Professions in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has no single register covering every occupation. Formal professions operate alongside fragmented and informal trades, so the pathway into work depends on the occupation, the institution and the level of regulation. The main occupational areas include farming, livestock, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying, agro-processing, manufacturing, utilities, construction, wholesale and retail, transport, accommodation and food services, information and communication technology, finance, education, health and social work, professional services, public administration, domestic work and other services. Common entry pathways include completion of senior secondary school, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, technical or vocational education, a tertiary qualification, a university degree or an apprenticeship with a skilled craft worker. The National Council for Technical, Vocational and other Academic Excellence supports accreditation, assessment, validation and certification across formal, non-formal and informal pathways. Recognition of prior learning is developing, and no single national entrance test applies to every profession. An occupation or institution may set its own qualification, examination, experience, registration or supervised-practice requirements. Regulated professions have additional controls. The Teaching Service Commission registers and licenses teachers after qualification checks. The Medical and Dental Council regulates doctors and dentists, while the Sierra Leone Nursing and Midwifery Council regulates nurses, midwives and maternal and child health assistants. The Pharmacy Board regulates pharmacy professionals, premises and products. The Professional Engineers Registration Council registers engineers, technologists and technicians according to qualification and experience categories. Legal practice requires one year at the Sierra Leone Law School, a final examination and admission through the General Legal Council. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sierra Leone regulates professional accountancy, including competence, ethics, discipline and continuing professional development. Mining and fishing also involve activity-specific approvals. The National Minerals Agency and the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources oversee mining licences and related duties. Artisanal mining licences are limited to Sierra Leonean citizens or wholly citizen-owned structures, applicants must be at least 18, the maximum area is 2.5 acres and a licence may last for up to one year. The application decision period is at least 30 days, and renewal applications should be submitted at least 60 calendar days before expiry. Fishing work can require vessel registration and a fishing licence through the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration and the responsible maritime or fisheries authorities. The Employment Act 2023 applies to employers and workers in the public and private sectors, including apprenticeships and internships. Written employment particulars should be provided no later than 12 weeks after work starts. The normal limit is 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week; shift arrangements can reach 10 hours per day where the applicable three-week average remains within the legal limit. Workers receive at least a 30-minute break, and overtime supplements are 50% on ordinary weekdays and 100% on weekends or public holidays where overtime is agreed. Night work carries at least a 30% supplement. After one year of continuous service, annual leave is at least one month of basic salary allowance, while statutory maternity leave is at least 14 weeks with full remuneration and paternity leave is two weeks with full remuneration. Internships are limited to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week and include a stipend. Work patterns differ by place. Rural districts have relatively strong links to agriculture, fisheries, mining, construction, trade and informal craft work. Western Area, including Freetown, has a higher concentration of services, formal private and public employment, professional work, health care, education and information technology. A qualification does not by itself guarantee a job, a public appointment or promotion. Advancement usually depends on competence, experience, vacancies, continuing professional development and an employer's or regulator's assessment. Fees and processing times vary by institution and regulator; reliable examples include roughly 14 working days for teacher registration confirmation, a three-year teacher licence period and annual pharmacy licence expiry on 31 December.