TVETipedia Glossary

Mutual recognition (of qualifications)

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Process of official acknowledgment by one or more countries or organisations of the similarity of value of qualifications (certificates, diplomas or titles) awarded in (or by) one or more other countries or organisations, including the associated rights and duties.

Comment

Mutual recognition can be bilateral (between two countries or organisations) or multilateral (between the countries of the European Union or between companies belonging to the same sector);
the Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications provides for three qualification recognition systems:

automatic recognition for professions whose minimum training conditions are harmonised to a certain extent at European level: doctors, nurses responsible for general care, dentists, veterinary surgeons, midwives, pharmacists and architects;

automatic recognition for certain occupations based on their professional experience: professionals in crafts, trades and industry;
the general system for the abovementioned professions which are not covered by the automatic recognition system is based on the principle of mutual recognition of qualifications;
this directive introduced the principle of partial access to a profession where the activities covered by a regulated profession differ from one country to another.

Source

Cedefop; European Parliament and Council of the European Union, 2005

Source:
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (last accessed 10/2024)
Cedefop, Glossary. Terminology of European education and training policy, (last accessed 10/2024)
Access resource, available in English, French, German
This revised and expanded multilingual glossary defines 430 key terms used in European education and training policy. Building on the Terminology of European education and training policy – A selection of 130 key terms, published in 2014, this latest version, which draws on the experiences of Cedefop’s experts, gives new definitions and covers the latest European Union policy priorities, particularly on skills intelligence and employment.
Terms are provided in 8 languages: German, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese. Definitions are available in English, German and French.

A feature of the Australian Quality Training Framework which allows a registered training organisation (RTO) registered in one State or Territory to operate in another without a further registration process. Qualifications and statements of attainment issued by any RTO are accepted and recognised by all other RTOs.

Source:
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
Access resource, available in English
This glossary is a compilation of Australian vocational education and training (VET) terms and acronyms. It includes both current and historical terms, concepts, acronyms and other abbreviations found in Australian VET research, policy and data.

The recognition by one or more countries of qualifications (certificates or diplomas) awarded in one or more countries or across regions in one country.

Source:
UNESCO-UNEVOC/NCVER, TVET glossary: some key terms, 2009
UNESCO-UNEVOC/NCVER, TVET glossary: some key terms, 2009
Access resource, available in English
This glossary has been published in the "International Handbook of Education for the Changing World of Work" (Vol. 1, chapter 5)
"The glossary aims to reflect the terminology found in the recent literature of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) research, policy and practice internationally. The most common and significant terms (including acronyms) are listed and, in some cases, national and regional variations have been included. To maintain an international perspective, other national and international glossaries and thesauri were consulted in conjunction with current TVET literature from around the world. Where definitions have been written by other organizations, the source of that definition is acknowledged. Unattributed definitions were created in-house at the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). For some terms, where, for example, there are regional differences, more than one meaning has been provided."

Acknowledgement of the status of different but related qualifications.

Source:
SADC, Glossary, 2011
SADC, Glossary, 2011
Access resource, available in English
(Glossary starting p. 26)
Concept Paper and Implementation Plan for the SADC Regional Qualifications Framework (Original document developed by the SADC Technical Committee on Certification and Accreditation in Maseru in 2005. This is an updated and amended version of the original document).