Finland to complete a separate six-month residency and national licensing examination after graduation. Clinical training is included in the medical degree, and Finnish graduates apply for the right to practice through the Finnish Supervisory Agency after completing the Licentiate of Medicine.
The six-month internship requirement applies to doctors trained outside the EU/EEA as part of the legalization process. If you want to become a specialist after receiving the right to practice medicine in Finland, you must complete postgraduate specialist training. Specialist training generally requires at least five years of medical practice, including at least nine months of service in public health centers, theoretical and administrative studies, and a national written examination.
Step 4. Secure a Medical Position in Either a Hospital or a Medical Center
As many recruitment processes in Finland are online, you will usually apply for positions digitally. Useful official portals include Job Market Finland and the EURES portal. In most cases, applications and job postings may be in Finnish or Swedish, meaning that language proficiency is important at this step as well. Employers must also verify that doctors have the legal right to practice in Finland.
Step 5. Complete a Few Additional Steps (for Foreign Medical Doctors)
The first group of foreign-trained doctors consists of those who obtained their medical qualification in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. These doctors must apply to the Finnish Supervisory Agency for the right to practice medicine in Finland. Depending on the applicant’s training and whether it meets EU recognition rules, the agency may grant the right to practice independently or under guidance and supervision while additional workplace training is completed. A separate language certificate is not always required for EU/EEA-trained doctors, but doctors must still have sufficient Finnish or Swedish skills to perform their duties safely.
However, if your medical degree comes from outside the EU/EEA, the process is more complex. You must first apply for recognition of your medical degree. After recognition, you must complete at least six months of internship or job training in a Finnish public hospital or health center, demonstrate sufficient Finnish or Swedish proficiency, and pass three examinations: a clinical examination, an examination on the Finnish health care system, and a practical patient care examination. After the required examinations and work under limited licenses, you may apply for legalization as a physician.
Step 6. Apply for a Work Visa
Finland’s immigration requirements depend on your nationality, not only on where you completed your medical degree. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a work visa or residence permit to work in Finland. However, if they stay in Finland for more than three months, they must register their right of residence. They must still obtain the Finnish Supervisory Agency’s right to practice medicine before working as a doctor.
Doctors who are not EU/EEA or Swiss citizens generally need a Finnish residence permit for work before starting employment, unless a specific exception applies. The correct permit route depends on the job, contract, salary, and personal circumstances. Non-EU/EEA students who completed their medical education in Finland may be able to apply for a residence permit based on a degree completed in Finland, or for a residence permit to look for work or start a business, but they still need the right to practice medicine before working as doctors.
In conclusion, the journey of becoming a medical practitioner in Finland starts with proficiency in Finnish or Swedish. Knowledge of English alone is not enough in the health sector, as doctors must communicate safely and clearly with patients, colleagues, and authorities. In addition, medical graduates and foreign-trained doctors must follow the Finnish Supervisory Agency’s licensing rules, while non-EU/EEA citizens must also make sure they have the correct residence permit for work.
We hope that this article was helpful! If you want to learn more about studying requirements in Finland, make sure to also check out our Study in Finland Page! You can also check Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad!
