Can Recognition of Prior Learning provide an entry pathway to a profession in Seychelles?

Yes. The Seychelles Qualifications Authority can assess formal, non-formal and informal learning through Recognition of Prior Learning, generally where the applicant has at least three years of relevant field experience. An RPL certificate has the same standing as a qualification gained through another recognised learning pathway.

Which Seychelles bodies regulate health, teaching, construction and maritime professions?

The Seychelles Medical and Dental Council, Seychelles Nurses and Midwives Council and Health Professionals Council regulate relevant health professions. The Teachers Council of Seychelles regulates teaching, the Seychelles Registration and Construction Professionals Council regulates construction practice, and the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority and Seychelles Maritime Academy handle maritime certification and training.

When does a professional in Seychelles need a Seychelles Licensing Authority licence?

A licence may be required for categories including professional services, health services, tourism, transport, trades and business-linked occupations. The exact qualification, competence, experience, premises and fee requirements depend on the licence category.

What must a non-Seychellois professional do before starting work in Seychelles?

The employer must first obtain Employment approval, after which the worker applies for a Gainful Occupation Permit through Immigration. The person must not start employment before the permit is issued, and regulated work may require additional professional or maritime approval.

Professions in Seychelles

Q: How are professions in Seychelles identified when no single register lists every occupation?

Requirements are identified through SNQF qualifications, professional registers, Seychelles Licensing Authority licences and public-service cadres. The responsible regulator or public body depends on the occupation.

Professions in Seychelles cover public administration, education, health, construction, finance, maritime work, tourism, transport, trades, agriculture and creative work. Seychelles does not use one complete register for every occupation; the Seychelles National Qualifications Framework (SNQF), professional registers, Seychelles Licensing Authority licences and public-service cadres identify the relevant requirements. Entry can involve an approved qualification, documented experience, registration, a licence or supervised practice, depending on the occupation.

Tip

Choose the exact occupation first, then identify its qualification, regulator, registration and licence requirements before accepting work or paying for training. Treat experience, foreign qualifications, public-service rules and work-permit requirements as separate checks because satisfying one does not automatically satisfy the others.

bySabrina&Kevin

Professional requirements in Seychelles depend on the occupation and the body responsible for it. The Seychelles National Qualifications Framework (SNQF) classifies quality-assured qualifications, supports progression between learning levels and helps assess whether a qualification is suitable for a role. The Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) handles qualification recognition, accreditation and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL assesses learning gained through formal, non-formal or informal experience; applicants generally need at least three years of relevant field experience, and an RPL certificate has the same standing as a qualification gained through another recognised learning pathway. People may enter an occupation through secondary education, a professional centre, tertiary education, technical and vocational education and training, or overseas study. Some roles also require documented competence and experience rather than one specific local qualification. Foreign qualifications may need SQA recognition before a regulator or employer can assess them. Qualification alone does not automatically grant the right to practise a regulated profession. The Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) issues licences for categories such as health services, professional services, tourism, transport, trades and business-linked occupations. Published professional-service examples include architecture, engineering, accounting, auditing, quantity surveying, land surveying, marine or cargo surveying, computer consultancy, veterinary practice and trusteeship. Listed licence examples commonly have five-year validity, a fee of about SCR 3,000 and an additional premises fee of about SCR 2,000, but exact requirements and charges depend on the licence category. A licence may require a qualification, documented competence, relevant experience, suitable premises or another approval. Separate regulators apply to professions with public-safety or professional-accountability duties. The Public Service Bureau (PSB) manages public-service careers through Schemes of Service, job evaluation, salary bands, performance review and cadre progression. The Teachers Council of Seychelles maintains the teacher register. The Seychelles Medical and Dental Council, Seychelles Nurses and Midwives Council and Health Professionals Council regulate relevant health professions. The Seychelles Registration and Construction Professionals Council issues certificates for construction practice according to qualification and experience. The Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority and Seychelles Maritime Academy apply maritime training, examination and certification requirements, including STCW standards for seafarers. Legal practitioners require an enrolment certificate from the Supreme Court Registrar. Tasks vary by profession. A public-service role follows its cadre requirements; a health professional delivers care under professional standards; a teacher supports teaching and learning; a construction professional may design, supervise or certify work; a finance, legal or audit professional serves clients under professional duties; and maritime workers follow safety, security and pollution-prevention requirements. Registration, supervised or graduate practice, continuing professional development and renewal may follow the initial qualification. Progression can lead to senior, specialist, supervisory or managerial roles. Employment conditions apply alongside profession-specific rules. The Employment Act 1995 and the Conditions of Employment Regulations cover matters such as minimum wage, public holidays, leave, overtime, the 13th-month payment and occupational health and safety. Public-sector conditions also follow PSB circulars and Schemes of Service. Workers must perform assigned duties, follow discipline and punctuality requirements, and meet applicable safety and professional standards. A non-Seychellois worker generally needs a Gainful Occupation Permit (GOP) for paid or unpaid work, whether full-time or part-time. The employer first obtains Employment approval and the worker then applies through Immigration; employment must not begin before the GOP is issued. Applications should be submitted at least one week before the planned start. Listed charges include a SCR 1,000 processing fee and SCR 500 for each month of the permit period. Regulated roles may also require approval from the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority, a health-profession council or another relevant body. Exact qualification, registration, examination, continuing-professional-development and renewal costs vary by profession.