Which professions are covered by protected titles in Sweden?
There are many protected titles in Sweden, particularly within healthcare, law and other specialist fields.
Pharmacists, occupational therapists, audiologists, midwives, biomedical scientists, dietitians, physiotherapists, healthcare counsellors, chiropractors, speech and language therapists, doctors, naprapaths, opticians, orthopaedic engineers, psychologists, psychotherapists, dispensing pharmacists, radiographers, medical physicists, nurses, dental hygienists, dentists and veterinarians.
Within the legal and financial sectors in Sweden, most professional titles are not protected, meaning that in practice anyone can call themselves, for example, a lawyer or an economist. However, there are some important exceptions where the title is regulated by law and requires specific qualifications.
The title advokat (advocate) is one such protected title and may only be used by members of the Swedish Bar Association. Within auditing, authorised public accountant is a protected title that requires approval from the Swedish Inspectorate of Auditors. Real estate agent is also a protected title and requires registration with the Swedish Estate Agents Inspectorate. For those working in intellectual property, the title patent attorney is protected and requires registration with the Swedish Intellectual Property Office.
There are also related roles where the title itself is not protected, but certain functions are still strictly regulated. For example, judge is not a protected professional title in the traditional sense, but rather a public office held only by individuals formally appointed to serve in Swedish courts.
Most trade professions in Sweden do not have protected job titles, but there are areas where the work itself is regulated and requires specific authorisation or certification:
- Electrical installation: Electrical installer is a protected title that requires authorisation from the Swedish National Electrical Safety Board to carry out certain types of electrical work.
- Plumbing and wet rooms: There are no protected titles, but certifications such as Säker Vatten and industry rules from the Swedish Ceramic Tile Council (BBV) are often required, particularly for insurance purposes.
- Cooling and heat pumps: Work involving refrigerants requires certification in accordance with the F-gas regulation.
- Ventilation (OVK): Carrying out mandatory ventilation inspections requires certification as an authorised inspector.
- Fire and safety systems: Installation of systems such as fire alarms and suppression systems may require specific certifications depending on the assignment.
- Gas installations: Working with gas requires specialised training and certification in line with industry requirements.
Within the transport sector, there are several roles that require specific permits, certificates or licences in order to work, even if the job title itself is not always protected by law.
- Pilot: Requires a licence (pilot licence) issued in accordance with international and national regulations.
- Train driver: Requires formal training and a licence in line with the requirements set by the Swedish Transport Agency.
- Maritime officers (e.g. captain/master): Require certification and qualifications to serve on board vessels.
- Professional drivers (lorry and bus): Require the appropriate driving licence as well as a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
Within the education sector, there are protected titles linked to professional registration, as well as several common titles that are not regulated by law.
- Registered teacher: A protected title that requires certification from the Swedish National Agency for Education. Certification is required for permanent employment and to assign grades.
- Registered preschool teacher: A protected title that requires certification to be responsible for teaching in preschool settings.
- Teacher and educator: These titles are not protected, meaning that unqualified staff may still be employed and use these titles.
The list changes over time, and new professions may be added. A recent example is assistant nurse, which became a protected title in Sweden in 2023. For employers, it is therefore important to stay up to date with the regulations that apply to the roles you are recruiting for.
What are protected titles?
Protected titles are professional titles regulated by law. This means that only individuals who meet specific requirements may use the title. The requirements may relate to education, licensing, practical experience or other qualifications.
Protected professional titles are mainly found in areas where a lack of the right competence can lead to serious consequences – for example in healthcare, law and finance.
What does it mean to be a licensed professional?
The term “licensed professional” is often used in the same context as protected titles, but it is not exactly the same thing.
Being a licensed professional means that a person has been granted a licence by a public authority, such as the National Board of Health and Welfare. The licence serves as formal proof that the individual meets the requirements to practise the profession.
It also means that the person is subject to supervision by an authority and may face disciplinary action or have their licence revoked if something goes wrong. In other words, a licence is both a mark of quality and a personal responsibility.
Licensed professions are particularly common within healthcare. As the work directly affects people’s lives and health, high standards are required of those working in these professions. For you as an employer, this means that you not only should, but must, ensure that a candidate’s licence is valid before hiring.
The difference between protected titles and licensed professions
It is easy to confuse these two concepts, but there is an important difference.
Protected titles mean that the title itself is regulated. You may not call yourself, for example, a “psychologist” without the correct qualifications.
Licensed professions are a subgroup where a state-issued licence is also required in order to practise the profession. All licensed professions have protected titles, but not all protected titles require a licence.
There are also other types of regulated professions, such as those requiring authorisation or certification. These may be industry-led and are not always regulated by law in the same way as protected titles.
When recruiting, you need to understand exactly what requirements apply to the role in question so that you can be sure you are checking the right things.
Why do protected professional titles exist?
Protected professional titles exist to ensure that the right competence is present in professions where the consequences of mistakes can be serious.
They help protect people from incorrect treatment and insufficient knowledge, while also building trust in both professions and organisations. They also clarify responsibilities and authority in roles that require a high level of professionalism.
For you as an employer, this means you can rely on an established system – but also that you need to take responsibility for ensuring it is followed in practice.
What are your responsibilities as an employer?
When recruiting for roles with protected titles, you have a greater responsibility. It is not enough to rely on a candidate’s CV – you need to ensure that the information is accurate.
If you hire someone without the correct qualifications, this can have consequences both legally and for your business. These can range from fines to damage to your organisation’s reputation.
In practice, this means verifying licences and certificates, checking education and degrees, and ensuring that the title may actually be used in Sweden. It is also important to document these checks as part of your recruitment process.
Background checks for a safer recruitment process
GDPR are an effective way to reduce uncertainty in recruitment, particularly when it comes to roles with protected titles. By verifying a candidate’s education, licence and experience, you gain a more reliable basis for decision-making. You reduce the risk of making the wrong hire while ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements.
A good first step is to clearly define the requirements for the role. You can then ensure that all candidates are assessed in the same way.
Working with an external partner such as DISA can make a difference. With extensive experience in background checks and over 200,000 checks carried out globally, DISA helps organisations make more informed recruitment decisions.
By combining specialist expertise with Screening software, checks can be carried out correctly and in accordance with GDPR, while also providing a smooth and professional candidate experience.
With the right processes in place, you can ensure that every recruitment is based on accurate and verified information, while strengthening quality and trust within your organisation.
How background checks work in practice
To work with background checks in a structured way, it is important to understand which checks are relevant, how they are carried out and which regulations apply. With the right knowledge, it becomes easier to create a process that is both efficient and compliant.
Do you need help with background checks?
Contact us to learn how you can build a structured and reliable recruitment process.
Frequently asked questions about protected titles
Using a protected title without meeting the required criteria may be a criminal offence. It can lead to fines or other legal action. For you as an employer, it also poses a risk, as it can affect both your operations and your organisation’s reputation.
No, not all regulated professions have protected titles. Some professions require authorisation or certification in order to be practised, but the title itself may still be used without formal qualifications. That is why it is important to understand what applies to each specific role.
You can often verify licences through the relevant authority, for example the National Board of Health and Welfare for healthcare professions. This is an important part of the recruitment process when hiring for licensed professions.
No, the rules for protected titles vary between countries. A title that is protected in Sweden may not be protected in another country, and vice versa. This makes it especially important to check what applies when recruiting internationally.