Social worker

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Recognition procedure

The practice of certain health professions – professions de santé – is subject, in accordance with the amended law of 26 March 1992 on the exercise and upgrading of certain health professions – loi modifiée du 26 mars 1992 sur l’exercice et la revalorisation de certaines professions de santé –, to an authorisation to practise by the Ministry of Health – ministère de la Santé.

In some cases, the professional recognition of the diploma by the ministry of Research and Higher Eductation – ministère de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement supérieur – is a prerequisite for obtaining the authorisation to practise:

  • holders of a recognised Luxembourgish diploma can turn directly to the Ministry of Health – ministère de la Santé – to apply for the authorisation to practise;
  • holders of a diploma awarded outside Luxembourg are required to apply for professional recognition (also known as the recognition of professional qualifications) by the MESR before applying for authorisation to practise with the Ministry of Health – ministère de la Santé. 

Application for professional recognition

The application for professional recognition must be filed to the MESR along with the following supporting documents:

  • the application form duly completed and signed (for applications submitted by regular mail only);
  • a copy of the evidence of formal qualifications (diploma, certificate, diploma supplement, etc.);*
  • official proof of professional experience, if existing (copy of the employment contract, attestation by the employer, etc.);*
  • official proof of legal establishment or professional recognition in one or more Member States of the European Union, if existing (copy of the authorisation to practise, decision on equivalence, document certifying membership of a professional order, etc.);*
  • a copy of an identity document;
  • a copy of the valid residence permit for Luxembourg (applies to applicants who are not nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of a Member State of the European Economic Area or of the Swiss Confederation);
  • proof of payment of the fee: debit note/bank statement (for applications submitted by regular mail only. Online applications include payment by credit card);
  • if applicable, any other useful document.*

* Documents in the original language must be accompanied by a sworn translation into English, French, German or Luxembourgish, if the original language is different: List of sworn translators, by the Ministry of Justice – ministère de la Justice.

The application can be submitted:

  • online, on Guichet.lu:

    Start the procedure

  • or by regular mail, sending the form together with the supporting documents to the following address:

Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche
18-20, montée de la Pétrusse
L-2327 Luxembourg

The fee of EUR 75 per diploma must be paid, for online applications on Guichet.lu, by credit card when submitting the application. Applications sent by regular mail must contain the debit note/bank statement of the transfer to the following account:

IBAN: LU36 0019 5955 4436 2000
BIC: BCEELULL

Name of beneficiary: Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA
Communication: Taxe reconnaissance des diplômes, MESR, [name of applicant], [date of application].

A decision to refuse recognition does not entitle to a refund of the fee.

Course of procedure

After examination of the application for recognition, the decision is communicated by regular mail:

  • direct recognition
  • decision granting compensatory measures
  • refusal of recognition

Direct recognition

In the case of a direct recognition, the application for the authorisation to practise the profession must be filed to the Ministry of Health – ministère de la Santé.

Decision granting compensatory measures

The decision granting compensatory measures is based on the finding of substantial differences between, on the one hand, the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills acquired by the applicant, and, on the other hand, the professional profile of the profession in question as defined by Luxembourg law.

Professional recognition is therefore conditional on the successful completion of either an aptitude test or an adaptation period, in order to bridge the differences between the applicant’s qualifications and the profession in question in Luxembourg.

The details of the adaptation period and the aptitude test are set out in the letter notifying the decision to impose compensatory measures. The means of appeal are also explained in the above-mentioned letter, but are available under the heading Means of appeal as well.

After obtaining professional recognition following the successful completion of the compensatory measures, the application for the authorisation to practise the profession in question must be filed to the Ministry of Health – ministère de la Santé.

Refusal of recognition

In the event of a decision refusing professional recognition, the means of appeal are explained in the letter notifying the decision, but are also available under the heading Means of appeal.

Aptitude test

The next aptitude test related to the health professions will take place: 

  • 08/02/2025  (deadline for registration 20/01/2025)
  • 14/06/2025  (deadline for registration 26/05/2025)
  • 25/10/2025  (deadline for registration 06/10/2025)

Forum Geesseknäppchen
(multi-purpose hall, ground floor)
40, bd. Pierre Dupong
L-1430 Luxembourg

⚠ Watch out: Since August 2025, only printed paper documents are permitted. The use of multimedia devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, etc.) is strictly prohibited during the exam. This rule does not apply to closed-book exams.

The arrangements for the aptitude test can be found in the Grand Ducal Regulation of 17 February 2017 on the recognition of professional qualifications – règlement grand-ducal du 17 février 2017 relatif à la reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles - (in particular articles 2 and 4 thereof).

Registration for one of the compensatory measures requires the prior payment of the participation fee of EUR 300.

In order to ensure the smooth running of the aptitude test, the registration deadline is 15 working days before the date of the test.  

To register, please send your request to participate by e-mail to rqp@mesr.etat.lu with a clear indication of the profession and proof of payment of the participation fee. Payment of the fee shall be proof of registration for the aptitude test.

In the event that you no longer wish to pursue the recognition of your qualifications, please communicate your decision by e-mail to rqp@mesr.etat.lu.

The participation fee of EUR 300 must be paid by transfer to the following account:

IBAN: LU36 0019 5955 4436 2000
BIC: BCEELULL

Name of beneficiary: Administration de l’enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA
Communication: MESR, reconnaissance profession de santé, inscription épreuve d’aptitude [profession], [name of applicant], [date of application]

Validity of the decision granting compensatory measures

The decision granting compensatory measures related to the profession of social worker is valid for 3 years starting from the date of notification of the decision.

If, at the end of that period, the candidate has neither successfully completed the aptitude test nor the adaptation period (including the submission of the traineeship work), a new application for professional recognition of the qualifications must be submitted to the MESR.

Examined subjects

Module 1 (in French) (Pdf, 193 Kb):

General frameworks for social work in Luxembourg (20 points) 9:00-10:45:

  1. 9:00-9:45: The profession of the social worker (closed book)
  2. Political, social and legal systems (open book)
  3. Organisation of the social sector (open book)

Module 2 (in French) (Pdf, 108 Kb):

Fields of practice of social work in Luxembourg I (20 points, open book) 11:00-12:30:

  1. National Education
  2. Childhood/Youth/Family

Module 3 (in French) (Pdf, 286 Kb):

Fields of practice of social work in Luxembourg II (20 points, open book) 13.30-15.00:

  1. Socio-professional integration
  2. Immigration
  3. Mental health

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Registration
  • Registration for the aptitude test is done by email, by sending proof of payment of the €300 fee (debit advice) and, when applicable, the letter indicating the results obtained in previous sessions to the following address: rqp@mesr.etat.lu.
  • We do not have access to the list of bank transfers received by the Administration de l'enregistrement, des domaines et de la TVA. Without an email from you, with supporting documentation attached, and a written confirmation from our side, the registration will not be considered finalised.
  • The payment instructions are available on our website, under the section “Aptitude Test.”
  • The payment of the €300 fee is required for any registration, even if you are only retaking a single module. This amount is established in Article 14 of the amended law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications.
  • The registration deadline is 15 working days (i.e. 3 calendar weeks) before the date of the aptitude test.

Examined subjects
  • The program of the material to be studied is available for download on our website, under the section “Examined Subjects”. If the hyperlinks do not work, you can search for the legal texts directly on legilux.public.lu.
  • Always make sure to consult the most recent version of the legal texts. On Legilux, this can be found under the section “Modifié par” on the document’s page.
  • For the creation of the exam questions, the applicable legal texts are locked to a specific cut-off date, which will be communicated to you in advance. Any changes made after this date will not be taken into account for the exam.
  • No preparatory course is offered by the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, and no specific publication exists that covers the entire study material.

Organisation of the aptitude test
  • The aptitude test takes place at the following address:

Institute for National Education Training (IFEN) – Auditorium
28, route de Diekirch, L-7220 Walferdange.

  • Parking spaces are available on the IFEN campus.
  • The test is held three times a year, for the professions of social worker and graduated nurse.
  • The questions are presented in French and German (a German version is available on request for graduated nurses).
  • The exam is generally open-book, except for the first part of Module 1 for social worker candidates, which is a closed-book exam.
  • Only printed paper documents are permitted. The use of multimedia devices (laptop, tablet, mobile phone, etc.) is strictly prohibited during the exam. This rule does not apply to closed-book exams.
  • Any unjustified absence (without a medical certificate or other valid proof) is considered a fail of the aptitude test.

Rules applicable after the first attempt
  • Results are communicated exclusively by post.
  • Starting from the date of the ministerial decision (inviting you to take the aptitude test), you have three years and three attempts to successfully pass all the modules.
  • Any module that has been passed will remain valid during this three-year period and does not need to be retaken.
  • After this period or following three unsuccessful attempts, the file will be closed. If you still wish to obtain professional recognition, you must submit a new application and restart the entire process from the beginning, including retaking any modules that were previously passed.