With a demonstration of competence you can prove competence that aligns with the objectives of your degree regardless of where, how or when you have acquired it. Competence may have been accumulated for example through work, employer-provided training, activities in organisations or hobbies. According to the degree requirements the level of competence must correspond to level 6 in Bachelor´s degree programmes and level 7 in master´s degree programmes (European Qualifications Framework EQF).
The process is initiated by you. The key point is that you identify your competence concretely in words and compare it to the learning outcomes in your curriculum. All Laurea students have the opportunity to use a demonstration of competence.
Proceed as follows in the demonstration of competence
Identify your competence
Compare your competence to the learning outcomes presented in the curriculum. Use the assessment criteria to support the evaluation of competence level: Assessment criteria for Bachelor´s degree studies/ Assessment criteria for master´s degree studies. If you assess that your competence is at least at level 1 of the assessment framework, a demonstration of competence may be possible.
Make a competence analysis
A competence analysis is usually a written Word document of about 1–2 pages in which you compare your competence to the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of the study module.
You may copy the learning outcomes and assessment criteria, for example, from the course implementation plan. For each learning outcome, describe and justify with concrete examples how you have achieved the competence and the level of your competence. Also describe any areas you need to develop.
Submit the competence analysis
Submit the competence analysis according to your degree programme’s procedures. Based on the competence analysis, the teacher will evaluate whether a demonstration of competence is possible in your case.
Demonstrate your competence
The method of demonstration may already be defined depending on the degree programme or study module, or it will be agreed with you individually. The demonstration may consist for example of an interview, an oral discussion, a written reflection on competence, a portfolio or a work sample.
Recognition of competence
Your competence will be assessed and recognised by the teacher who receives the demonstration. The assessment follows the same assessment criteria and generally the same grading scale as for the corresponding study module or module package. Competence you demonstrate through the process will be counted towards your credits in the normal way.
Recognition of partial competence
First always assess whether you have competence covering all the learning outcomes of the study module, in which case you can proceed to recognition or a demonstration of competence depending on where your competence was acquired.
If you identify that you partially meet the learning outcomes of the study module but some of the competence is new to you, you can discuss with the responsible teacher of the study module the possibility of a partial credit. In this case competence may have been acquired in different ways, for example partly through higher education studies and partly through work.
Make a competence analysis in which you describe as concretely as possible how and through what activities you have acquired the competence, and also assess what competence you would need to acquire during the study module. Submit the information to the module’s responsible teacher. The responsible teacher assesses your competence based on the statement and any documents you provide and guides you on how to proceed. You can find the name of the responsible teacher in the course implementation plan.
Demonstration of competence in language studies
Contact the teacher responsible for demonstrations of competence if you want to demonstrate competence in the degree’s mandatory language studies: English and/or the other national language (Swedish or Finnish language and communication).
Demonstration of competence in the thesis
A demonstration of competence in the thesis is possible only in Bachelor´s degree programmes. The option requires case-by-case consideration and the possibilities for demonstration are always assessed in cooperation with the thesis coordinator and study director of the respective field of education.
Degree-specific instructions
Read the more detailed, degree-specific instructions below. If necessary, you can get guidance from your teacher tutor.
Bachelor´s Degree in Beauty and Cosmetics
Contact the course teacher. The teacher will open the Canvas demonstration workspace for you, where the competence analysis should be submitted.
Recognition of competence for internships: Competence can be recognised based on a work certificate and a subsequent discussion, a written report or another form of demonstration agreed with the supervisor. The supervisor determines the procedure for receiving the demonstration on a case-by-case basis together with the student. The demonstration is received by the supervisor responsible for the internship.
Fysioterapeuttikoulutus
Please note that in social, health and rehabilitation degree programmes there are special features in recognition of competence due to legislative matters.
Agree on starting the process and preparing the competence analysis with your teacher tutor.
In the competence analysis compare your competence to the learning outcomes of the study module and to Laurea’s assessment framework. Describe in which role you have accumulated the competence, the contents of your tasks and the working environment. Reflect on your competence and its development in relation to all the learning outcomes of the study module. Attach agreed degree certificates or employment certificates or similar documents. The employment certificate should at minimum state the job title and specify the working time, and if necessary describe the work tasks relevant to physiotherapy competence.
The responsible teacher of the module and the teacher tutor receive the demonstration. The method of demonstration is agreed with them / in the manner they instruct.
Demonstration of competence for internships:
The possibility to demonstrate competence applies only to the “Practice promoting the client’s participation and functional capacity” internship (10 credits), which has the mandatory First Aid I and II completions as prerequisites.
The prerequisites for granting the demonstration are based on the learning outcomes of the study module, which you can find in the curriculum. Usually competence has been acquired either on the basis of vocational secondary education or a higher education degree in a role comparable to physiotherapy. Analyse your competence in the competence analysis in relation to each learning outcome of the study module and to Laurea’s assessment framework. Describe the role in which you acquired the competence, the contents of your tasks and the operational environment in relation to the learning outcomes of the study module. Also reflect on the development of your competence in relation to all the learning outcomes of the study module. The recommended length of the competence analysis is 2–4 pages. Attach, if necessary, the agreed degree certificates or employment certificates or similar documents to the competence analysis.
Prepare the competence analysis and send it to the internship coordinator.
Bachelor´s Degree in Hospitaliy Management
The demonstration instructions for the Hospitality Management degree are collected in a Canvas workspace. The workspace contains sign-up forms for demonstration days and instructions for writing the competence analysis. Go to the hospitality workspace via the link Restonomikoulutus – Demonstration of Competence and click “Enrol in course”.
You can also arrange a demonstration of competence directly with the responsible teacher of the study module.
Recognition of competence for internships: Competence can be recognised based on a work certificate and a subsequent discussion, a written report or another form of demonstration agreed with the supervisor. The supervisor determines the procedure for receiving the demonstration on a case-by-case basis together with the student. The demonstration is received by the supervisor responsible for the internship.
Kuntoutuksen ohjaaja -koulutus
Please note that in social, health and rehabilitation degree programmes there are special features in recognition of competence due to legislative matters.
Recognition of competence begins with a competence analysis. Agree on starting the process and preparing the competence analysis with the responsible teacher of the study module. In the competence analysis, analyse your competence in relation to each learning outcome of the study module and to Laurea’s assessment framework. Use evidence-based source material for the demonstration in your competence analysis. Describe the role in which you have accumulated the competence, the contents of your tasks and the working environment in relation to the learning outcomes of the study module. Use examples. Also reflect on the development of your competence in relation to the learning outcomes of the study module. The recommended length of the competence analysis is 2–4 pages. Attach, if necessary, the agreed degree certificates or employment certificates or similar documents to the competence analysis. The demonstration is received by the responsible teacher of the study module. The method of demonstration is agreed with the responsible teacher.
Demonstration of competence for internships: The process proceeds as described above. The competence analysis is submitted to the internship coordinator.
Sairaanhoitaja- ja terveydenhoitajakoulutus
Demonstration of competence in nursing and public health nursing internships
You can demonstrate competence by means of a demonstration that corresponds to the learning outcomes of the study module, which you may have achieved for example by working as an enrolled practical nurse or in another comparable position.
In health care internships recognition of competence involves special features due to legislation. Competence is guided not only by the curriculum objectives but also by the European Union’s professional qualifications directive (2005/36/EC, amended 2013/55/EU), SORA legislation and national competence requirements.
It is possible to apply for recognition of competence twice a year by the end of February and September; in 2026 by the end of March.
Principles of identifying and recognising competence in nursing and public health nursing education
Recognition of competence
- is possible in internship study modules if you have competence that aligns with the module’s learning outcomes and you also have work experience
- is possible either for the entire internship module or partially, e.g. 3 credits.
- is carried out as a demonstration of competence. In the written competence analysis you describe your own competence in relation to the curriculum learning outcomes and also evaluate what competence you should supplement in subsequent internships. The competence analysis can also be clarified by interviewing.
Practice promoting professional competence 1 – 6 and public health nursing internships 1 – 4
Proceed as follows:
- The process is initiated by you.
- Discuss preliminarily with your teacher tutor the possibility of a demonstration of competence.
- Register in Paki for the implementation of the internship for which you are applying for recognition of competence. When the responsible teacher approves your registration, you will see the instructions for the demonstration of competence and the task in Workseed.
- The demonstration of competence consists of a competence analysis and the documents you wish to refer to.
In the competence analysis describe the competence and job description you have acquired in your work tasks and the operating environment (e.g. the operational philosophy of the environment, client profile, staff structure).
Reflect on your competence and its development in relation to the learning outcomes of the study module and the assessment criteria that describe the level of competence assessment criteria. You can find the learning outcomes of the study module in the curriculum.
Compare your competence with the EU professional qualifications directive and with the description of the core competence of a general nurse and the competence requirements for public health nurses.
Describe your competence in relation to the nursing tasks in the unit(s) where you have worked. What are the main differences in duties and responsibilities?
Consider in advance where and how you might need to supplement your competence, e.g. in medication management or decision-making.
Attach copies of degree and employment certificates and any other documents you wish to refer to in the competence analysis. - Submit the competence analysis with attachments to the Workseed learning environment. There you will also find more detailed instructions on how to prepare the competence analysis
- If, based on the demonstration, your competence corresponds to the competence required in the curriculum, the teacher who received the demonstration will assess it and record the achievement in your study register.
- If the teachers accepting the demonstration approve your competence analysis as a partial demonstration, they will give you instructions on how to proceed.
For questions related to recognition of competence you can contact, in addition to your teacher tutor, the lecturers responsible for the development of internships.
- Practice promoting professional competence 1, the teacher responsible for the implementation or Ilari Ernamo
- Practice promoting professional competence 2, Kirsi Halttunen
- Practice promoting professional competence 3, surgery, Henna Mäkinen
- Practice promoting professional competence 3, mental health and substance abuse work. Anu Elorinne
- Practice promoting professional competence 4, family nursing Meri Vuorinen
- Practice promoting professional competence 4, home care, Marina Arvonen
- Practice promoting professional competence 5 – 6 Erja Annola
- Public health nursing internships Irene Latva-Korpela
Sosionomikoulus
The demonstration instructions for social work degree programmes are collected in a Canvas workspace. Go to the workspace via the link Practices in social welfare – Demonstration procedures and click “Enrol in course”.
Tradenomikoulutus
The demonstration instructions for Bachelor´s Degree in Business Administaration programmes are collected in a Canvas workspace. The workspace contains sign-up forms for demonstration days and instructions for writing the competence analysis. Go to the workspace via the link Tradenomikoulutus – Demonstrations of Competence and click “Enrol in course”.
Recognition of competence for internships: Competence can be recognised based on a work certificate and a subsequent discussion, a written report or another form of demonstration agreed with the supervisor. The supervisor determines the procedure for receiving the demonstration on a case-by-case basis together with the student. The demonstration is generally received by the supervisor responsible for the internship.
NOTE. Student in Information Systems: If you want to demonstrate competence in the business studies of the degree, proceed according to the Tradenomi Canvas workspace. If you want to demonstrate competence in the professional studies of information systems included in the degree, ask for instructions from your teacher tutor.
YAMK-koulutukset
For questions related to the demonstration of competence contact the responsible teacher of your degree programme.
Avoimen AMK:n yksittäisiä opintoja suorittava tai väyläopiskelija
For matters related to the demonstration of competence contact avoinamk@laurea.fi.