Announcement of Practicing the Profession of Occupational Therapist
Application - solemn declaration for the issuance of a certificate to practise as an occupational therapist
Application / solemn declaration of the applicant (Article 8 of Law 1599/1986) on: ‘notification of commencement of practice as an occupational therapist.
Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
The applicant must hold a degree: the former Schools of Occupational Therapy of KATEE or the Departments of Occupational Therapy of the Schools of Health and Welfare Sciences of Technological Educational Institutions (TEI) or Schools or Departments of Occupational Therapy of higher education institutions (HEI) or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad.
If the applicant has no convictions, they shall solemnly declare that they have not been convicted of any criminal offence or of any act relating to the practice of their profession. If the applicant has no convictions, they shall solemnly declare that they have been convicted of the criminal offences that they shall indicate.
If the applicant is a national of an EU Member State and has obtained his or her professional qualifications in another Member State, either as a self-employed person or as a salaried employee, he or she must also submit a decision recognising professional equivalence or professional qualifications from the Independent Department for the Implementation of European Legislation (ATEEN).
Conditions for non-commission of criminal offenses
The procedure concerns the notification of commencement of practice as an occupational therapist by the Public Health Directorates of the Regional Units and is addressed to natural persons.
License to pursue the occupation of health professional
Specifically for the territory of the Cyclades, there is an additional compensatory fee of EUR 14.67, to be collected by operating decentralised services in the Regional Units of Andros, Thira, Kea-Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros and Tinos, and paid into the following bank account: Piraeus Bank – IBAN: GR3601727100005710052440659. The competent authority for information is the Cyclades Public Health Department.
A copy of a degree obtained abroad and a decision of equivalence of the degree issued by the Independent Department for the Implementation of European Legislation (ATEEN) of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs
A copy of a degree from a higher education institution (HEI) or a technical education institution (TEI) in Greece.
A copy of a degree obtained abroad, as well as a certificate of equivalence of the degree issued by the competent recognition bodies of DOATAP or ITE.
A certificate of registration with the Panhellenic Association of Occupational Therapists.
Proof of payment of the EUR 8.00 stamp duty
A photocopy of your identity card or any other form of identification
An EU citizen registration certificate and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A permanent residence permit / European citizen card a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
An identity card for expatriates and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A residence permit for expatriates and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A certificate of submission of an application to renew a residence permit and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A permanent residence card for family members of a Greek national and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A residence card for family members of a Greek national and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A personal residence permit for third-country nationals Articles 82, 83, 84, 85 and 87 of Law 4251/2014 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 80) and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A long-term residence permit for third-country nationals Articles 88, 97, 106 of Law 4251/2014 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 80) and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A second-generation residence permit and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A residence permit for nationals with high qualifications – EU Blue Card and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
A 10-year residence permit and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
Residence permit and certificate of family status, from which the conclusion of a civil partnership with a Greek national is evidenced (Article 12 of Law 4356/2015 (A ́181) and Article 3 of Law 4443/2016 (A ́232)) and a Certificate of proficiency in the Greek language at level B2 issued by the Centre for the Greek Language of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, or by the School of Modern Greek Language of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, as provided for in Article 9 of Law 4027/2011 (Government Gazette Series I, No 233).
Public documents from abroad, such as qualifications, must be submitted in translation, if they bear a Hague stamp (Apostille), when originating from an Authority of a country that is party to the Hague Convention, ratified by Law 1497/1984 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 188), and in all other cases, if they bear an attestation by the Greek Consular Authority of the country of origin of the document or by the Consular Authority of that country in Greece, and subsequently by the Validation Department of the CFSP of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the corresponding Office of Validations at the International Relations Service (IRS) of Thessaloniki (to validate the signature of the accredited officials of the foreign Diplomatic and Consular Authorities in Greece). The Apostille of the Hague Stamp is made on the original document and is preceded by its translation.
In accordance with Article 21 of Law 5173/2025 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 11), persons who have submitted an application for registration together with the required supporting documents to professional bodies established as legal entities governed by public law and supervised by the Ministry of Health, and who hold a decision recognising professional qualifications or professional equivalence issued by the Autonomous Department for the Application of European Legislation of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, shall be deemed to have been registered with the relevant professional body, provided that the thirty (30) day time limit laid down in Article 4(1) and (3) of Presidential Decree 38/2010 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 78), within which the relevant professional body is obliged to carry out the registration, has expired without action. In the cases referred to in the first subparagraph, the applicants may apply for and obtain a relevant registration certificate from the professional body concerned. 2. In the cases referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, the competent department of the locally competent region shall issue a certificate of authorisation to practise the profession and communicate a copy thereof to the relevant professional body, provided that the applicant submits: a) the reference number and the date of submission of the application submitted to the relevant professional body, indicating the expiry of the deadline referred to in paragraph 1; and b) the decision on the recognition of professional qualifications or professional equivalence. 3. The applicant shall legally practise their profession after being granted the relevant certificate of professional practice issued in accordance with the procedure set out herein.
Proof of payment must be provided in accordance with the relevant provisions, as in force Circ. No 1163/03-07-2013 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 1675), Circ. No 1150/15-05-2014 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 1357) and Circ. No 1131/24-06-2015 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 1324). The option to pay the total amount remotely to a bank account is available. The applicant’s full name must be indicated on the proof of payment. If a request is submitted electronically, the proof of payment must be submitted in digitised form. In the context of the digitalisation of the procedures of the services of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR), in accordance with the relevant circular (Online Publication Number: ΨΕΟΞ46ΜΠ3Ζ-Μ9Γ), fees are now issued via the e-Paravolo digital application. Their issuance is subject to their payment. From 10/7/2023 onwards, fees are paid digitally exclusively via the e-Paravolo application and are not paid in person at Tax Offices.
The search for the copy of the ID card shall be carried out exclusively by the competent officials of the case-handling bodies through the use of the ‘Digital copy of identity card’ electronic service that is located at: https://id-copy.services.gov.gr/. In case the interested party is of foreign origin and citizenship, they must submit a residence permit and a work permit. In case the interested party is an expatriate from Turkey or Cyprus, they must submit an identity card. In case the interested party is an expatriate from Albania, they must submit a Special Identity Card for Expatriates (E.D.O.T.).
In the absence of a copy of a criminal record, an equivalent document issued by a competent judicial or administrative authority in the country of origin or provenance must be submitted, demonstrating that the relevant requirements have been met. Where no such a document is issued in the country of origin or provenance, it may be replaced by a sworn statement; or, in countries where there is no provision for such a sworn statement, it may be replaced by a solemn declaration submitted by the person concerned to the competent judicial or administrative authority or, as appropriate, to a notary in their country of origin or provenance, who will issue a certificate of submission of the sworn statement or solemn declaration. Any documents issued as per the above may not be submitted more than three months after the date on which they were issued.
Certificate of submission of an application to renew a residence permit in accordance with Article 9 of Law 4251/2014 or Article 11 of Law 5038/2023 (Articles 81-85 and 87, 88, 89, 91, 97, 106, 108, 114, 120, and 138 of Law 4251/2014, Government Gazette, Series I, No 80, or Articles 34, 37, 42, 93, 143, 146, 152, 161, 167, 168, and 169 of Law 5038/2023, Government Gazette Series I, No 81).
Where a certificate of family status is required, in accordance with Ministerial Decision No 21661/22-04-2025 (Online Publication Number: 98Υ145ΜΤΛ6-Θ0Γ) of the Ministry of the Interior, entitled ‘Abolition of the issuance of birth certificates and certificates of family status in the course of administrative procedures’, the obligation of the citizen to submit such certificate is abolished. Public authorities processing administrative procedures are required to retrieve it ex officio and obtain it electronically in real time.
Notification of commencement of practice as an occupational therapist
Public Health Directorates of the Regional Units
Establishment of the Panhellenic Association of Occupational Therapists.
Professional rights of graduates of the departments of: (a) Aesthetics; (b) Dental Technology; (c) Occupational Therapy; (d) Public Health; (e) Optics of the Faculty of Health and Welfare Professions of Technological Educational Institutions (TEI).
On the simplification of procedures within the power of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, and their inclusion in the Citizens’ Service Centres (KEP) operating as single points of contact (SPC) This Decision was supplemented by Joint Ministerial Decision G5B/G.P.oik.14015/2020 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 822), and Joint Ministerial Decision DIADP/A1/13310/2002 was amended. – Correction of an error in Joint Ministerial Decision G5Β/G.P.oik. 14015/2020 (Government Gazette, Series II, No 1379).
Laying down the administrative procedures and the respective forms, which are also processed through Citizens’ Service Centres (KEP).
With regard to the provisions of Law 3919/2011 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 32), as amended by Article 4(16) of Law 4038/2012 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 14).
On the reform of the National Trauma System – harmonisation of the institutional framework of the National Organisation for Medicines with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161 of 2 October 2015, ‘supplementing Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down detailed rules on the safety features appearing on the packaging of medicinal products for human use’, and other provisions.
Amendment and replacement of Article 1 of joint ministerial decision under the reference Υ7α/Γ.Π. our ref. 46217/4-5-2012 ‘Simplification of procedures within the power of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, and their inclusion in the Citizens’ Service Centres (CSCs) operating as Single Points of Contact (SPC).’ (Government Gazette, Series II, No 1502
Within three (3) months from the notification of practising the profession, the Service may prohibit practise of the profession if the requisite legal conditions are not met or if the information submitted fails to show that they have been met. After expiry of the aforementioned deadline, it will be presumed that the profession may be freely practised Article 3 of Law 3919/2011 (Government Gazette, Issue I, No 32). In the event of tacit approval as described above, the applicant may request the issuance of the relevant certificate from the Administrative Authority competent for issuing the deed, in accordance with Article 10(4) of Law 3230/2004 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 44).
In the event of a negative response, the applicant has the right to an application for review or an administrative appeal in accordance with Article 24 of Law 2690/1999 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 45). More specifically, applicants may request that the administrative authority that issued the act revoke or amend it (application for review), or that the authority having jurisdiction over the authority that issued the act annul it (administrative appeal). The administrative authority to which the relevant application is submitted must notify the applicant of its decision on the application no later than within thirty (30) days, unless a different deadline is set under specific provisions.
The Application / Solemn Declaration is received together with the necessary supporting documents / forms by the Registry of the Region or by the Citizen Service Centres / Points of Single Contact (CSC-SPC).
The File (containing the application and supporting documents) shall be forwarded by an Official of the Registry Department or the CSC-SPC to the Head of the Health Directorate concerned.
The Head of the Directorate shall assess which department the file should be forwarded to and shall forward it to the Public Health / Health Services and Professions Department.
The official of the Health / Health Services and Professions Department shall check the supporting document file as to whether the supporting documents are correct, they shall search for the criminal record of the applicant using the ex officio procedure, and they shall seek, as appropriate, confirmation from the higher education institutions of the applicants degree. The official of the Department shall inform the applicant if any of the supporting documents are incorrect, the applicant shall be informed and shall provide the correct supporting document / form.
The Department official forwards their recommendation on whether the legal requirements are met for practising the profession and the supporting document file through the hierarchy, up to the level of the governor of the region.
The official of the Health / Health Services and Professions Department or of the CSC-SPC shall inform the applicant that the Certificate is available for receipt.
The Director signs the negative response
Within three (3) months from the notification of practising the profession, the Service may prohibit practise of the profession if the requisite legal conditions are not met or if the information submitted fails to show that they have been met.
The official of the Department shall inform the applicant if any of the supporting documents are incorrect, the applicant shall be informed and shall provide the correct supporting document / form.
If a period of three (3) months elapses from the notification of practising the profession and the Service has not issued a certificate to the applicant, the profession shall be presumed to be freely practised (Article 3 of Law 3919/2011 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 32). In the event of tacit approval as described above, the applicant may request the issuance of the relevant certificate from the Administrative Authority competent for issuing the deed, in accordance with Article 10(4) of Law 3230/2004 (Government Gazette, Series I, No 44).
Receipt and registration of an application
Forwarding of the application to the competent Directorate of the Region
Assigning the application to an official
Checking whether supporting documents are correct and searching for supporting documents
Signing of a draft certificate and registration of the outgoing document
Signing of a draft rejection and registration of the outgoing document
Issuance of a rejection by the Director to the applicant