If you have been a farrier for 6 years in another EU country you are entitled to register in the UK without the need to take an exam.
Each Member State is free to regulate the profession of farrier on its territory, provided that the national regulation complies with Community law and especially with the free provision of services and the freedom of establishment. As far as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications is concerned, the profession of farrier is covered by Directive 1999/42/EC of 7 June 1999 (included in Group 35 "Manufacture of metal products", sub-group 351 "Forging, heavy stamping and heavy pressing", Annex A, part one, List I).
According to this Directive, Member States which regulate the profession shall accept as sufficient evidence of commercial or professional knowledge and ability the fact that the activity in question has been pursued in another Member State for at least 6 consecutive years in either a self-employed capacity or as a manager of an undertaking. This duration may be reduced with regard to the previous training received by the applicant or to his previous professional experience in an employed capacity. The mutual recognition of professional qualifications provided for by this Article thus concerns the only the professional experience acquired in the home Member State and not the credentials held by the migrant.
The competent authorities of a Member State may not deny you access to the profession of farrier for lack of qualification. The recognition of your professional experience acquired in your Member State of origin gives you the right to carry out the profession on a stable basis in the host Member State under the same conditions as the nationals of this country, provided that these conditions respect the EC principles of non-discrimination and proportionality. This means that you may not be requested to pass an additional examination, but you will have to register as a farrier if this is also required of the nationals of the host Member State. In the same way, the migrant will also undergo the same Disciplinary Proceedings as a professional who has acquired his qualifications in the host Member State.
If you have been a farrier in another EU country for less than six years you may be required to undertake training and take the Diploma exam.
Nevertheless, once the Directive has been completely transposed by all Member States (not later than 31 July 2001), Article 3 of the Directive will also enter into force. Accordingly, migrants who do not fulfil the requirements of Article 4 as to their professional experience will then have the opportunity to ask for professional recognition of their diplomas, certificates or other evidence of their formal qualifications. However, according to Article 3 of the Directive, the host Member State will be allowed to require so called compensation measures on behalf the applicant, if there appear to be substantial differences between the matters covered by the education he has received and those covered by the national diploma.
The FRC tried but failed in 2000 to transfer farriery into Directive 92/51 where EU migrants with a certificate could be asked to serve a period of training or take the DWCF, though not both. (FRC minutes 20/10/00, 23/02/01).
Directive 99/42 was implemented by Statutory Instrument 2002/1597, the text of which can be viewed at:
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2002/20021597.htm
If you require additional information about the instrument you should contact
the department for Trade and Industry on 020 7215 5000.
European Farrier Association (EFFA) EU website Europe Open for Professions (about recognition of your qualifications in Europe)
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