EduOne moment, getting it ready…

Guide

Professional rightsfrom the degree to the licence

The degree is not always the end of the road. In many professions a licence, a traineeship, an exam or a chamber registration comes in between — in others, nothing. Here you see which body waits after each course of study, what it asks for and what it costs.

The road

From the degree to the licence, in four steps

In regulated professions the road always has the same shape; only the body at the third step changes.

01
Degree
The title from a university, EPAL or SAEK: the qualification the law asks for.
02
Training or exams
Where provided: an internship, a licensing exam, or both.
03
Registration
A chamber, a public-law association, or a state licence. A fee and an annual subscription.
04
Practice
With the licence you sign, prescribe, appear in court. Without it, you do not.

Two worlds

Regulated and free professions

The first question for any degree: do you need a licence to work? The answer splits the professions in two.

Regulated

The law says who may practise. Without a licence, practising is illegal.

Licence: Compulsory, by law
Body: Chamber, association or the state
What counts: The degree and the licence

What it means in detail

The law says who may practise: with a specific degree, often after a traineeship or exams, and with registration in a chamber or association that is a public-law body. Practising without the licence is illegal. Greece has over 150 such professions, listed in the EU regulated professions database.

For example

Engineer
Doctor
Dentist
Pharmacist
Lawyer
Nurse
Physiotherapist
Psychologist
Social worker
Accountant
Agronomist
Veterinarian
Public-school teacher
Electrician
Plumber
Refrigeration technician

Free

No licence or chamber. The degree is a qualification, not a precondition.

Licence: None
Body: None
What counts: Experience, portfolio, certifications

What it means in detail

No licence, chamber or exam. The degree counts as a qualification — in the market, in pay scales, at ASEP — but nobody stops you working without it. Here the portfolio, experience and industry certifications weigh most.

For example

Developer
Data analyst
Marketer
Journalist
Designer
Manager
Financial analyst without an accountant's licence
Translator
Tourism executive
Artist
Researcher

The bodies

Who waits after the degree

Three scientific chambers (TEE, GEOTEE, OEE), the associations of the health and legal professions, and the state where there is no association. Commercial chambers (EVEA etc.) are for businesses, not degrees.

Scientific chambers

Public-law bodies whose register you must join by law: without it you cannot practise.

ΤΕΕ
Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)
Engineers with 5-year polytechnic diplomas
1. Diploma
2. TEE exams
3. Registration
Who registers
Engineers with 5-year diplomas (Polytechnics, engineering faculties): civil, architects, mechanical, electrical, chemical, surveying, naval, mining and others. The 13 core specialties are set in PD 99/2018.
The road
Diploma → professional licence exams (TEE holds them three times a year, oral) → registration with TEE. Without the licence you cannot sign designs.
Cost
Exam and registration fees, annual subscription (reduced in the first years).
The 4-year engineering departments of the universities that came out of the TEI do not register with TEE; their rights are set per specialty and in several cases are still pending.
See the departments Website
ΓΕΩΤΕΕ
Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE)
Agronomists, foresters, vets, geologists, ichthyologists
1. Degree
2. Registration and licence
Who registers
Agronomists, foresters, veterinarians, geologists, ichthyologists — graduates of the corresponding 5-year departments.
The road
Degree → registration with GEOTEE, which also issues the professional licence. No exams.
Cost
Registration fee, annual subscription.
Veterinarians also register compulsorily with their local Veterinary Association.
See the departments Website
ΟΕΕ
Economic Chamber of Greece (OEE)
Economists and tax accountants
1. Degree
2. Registration
3. Accountant ID
Who registers
Graduates of economics departments (Economics, Accounting & Finance, Business Administration and related) who want to practise as economists or as accountants-tax consultants.
The road
Degree → registration with OEE, no exams. The accountant-tax consultant professional identity (class A or B) is issued by OEE according to degree and experience, renewed yearly.
Cost
Registration fee, annual subscription, accountant identity fee.
Working in a company as an economist needs no registration; signing as an accountant or practising freelance as an economist does.
See the departments Website

Professional associations

Health and law professions: the licence first, then compulsory registration with the local association.

Medical Associations (PIS)
Doctors
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. Registration
4. Rural service
5. Specialty
Who registers
Medicine graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region (gov.gr) → registration with the local Medical Association → rural service (about 12 months) → specialty of 4–7 years with exams for the title. The Panhellenic Medical Association coordinates the local ones.
Cost
Licence and registration fees, annual association subscription.
A specialty is not required to work as a doctor, but without it the NHS does not hire you as a specialist.
See the departments Website
Dental Associations (EOO)
Dentists
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. Registration
Who registers
Dentistry graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region → registration with the local Dental Association. Specialties (orthodontics, oral surgery) are optional, 3 years.
Cost
Fees, annual subscription.
See the departments Website
Pharmaceutical Associations (PFS)
Pharmacists
1. Degree
2. 12-month traineeship
3. Exams
4. Registration
Who registers
Pharmacy graduates.
The road
Degree → 12-month traineeship in a pharmacy or hospital → professional licence exams → registration with the Pharmaceutical Association. Opening a pharmacy needs a separate establishment licence.
Cost
Exam and licence fees, annual subscription.
See the departments Website
Bar Associations
Lawyers
1. Degree
2. 18-month traineeship
3. Bar exam
4. Registration
Who registers
Law graduates.
The road
Degree → registration as a trainee → 18-month traineeship with a lawyer, court or legal department → national bar exam (twice a year) → registration with the Bar Association. Lawyers' Code, law 4194/2013.
Cost
Exam fee, registration contribution, annual contribution.
A law degree also opens roads without a licence: in-house counsel, public sector, and notary or judge through separate competitions.
See the departments Website
ΕΝΕ
Hellenic Nurses' Association (ENE)
Nurses
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. ENE registration
Who registers
Nursing graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region → registration with ENE (public-law body, compulsory, law 3252/2004) → annual renewal. Nursing specialties with 1–2 years of training in the NHS.
Cost
Licence fee, ENE registration and annual subscription.
See the departments Website
Midwives' Associations
Midwives
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. Registration
Who registers
Midwifery graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region → registration with the local Midwives' Association.
Cost
Licence fee, association subscription.
Website
ΠΣΦ
Panhellenic Physiotherapists' Association (PSF)
Physiotherapists
1. Degree
2. Regional certificate
3. PSF registration
Who registers
Physiotherapy graduates.
The road
Degree → practice certificate from the Region → registration with PSF (public-law body, compulsory, law 3599/2007).
Cost
Fee, registration and annual subscription.
Website
ΣΚΛΕ
Hellenic Association of Social Workers (SKLE)
Social workers
1. Degree
2. Regional certificate
3. SKLE registration
Who registers
Social Work graduates.
The road
Degree → practice certificate from the Region → registration with SKLE (public-law body, compulsory, law 4488/2017).
Cost
Fee, registration and annual subscription.
Website

A licence from the state

Where there is no chamber or association, the licence or the appointment comes from the region, the ministry or ΑΣΕΠ.

Psychologist's licence
Psychologists from 4-year psychology departments
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
Who registers
Graduates of 4-year Psychology departments. A Philosophy-Education-Psychology degree is not enough.
The road
Degree → psychologist's practice licence from the Region (law 991/1979, as in force). There is no compulsory chamber; psychologists' associations are voluntary. There is no state licence for psychotherapy yet.
Cost
Licence fee.
See the departments Website
Teachers: ASEP and pedagogical competence
Anyone who wants to teach in a state school
1. Degree
2. Teaching competence
3. ASEP
4. Appointment
Who registers
Anyone who wants to teach in a public school: graduates of Education, Philology, Mathematics, Physics, Foreign Languages, Physical Education and every other teaching department.
The road
Degree + certified pedagogical competence (law 4589/2019: granted by the department itself, by ASPETE's EPPAIK programme, or by a master's) → ASEP competition or rankings → appointment or substitute work. Private schools need no ASEP, but do need the competence.
Cost
ASEP fee.
Education departments and the Philosophy/Philology schools grant the competence with the degree; the others usually do not.
See the departments Website
ΥΝΑΝΠ
Ministry of Maritime Affairs (YNANP)
Merchant navy captains and engineers
1. AEN diploma
2. Class C diploma
3. Class B and A
Who registers
Merchant Marine Academy (AEN) graduates, deck and engine officers.
The road
AEN diploma, with the training voyages inside the studies → 3rd-class Master's or Engineer's certificate from YNANP → promotion to 2nd and 1st class with sea service and exams.
Cost
Certificate fees.
See the departments Website
Licence from the Region
Speech therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and others
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
Who registers
The health professions without a chamber of their own: speech therapists, occupational therapists, health visitors, dietitians, medical laboratory technologists, radiographers, opticians.
The road
Degree → practice certificate or licence from the Region's Public Health directorate, online through gov.gr. Where a public-law association exists (e.g. occupational therapists, dietitians), registration follows.
Cost
Fee, usually a few tens of euros.
Website

Terms, fees and deadlines change with new ministerial decisions. Before you act, confirm on the body's website or on gov.gr.

How to read the rights

The same system at four levels

Level6–7

University degree

Set in a Presidential Decree or in each department's founding law.

Each department's rights are set in a Presidential Decree or in the department's founding law. On every department page the “Pathways” tab says whether the profession is regulated and which steps follow the degree. The 5-year diplomas (integrated master) are level 7 and open TEE or GEOTEE directly.

Level4

EPAL degree

Licences per technical trade, in steps that each need work experience.

The law grants licences per technical trade (e.g. PD 108/2013 for electricians, PD 112/2012 for plumbers), in rungs: technician → master technician → foreman/installer. Each rung asks months of experience and often exams at the Region. Every EPAL specialty page shows its ladder.

Level5

SAEK diploma

EOPPEP certification, then the EPAL licences with less experience.

Certification first: EOPPEP exams after the training ends. The Vocational Specialty Diploma then gives the same licences as EPAL with less experience required, and earns points at ASEP (category DE).

Public sector and Europe

PE, TE, DE, YE categories at ASEP; seven professions are recognised automatically across the EU.

ASEP ranks in PE (university degree), TE (former TEI degree), DE (Lyceum, SAEK) and YE. In the EU seven professions are recognised automatically in every member state (Directive 2005/36/EC): doctor, nurse, dentist, veterinarian, midwife, pharmacist, architect. The rest go through recognition per country.

Frequently asked

Before you choose

The guides

See the other two

PathwaysEvery road from the Gymnasio to an occupation, on one map.Levels of studyThe eight EQF levels: what each opens and how ASEP sees it.

See the rights of the department you care about

On every department, EPAL and SAEK specialty page, the “Pathways” tab and the Rights section say what follows the degree.

Open the catalog

EduOne moment, getting it ready…

Guide

Professional rightsfrom the degree to the licence

The road

From the degree to the licence, in four steps

In regulated professions the road always has the same shape; only the body at the third step changes.

01
Degree
The title from a university, EPAL or SAEK: the qualification the law asks for.
02
Training or exams
Where provided: an internship, a licensing exam, or both.
03
Registration
A chamber, a public-law association, or a state licence. A fee and an annual subscription.
04
Practice
With the licence you sign, prescribe, appear in court. Without it, you do not.

Two worlds

Regulated and free professions

The first question for any degree: do you need a licence to work? The answer splits the professions in two.

Regulated

The law says who may practise. Without a licence, practising is illegal.

Licence: Compulsory, by law
Body: Chamber, association or the state
What counts: The degree and the licence

What it means in detail

For example

Engineer
Doctor
Dentist
Pharmacist
Lawyer
Nurse
Physiotherapist
Psychologist
Social worker
Accountant
Agronomist
Veterinarian
Public-school teacher
Electrician
Plumber
Refrigeration technician

Free

No licence or chamber. The degree is a qualification, not a precondition.

Licence: None
Body: None
What counts: Experience, portfolio, certifications

What it means in detail

For example

Developer
Data analyst
Marketer
Journalist
Designer
Manager
Financial analyst without an accountant's licence
Translator
Tourism executive
Artist
Researcher

The bodies

Who waits after the degree

Scientific chambers

Public-law bodies whose register you must join by law: without it you cannot practise.

ΤΕΕ
Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)
Engineers with 5-year polytechnic diplomas
1. Diploma
2. TEE exams
3. Registration
Who registers
Engineers with 5-year diplomas (Polytechnics, engineering faculties): civil, architects, mechanical, electrical, chemical, surveying, naval, mining and others. The 13 core specialties are set in PD 99/2018.
The road
Diploma → professional licence exams (TEE holds them three times a year, oral) → registration with TEE. Without the licence you cannot sign designs.
Cost
Exam and registration fees, annual subscription (reduced in the first years).
The 4-year engineering departments of the universities that came out of the TEI do not register with TEE; their rights are set per specialty and in several cases are still pending.
See the departments Website
ΓΕΩΤΕΕ
Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE)
Agronomists, foresters, vets, geologists, ichthyologists
1. Degree
2. Registration and licence
Who registers
Agronomists, foresters, veterinarians, geologists, ichthyologists — graduates of the corresponding 5-year departments.
The road
Degree → registration with GEOTEE, which also issues the professional licence. No exams.
Cost
Registration fee, annual subscription.
Veterinarians also register compulsorily with their local Veterinary Association.
See the departments Website
ΟΕΕ
Economic Chamber of Greece (OEE)
Economists and tax accountants
1. Degree
2. Registration
3. Accountant ID
Who registers
Graduates of economics departments (Economics, Accounting & Finance, Business Administration and related) who want to practise as economists or as accountants-tax consultants.
The road
Degree → registration with OEE, no exams. The accountant-tax consultant professional identity (class A or B) is issued by OEE according to degree and experience, renewed yearly.
Cost
Registration fee, annual subscription, accountant identity fee.
Working in a company as an economist needs no registration; signing as an accountant or practising freelance as an economist does.
See the departments Website

Professional associations

Health and law professions: the licence first, then compulsory registration with the local association.

Medical Associations (PIS)
Doctors
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. Registration
4. Rural service
5. Specialty
Who registers
Medicine graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region (gov.gr) → registration with the local Medical Association → rural service (about 12 months) → specialty of 4–7 years with exams for the title. The Panhellenic Medical Association coordinates the local ones.
Cost
Licence and registration fees, annual association subscription.
A specialty is not required to work as a doctor, but without it the NHS does not hire you as a specialist.
See the departments Website
Dental Associations (EOO)
Dentists
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. Registration
Who registers
Dentistry graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region → registration with the local Dental Association. Specialties (orthodontics, oral surgery) are optional, 3 years.
Cost
Fees, annual subscription.
See the departments Website
Pharmaceutical Associations (PFS)
Pharmacists
1. Degree
2. 12-month traineeship
3. Exams
4. Registration
Who registers
Pharmacy graduates.
The road
Degree → 12-month traineeship in a pharmacy or hospital → professional licence exams → registration with the Pharmaceutical Association. Opening a pharmacy needs a separate establishment licence.
Cost
Exam and licence fees, annual subscription.
See the departments Website
Bar Associations
Lawyers
1. Degree
2. 18-month traineeship
3. Bar exam
4. Registration
Who registers
Law graduates.
The road
Degree → registration as a trainee → 18-month traineeship with a lawyer, court or legal department → national bar exam (twice a year) → registration with the Bar Association. Lawyers' Code, law 4194/2013.
Cost
Exam fee, registration contribution, annual contribution.
A law degree also opens roads without a licence: in-house counsel, public sector, and notary or judge through separate competitions.
See the departments Website
ΕΝΕ
Hellenic Nurses' Association (ENE)
Nurses
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. ENE registration
Who registers
Nursing graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region → registration with ENE (public-law body, compulsory, law 3252/2004) → annual renewal. Nursing specialties with 1–2 years of training in the NHS.
Cost
Licence fee, ENE registration and annual subscription.
See the departments Website
Midwives' Associations
Midwives
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
3. Registration
Who registers
Midwifery graduates.
The road
Degree → practice licence from the Region → registration with the local Midwives' Association.
Cost
Licence fee, association subscription.
Website
ΠΣΦ
Panhellenic Physiotherapists' Association (PSF)
Physiotherapists
1. Degree
2. Regional certificate
3. PSF registration
Who registers
Physiotherapy graduates.
The road
Degree → practice certificate from the Region → registration with PSF (public-law body, compulsory, law 3599/2007).
Cost
Fee, registration and annual subscription.
Website
ΣΚΛΕ
Hellenic Association of Social Workers (SKLE)
Social workers
1. Degree
2. Regional certificate
3. SKLE registration
Who registers
Social Work graduates.
The road
Degree → practice certificate from the Region → registration with SKLE (public-law body, compulsory, law 4488/2017).
Cost
Fee, registration and annual subscription.
Website

A licence from the state

Where there is no chamber or association, the licence or the appointment comes from the region, the ministry or ΑΣΕΠ.

Psychologist's licence
Psychologists from 4-year psychology departments
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
Who registers
Graduates of 4-year Psychology departments. A Philosophy-Education-Psychology degree is not enough.
The road
Degree → psychologist's practice licence from the Region (law 991/1979, as in force). There is no compulsory chamber; psychologists' associations are voluntary. There is no state licence for psychotherapy yet.
Cost
Licence fee.
See the departments Website
Teachers: ASEP and pedagogical competence
Anyone who wants to teach in a state school
1. Degree
2. Teaching competence
3. ASEP
4. Appointment
Who registers
Anyone who wants to teach in a public school: graduates of Education, Philology, Mathematics, Physics, Foreign Languages, Physical Education and every other teaching department.
The road
Degree + certified pedagogical competence (law 4589/2019: granted by the department itself, by ASPETE's EPPAIK programme, or by a master's) → ASEP competition or rankings → appointment or substitute work. Private schools need no ASEP, but do need the competence.
Cost
ASEP fee.
Education departments and the Philosophy/Philology schools grant the competence with the degree; the others usually do not.
See the departments Website
ΥΝΑΝΠ
Ministry of Maritime Affairs (YNANP)
Merchant navy captains and engineers
1. AEN diploma
2. Class C diploma
3. Class B and A
Who registers
Merchant Marine Academy (AEN) graduates, deck and engine officers.
The road
AEN diploma, with the training voyages inside the studies → 3rd-class Master's or Engineer's certificate from YNANP → promotion to 2nd and 1st class with sea service and exams.
Cost
Certificate fees.
See the departments Website
Licence from the Region
Speech therapists, occupational therapists, dietitians and others
1. Degree
2. Regional licence
Who registers
The health professions without a chamber of their own: speech therapists, occupational therapists, health visitors, dietitians, medical laboratory technologists, radiographers, opticians.
The road
Degree → practice certificate or licence from the Region's Public Health directorate, online through gov.gr. Where a public-law association exists (e.g. occupational therapists, dietitians), registration follows.
Cost
Fee, usually a few tens of euros.
Website

Terms, fees and deadlines change with new ministerial decisions. Before you act, confirm on the body's website or on gov.gr.

How to read the rights

The same system at four levels

Level6–7

University degree

Set in a Presidential Decree or in each department's founding law.

Level4

EPAL degree

Licences per technical trade, in steps that each need work experience.

Level5

SAEK diploma

EOPPEP certification, then the EPAL licences with less experience.

Certification first: EOPPEP exams after the training ends. The Vocational Specialty Diploma then gives the same licences as EPAL with less experience required, and earns points at ASEP (category DE).

Public sector and Europe

PE, TE, DE, YE categories at ASEP; seven professions are recognised automatically across the EU.

Frequently asked

Before you choose

The guides

See the other two

PathwaysEvery road from the Gymnasio to an occupation, on one map.Levels of studyThe eight EQF levels: what each opens and how ASEP sees it.

See the rights of the department you care about

On every department, EPAL and SAEK specialty page, the “Pathways” tab and the Rights section say what follows the degree.

Open the catalog

Professional rightsfrom the degree to the licence

From the degree to the licence, in four steps

Degree

Training or exams

Registration

Practice

Regulated and free professions

Regulated

Free

Who waits after the degree

Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)

Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE)

Economic Chamber of Greece (OEE)

Medical Associations (PIS)

Dental Associations (EOO)

Pharmaceutical Associations (PFS)

Bar Associations

Hellenic Nurses' Association (ENE)

Midwives' Associations

Panhellenic Physiotherapists' Association (PSF)

Hellenic Association of Social Workers (SKLE)

Psychologist's licence

Teachers: ASEP and pedagogical competence

Ministry of Maritime Affairs (YNANP)

Licence from the Region

The same system at four levels

University degree

EPAL degree

SAEK diploma

Public sector and Europe

Before you choose

Is chamber registration compulsory?

Does a master's grant professional rights?

A college or foreign university degree?

How much does it cost in total?

See the other two

See the rights of the department you care about

Professional rightsfrom the degree to the licence

From the degree to the licence, in four steps

Degree

Training or exams

Registration

Practice

Regulated and free professions

Regulated

Free

Who waits after the degree

Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE)

Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE)

Economic Chamber of Greece (OEE)

Medical Associations (PIS)

Dental Associations (EOO)

Pharmaceutical Associations (PFS)

Bar Associations

Hellenic Nurses' Association (ENE)

Midwives' Associations

Panhellenic Physiotherapists' Association (PSF)

Hellenic Association of Social Workers (SKLE)

Psychologist's licence

Teachers: ASEP and pedagogical competence

Ministry of Maritime Affairs (YNANP)

Licence from the Region

The same system at four levels

University degree

EPAL degree

SAEK diploma

Public sector and Europe

Before you choose

Is chamber registration compulsory?

Does a master's grant professional rights?

A college or foreign university degree?

How much does it cost in total?

See the other two

See the rights of the department you care about