Information in English
On 2nd of March 2011 the Swedish Government decided that teacher certification will be introduced in Sweden. This means that anyone wishing to obtain a permanent employment as a teacher or preschool teacher within the Swedish school system has to be registered as a certified teacher.
When can I start applying for a certificate?
Teachers and preschool teachers may apply for registration as a certified teacher to the National Agency for Education as from 1st of August 2011.
How do I apply?
Teachers and preschool teachers with a diploma from another country than Sweden need to apply through filling out an application form, which can be found here:
and send it together with the required documents and certificates to:
Skolverket
Box 3023
169 03 Solna
What is required?
In order to apply for a certificate as a teacher or preschool teacher in Sweden, you must have:
1. A diploma of Education (Lärarexamen) awarded by a university or other institution of higher education in Sweden or
- A Qualified Teacher Status Certificate (Behörighetsbevis) issued by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education (Högskoleverket) or
- A diploma of Education from a country other than Sweden that qualifies the holder to work as a teacher or preschool teacher in the country of education.
2. Adequate proficiency in the Swedish language. Your proficiency in Swedish must meet the requirements equivalent of an upper secondary (high school) course in Swedish.
3. A certification of employment from a school or preschool where you have or have had an employment. The certification/certifications must show that you have worked, or worked the equivalent of, full-time for at least one year in one or several positions as a teacher or preschool teacher.
An example of a certification of employment can be found here:
The National Agency for Education may reach the decision that you will need to supplement your foreign education with e.g. an adjustment period or further studies in Sweden before you are eligible for a Teacher’s certificate.
Which documents need to be submitted to an application?
1. Certificate of proficiency in Swedish
If you have a different first language than Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic or Faroese you must submit a certificate showing:
- A passing grade in a course in Swedish For Non-Nordic Students organised by a university or other institution of higher education in Sweden. The course should qualify for taking Swedish university courses in Sweden.
- That you have passed the Test In Swedish for University Studies (TISUS).
- A passing grade in a course equivalent of Swedish stage 3 or Swedish as a Second Language stage 3 (Swedish B or Swedish as a Second Language B), with the same requirements as in Swedish upper secondary school.
2. Diplomas, transcripts and qualifications
- A Diploma of Education as teacher of preschool teacher
- A study certificate that shows the same information as the diploma and is issued by the institution of education.
- A Qualified Teacher Status Certificate issued by the National Agency for Higher Education
3. Official certificate of recognition as teacher
If the diploma does not state which subjects and years (forms) you are qualified to teach in you will need to submit a certificate of recognition issued by the relevant authority in the country of education. The certificate shall state the subjects and years that the diploma qualifies the holder to teach in the country of education.
4. Certification of employment
You need to submit a certification of employment, showing that you have worked full-time for at least one year, or the equivalent of this (for example half time for two years), in one or several employments as a teacher or preschool teacher.
5. Birth certificate or similar
- If you are a Swedish citizen or have a residence permit in Sweden you need to submit a birth certificate from the National Tax Board (Skatteverket). If you have made any name changes they should be detailed on the certificate.
- If you are a citizen of another country within the EU/EEA you need to submit testified copies of your passport or birth certificate issued by the relevant authority in your country.
- If you are applying for a residence permit in Sweden you need to submit a testified copy of the application for residence.
6. Translations
All the documents and certificates you submit shall be testified copies of the original and in their original language. If they are in another language than Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Finnish, Faroese, Meänkieli, Saami or English you also need to submit translations to Swedish or English. The translations should be done by an authorised translator or in a professional way.
The cost
- If you have a Qualified Teacher Status Certificate from the National Agency for Higher Education or a Diploma of Education dated before the 1st of July 2011 you do not pay a fee for the application.
- If you do not have a Qualified Teacher Status Certificate and you Diploma of Education is dated after the 1st of July 2011, the fee for the application is 1500 SEK.
- If you have received your teacher’s certificate and have reached new qualifications through further studies, an application for extending your qualifications on the certificate costs 750 SEK
- An application to be a school or preschool appointed lecturer (lektor) costs 750 SEK
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