Professional exams in social care
Who has the right and the obligation to take the professional exam?
• a trainee after completing a six-month internship in the field of social welfare
• a person with more than six months of work experience
(a person whose profession is regulated can acquire work experience in the field of social welfare
only with the right to perform the activity, recognized by the competent authority.)
• a person who has acquired the appropriate work experience in jobs of a specific level of education for
longer than six months outside the social welfare system by performing social work, psychological
activities, social pedagogy activities, or educational-rehabilitation activities.
The professional exam consists of a general and a special part. The candidate takes the general part of the professional exam verbally, and the special part of the exam is both written and verbal. The written part of the professional exam consists of a written assignment from the field for which the candidate is trained or works.
As a rule, professional exams are held once a month at the premises of the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy at Trg Nevenke Topalušić 1, Zagreb, and the exam date is determined separately for each month.
Application
The completed and handwritten application for taking the professional exam is submitted to the employer, who verifies the information from the application, and submits the certified application to the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy.
The application is submitted to the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy by post to the address Trg Nevenke Topalušić 1, 10 000 Zagreb or to the e-mail address pisarnica@mrosp.hr on the application form OZP, as well as the following documentation:
• a copy of the employment contract certified by the employer
• a certificate of work experience or other document proving the start of insurance and the acquired
work history. (no later than the day of taking the professional exam)
• a proof of change of personal name if it has been changed in relation to the presented documents.
Competent authority and regulations
Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 555 7343
info@mrosp.hr
The Social Welfare Act (OG 18/22, 46/22, 119/22, 71/23, 156/23, 61/25)
Ordinance on traineeship and professional examination in the field of social welfare (OG 111/25)
Authorization
Decision on the right to take a professional exam
Deadline: 30 days
The decision is delivered to the candidate at least 15 days before the day set for taking the professional exam.
The decision on the approval for taking the professional exam can be submitted by email, and subsequently, it is also be submitted by post.
A Certificate of passing the professional exam is issued to the records of candidates who have passed the professional exam.
Legal remedies
An appeal cannot be filed against the decision on passing the professional exam, but an administrative dispute can be initiated with the competent administrative court within 30 days from the date of receipt of this decision. An administrative dispute is initiated by a lawsuit that is submitted to the competent administrative court directly in a written form by post, electronically by information system or as a verbal statement for the record.
• a trainee after completing a six-month internship in the field of social welfare
• a person with more than six months of work experience
(a person whose profession is regulated can acquire work experience in the field of social welfare
only with the right to perform the activity, recognized by the competent authority.)
• a person who has acquired the appropriate work experience in jobs of a specific level of education for
longer than six months outside the social welfare system by performing social work, psychological
activities, social pedagogy activities, or educational-rehabilitation activities.
The professional exam consists of a general and a special part. The candidate takes the general part of the professional exam verbally, and the special part of the exam is both written and verbal. The written part of the professional exam consists of a written assignment from the field for which the candidate is trained or works.
As a rule, professional exams are held once a month at the premises of the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy at Trg Nevenke Topalušić 1, Zagreb, and the exam date is determined separately for each month.
Application
The completed and handwritten application for taking the professional exam is submitted to the employer, who verifies the information from the application, and submits the certified application to the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy.
The application is submitted to the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy by post to the address Trg Nevenke Topalušić 1, 10 000 Zagreb or to the e-mail address pisarnica@mrosp.hr on the application form OZP, as well as the following documentation:
- trainee booklet (certified by the main professional manager)
• a copy of the employment contract certified by the employer
• a certificate of work experience or other document proving the start of insurance and the acquired
work history. (no later than the day of taking the professional exam)
• a proof of change of personal name if it has been changed in relation to the presented documents.
Competent authority and regulations
Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 555 7343
info@mrosp.hr
The Social Welfare Act (OG 18/22, 46/22, 119/22, 71/23, 156/23, 61/25)
Ordinance on traineeship and professional examination in the field of social welfare (OG 111/25)
Authorization
Decision on the right to take a professional exam
Deadline: 30 days
The decision is delivered to the candidate at least 15 days before the day set for taking the professional exam.
The decision on the approval for taking the professional exam can be submitted by email, and subsequently, it is also be submitted by post.
A Certificate of passing the professional exam is issued to the records of candidates who have passed the professional exam.
Legal remedies
An appeal cannot be filed against the decision on passing the professional exam, but an administrative dispute can be initiated with the competent administrative court within 30 days from the date of receipt of this decision. An administrative dispute is initiated by a lawsuit that is submitted to the competent administrative court directly in a written form by post, electronically by information system or as a verbal statement for the record.
04/03/2026
