European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC (The Recognition of Professional Qualifications) allows Member States to decide on a common set of minimum knowledge, skills and competences that are needed to pursue a given profession through a Common Training Framework. To be adopted the framework must combine the knowledge, skills and competences of at least one third of the Member States. Professionals who have gained their qualifications under a Common Training Framework will be able to have these recognised automatically within the Union. The backbone of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine's (EFLM) proposed Common Training Framework for non-medical Specialists in Laboratory Medicine is outlined here. It is based on an Equivalence of Standards in education, training, qualifications, knowledge, skills, competences and the professional conduct associated with specialist practice. In proposing the recognition of specialist practice EFLM has identified 15 EU Member States able to meet Equivalence and in whom the profession and/or its training is regulated (an additional EU Commission requirement). The framework supports and contributes to the Directive's enabling goals for increasing professional mobility, safeguarding consumers and ensuring a more equitable distribution of skills and expertise across the Member States. It represents EFLM's position statement and provides a template for professional societies and/or competent authorities to engage with the EU Commission.

Association of Clinical Biochemists in Ireland Dublin Ireland

Bulgarian Society of Clinical Laboratory Sofia Bulgaria

Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine Zagreb Croatia

Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry Prague Czech Republic

Danish Society of Clinical Chemistry Horsens Denmark

Department of Pathology Mater Dei Hospital Valetta Malta

Estonian Society of Laboratory Medicine Tartu Estonia

European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Brussels Milan Belgium Italy

Finnish Society of Clinical Chemistry Helsinki Finland

French Society of Clinical Biology Paris France

German Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Bonn Berlin Germany

Greek Society of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry Athens Greece

Hungarian Society of Laboratory Medicine Debrecen Hungary

Latvian Society of Laboratory Specialists Riga Latvia

Lithuanian Society of Laboratory Medicine Vilnius Lithuania

Luxembourg Society of Clinical Biology Luxembourg Luxembourg

Polish Society for Laboratory Diagnostics Warsaw Poland

Portuguese Society of Clinical Chemistry Genetics and Laboratory Medicine Porto Portugal

Romanian Association of Laboratory Medicine Bucharest Romania

Royal Belgian Society of Laboratory Medicine Brussels Belgium

Slovak Society of Clinical Biochemistry Bratislava Slovakia

Slovenian Association for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Ljublijana Slovenia

Spanish Society for Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology Madrid Spain

Swedish Society for Clinical Chemistry Stockholm Sweden

The Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology Milan Italy

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