What is the difference between convalidating, revalidating and obtaining recognition in Chile for an overseas professional qualification or academic degree?

The University of Chile is the only institution authorized to convalidate, revalidate and recognize overseas academic degrees and professional qualifications, except when there is an international treaty on the matter between Chile and the state where the degree or qualification was obtained.

Convalidation consists in the determination that the curricular activities undertaken in an overseas higher education institution are equivalent to the corresponding activities in the University of Chile. This serves to establish the level of the studies undertaken by an applicant for revalidation.

Revalidation consists in certification that an overseas professional qualification or academic degree is equivalent to the corresponding qualification as awarded by the University of Chile or other Chilean higher education institutions. Revalidation of an overseas professional qualification is necessary when the corresponding Chilean qualification is required for the exercise of the profession in Chile.

Recognition accredits that the studies undertaken by the person in order to obtain the professional qualification or academic degree correspond to courses taught by overseas universities or equivalent institutions. Recognition can only be requested when the qualification or academic degree corresponds to a higher professional qualification or academic degree in the country of origin and when the qualification is not an essential requirement for the exercise of the profession in Chile.

Overseas academic degrees denominated differently from their official names in Chile will only be recognized if they are of the same level and can be assimilated, depending on the case, to an undergraduate degree, master’s degree or Ph.D.

Recognition of professional qualifications and academic degrees obtained in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Uruguay and Spain (only for Chileans) can also be obtained from the Chilean Foreign Ministry. In this case, interested parties should go to the Títulos (Qualifications) section of the Consular Legal Department. For further information, see http://bit.ly/2h7PvdF.

Exceptionally, recognition of professional qualifications and academic degrees obtained in Argentina can be obtained through a procedure before the Chilean Education Ministry. For further information, see http://bit.ly/2nwxdH8.

Details about the information and documents required and the cost of the process can be found at http://bit.ly/2hosdy6.

What are the steps for convalidating, revalidating and obtaining recognition for a professional qualification or academic degree in Chile?

As a general rule, overseas academic degrees and professional qualifications must be convalidated, revalidated and recognized by the University of Chile. For further details, see http://bit.ly/2hosdy6.

In those cases where there is an international treaty on the matter between Chile and the state where the degree or qualification was obtained, recognition can be obtained from the Chilean Foreign Ministry. In this case, interested parties should go to the Títulos (Qualifications) section of the Consular Legal Department. For further information, see http://bit.ly/2h7PvdF.

Exceptionally, recognition of professional qualifications and academic degrees obtained in Argentina can be obtained through a procedure before the Chilean Education Ministry. For further information, see http://bit.ly/2nwxdH8.

Are there professions on whose exercise restrictions exist in Chile?

When the corresponding qualification is essential in order to exercise the profession in Chile, the overseas qualification or degree must be validated by the University of Chile. For the exercise of some professions, it is also necessary to sit an exam. For further information, see Law N° 20.261 on the Creation of a Single National Exam of Medical Knowledge and, for practicing law, the following link: http://bit.ly/2h7xegP.