Jack Sargeant MS, Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership
Members of the Senedd will wish to be aware of the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) (Extension to Switzerland and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2024 (“the Wales 2024 Regulations”) I am laying before the Senedd.
In June 2023, the UK and Switzerland signed an Agreement regarding the recognition of professional qualifications between both countries. The Agreement must be implemented by 1 January 2025.
The Wales 2024 Regulations amend the Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Wales) (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1294 (W. 230)) (“the Wales 2023 Regulations”) to extend the application of the Wales 2023 Regulations to the Swiss Confederation and amend the 2023 Wales Regulations for the purpose of, and in connection with, implementing the Swiss Agreement in relation to the Welsh regulators.
All professions regulated by law in Wales or any other part of the UK are in scope of the Agreement, and their regulators will be required to operate the system for recognition of professional qualifications as set out in the Agreement. This includes professions which are regulated at a devolved level, for example education and social care.
The Wales 2024 Regulations also contain provisions to correct minor errors in the Wales 2023 Regulations.