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Health Professionals’ Registration and Licensing Directive No. 770/2021

Ministry of Health770/2021

Summary

This directive establishes a standardized national system for the registration, licensing, administration, and control of health professionals. It outlines the requirements for obtaining professional licenses, procedures for renewal, and grounds for suspension or cancellation of licenses.

Who's affected

Health professionals trained domestically or abroad, and healthcare institutions hiring them.

Action required

Health professionals should review the directive to ensure compliance with registration, licensing, and renewal requirements. Healthcare institutions should ensure they follow the hiring and supervision procedures for foreign-trained professionals.

Key points

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  • Establishes a unified system for health professional registration and licensing.
  • Details requirements for both domestic and foreign-trained professionals.
  • Outlines procedures for license renewal and penalties for non-compliance.
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    • Specifies grounds for license suspension and cancellation.
    • Addresses issues related to professional designations and work experience.
    • Includes provisions for temporary licenses and special agreements for foreign professionals.

Requirements

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  • Completed professional registration and licensing application form.
  • Authenticated academic credentials from the training institution.
  • Proof of passing competency assessment examinations (for relevant professions).
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    • Passport-sized photographs.
    • Proof of payment of service fees.
    • Medical examination certificate.
    • Evidence of completion of contractual obligations (if applicable).
    • Equivalence letter from Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) for foreign-trained professionals.
    • Copy of passport for foreign professionals.
    • Verification letters from home country's professional licensing body for foreign professionals.
    • English language proficiency certificate for foreign professionals (if applicable).
    • Renewed institutional license for hiring institutions of foreign professionals.
    • Evidence of work experience.
    • Professional license renewal requirements include updated application, previous license, work experience proof, CPD evidence, photos, fee receipt, and medical certificate.
    • Foreign-trained professionals may need to undergo internship or externship.
    • Health professionals must renew their licenses every three years.
    • Licensed professionals must practice within their registered scope of practice.
    • Those whose licenses have been suspended, revoked, or voluntarily relinquished must return their licenses.
    • Health professionals and institutions must cooperate in the implementation of the directive.

Rights and permissions

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  • Right to obtain a professional license upon meeting requirements.
  • Right to renew professional licenses.
  • Right to obtain a replacement professional license if lost, damaged, or burned.
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    • Right to receive verification (verification) or Good Standing Letter.
    • Foreign-trained professionals with specific agreements may be granted licenses without extensive internship.
    • Ethiopian-born foreigners can be treated as Ethiopians by providing evidence of descent.

Restrictions

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  • Health professionals must be registered to provide health services.
  • Temporary services outside the scope of practice require Ministry approval.
  • Foreign professionals need specific documentation and may require internship/externship.
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    • Practicing without a valid license or after suspension/revocation is prohibited.
    • Failure to renew a license within the stipulated time may result in penalties and suspension.
    • Professionals who have not practiced for more than 10 consecutive years cannot re-enter the field.
    • Practicing beyond the scope of practice or level of the institution can lead to suspension.
    • Providing services with a suspended license for illegal benefits can lead to an additional year of suspension.
    • Licenses can be canceled for providing false educational evidence, committing serious crimes, or repeatedly violating professional ethics.
    • Health professionals educated through distance, online, or weekend programs may not be granted licenses if prohibited by the authorized body.
    • Professional designations are based on educational level and experience, with specific requirements for advancement.

Penalties

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  • Suspension of professional license for various violations, including repeated warnings, incompetence, mental illness, professional misconduct, practicing with a suspended/revoked license, and working illegally during suspension.
  • Cancellation of professional license for falsifying documents, serious criminal acts, repeated violations after suspension, or upon decision due to professional ethics violations.
  • Fines and late renewal fees for failure to renew licenses on time.
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    • Administrative actions by the Ministry or regional regulatory bodies.

Objectives

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  • To ensure the community has access to health services provided by professionally and ethically qualified health professionals.
  • To ensure transparency and accountability in the registration and licensing system of health professionals.
  • To establish a nationally uniform system of registration, licensing, and regulation of health professionals.

Organizations

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  • Ministry of Health
  • Regional Regulatory Bodies
  • Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA)

Legal references

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  • Proclamation No. 661/2002, Article 55 (3) of the Ethiopian Food, Drug and Healthcare Administration and Control
  • Proclamation No. 1112/2011, Article 73 of the Food and Drug Administration
  • Regulation No. 299/2006, Article 98
Original sourcehttps://justice.gov.et/en/directives/health-professionals-registration-and-licensing-directive-no-770-2021/
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