Licensing Requirements for Professionals

Take a career perspective in education planning is especially important for those that are planning to pursue a professional career. Maxway researched about some careers that have licensing requirements before practice to give students a sense about their prospective career paths.

No Legitimate Certification in HK. Overseas Certification is required to work in HK.

Dietitian Actuary

Certification in HK is required to work in HK

Accountant Architect Chiropractor Dentist Engineer Finance Nurse Occupational Therapist
Optometrist Pharmacist Physiotherapist Radiographer Social Worker Teacher

Certification in HK is voluntary only

Speech Therapist Psychologist

No Legitimate Certification in HK. Overseas Certification is required to work in HK.

Dietitian

Hong Kong Dietitians Association

Certification can only be done in US, Canada, England or Australia
Citizenship is not required for certification in Canada and US
Certification Requirement in Canada and US
- Canada
  Obtaining a dietetic or relevant degree and finished practicum program which is accredited by Dietitians of Canada.
  If the degree program is held outside Canada, the candidate has to submit documents for academic assessment.
- US
  Obtaining a dietetic or relevant degree and practicum program which is accredited by American Dietetic Association.
  If the degree program is not in the accredited list or held outside US, the candidate has to submit documents for academic assessment.
  All candidates are required to successfully complete the Registration Examination for Dietitians held by Commission on Dietetic Registration to be eligible for registration

Dietitians of Canada accredited undergraduate programs in dietetic education
American Dietetic Association accredited dietetics education programs

Actuary	Acutarial Society of Hong Kong
No examination curriculum and legitimate certification in Hong Kong. Qualification can only be obtained in US, England or Australia by passing required examinations. Citizenship is not required for certification in US. Complete study in Actuarial undergraduate program can exempt partial papers
Society of Actuaries, USA Requirement for Admission and Actuarial College Listing or Casualty Actuarial Society, USA Requirement for Admission

Certification in HK is required to work in HK

Accountant	Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA)
US AICPA members need to pass the HKICPA Qualification Programme for certification in HK. Canada HKICPA recognizes the member qualification of Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA). CICA application does not require citizenship. CICA holders only need to pass the HKICPA aptitude test in order to be eligible to apply for HKICPA membership.

Architect	Architects Registration Board
Complete a full-time architecture degree program, which is accredited by the government where the university located Accumulate 24 months practical experience after graduation, of which 12 months are gained within Hong Kong Pass the Hong Kong Institute of Architects examination held by Architects Registration Board annually.

Chiropractor	Chiropractors Council
Obtain an accredited chiropractic diploma, certificate, degree or other qualification and submit all valid proofs to the council for assessment.
HKSAR Gazette no. 52 list the accredited chiropractic education

Dentist	The Dental Council of Hong Kong
Overseas graduate has to obtain a full-time dental degree, which program length is not less than 4 years. Pass the Licensing Examination held by the Dental Council
List of Registrable Additional Qualifications by Dental Council of Hong Kong for reference

Engineer	Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
Obtain an accredited honor degree Pass the Graduates Scheme “A” Training by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Finance	Hong Kong Securities Institute
Pass the Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries No academic requirement for applying the examination

Nurse	The Nursing Council of Hong Kong
Age 21 or above Complete minimum 3 years nursing training Holder of Certificate to Practice Nursing, issued by organization accredited by the Council Pass the certification examination held by the Council

Occupational Therapist	Occupational Therapists Board
Obtain the professional qualification accredited by the Supplementary Medical Professions Council Applicant who completes his/her qualification in US has to submit all relevant documents to the Board for assessment
Partial accredited courses announced by the Supplementary Medical Professions Council (pp. 9-12)

Optometrist	Optometrists Board Hong Kong
Holder of Science Diploma, Degree or other relevant qualification which accredited by the Supplementary Medical Professions Council
Partial accredited courses announced by the Supplementary Medical Professions Council (pp.13-16)

Pharmacist	Pharmacy and Poisons Board
Overseas graduate has to pass the written test held by the Board in order to be eligible for certification Written test consists of Pharmacy Legislation in Hong Kong, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacology

Physiotherapist

The Physiotherapists Board

Overseas certification is required prior to certification in Hong Kong
- Canada:
  After completing a physiotherapy related bachelor program, applicant has to register in the province where he/she completes his/her academic qualification.
  Applicant has to obtain Canada citizenship or valid working visa for certification in Canada. And pass the Physiotherapy Competency Examination held by the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators.
- US:
  Citizenship is not required to register in US. Applicant has to complete a master or doctorial program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association in order to be eligible for certification.
Certification in Hong Kong
- Complete a minimum 3-year length full time undergraduate program, of which include 800 supervised clinical hours of physiotherapy practice and is accredited by overseas government or professional organizations.
- Obtain a valid certification issued by overseas government or professional organizations and with a current practicing right in that jurisdiction
- Obtain a recent letter of good standing from the academic institution or the employer or a professional body
- If the academic qualification is not verified by the Board, applicant has to pass the certification examination held by the board.

Accreditation Council for Canadian Physiotherapy Academic Programs List
American Physical Therapy Association accredited Master and Doctorial Program List

Radiographer	The Radiographers Board
Completion of relevant science degree, diploma or other qualifications and submit to the Supplementary Medical Professions Council for assessment Pass the certification examination held by the board will be eligible for certification as part III radiographer.

Social Worker	Social Workers Registration Board
Obtaining an accredited social work degree or diploma
Social Workers Registration Board recognized US academic qualification list Social Workers Registration Board recognized Canada academic qualification list

Teacher	Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications
Person who has overseas academic qualification has to apply to Qualifications Assessment to the Council before employment in Hong Kong. The application can also be done by the potential employer of the candidate.

Certification in HK is voluntary only

Speech Therapist	The Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists
No legitimate certification in Hong Kong. Certification to the Association is voluntary Minimum requirement is the completion of relevant bachelor degree and submit relevant documents to the Association for assessment

Psychologist	Hong Kong Psychological Society
No legitimate certification in Hong Kong Certification to the Society is voluntary The recognition of overseas graduate Canada Holder of psychology degree. Please note for university which grant honor degree, only holder of honor degree will be accepted. US Holder of 4-year degree whose transcript shows the completion of all basic areas of psychology maybe accepted.