Tunisian Ministry clarifies diploma equivalency for doctors trained abroad, no exam required under certain conditions

In a written response to the President of the Assembly of People's Representatives on July 1, 2026, the Ministry stated that a Tunisian doctor with a foreign degree can receive equivalency without an evaluation test or additional training, provided they have at least five years of effective practice after obtaining their specialty diploma. This possibility is already covered by existing regulations and does not require legislative changes. The Ministry highlighted that rules governing diploma equivalency, particularly in medical specialties, were revised by a ministerial decree on October 10, 2023.

This reform was the result of consultations initiated in 2018 with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, medical faculties, and the Order of Physicians. The text explicitly allows doctors with five years of professional practice post-specialization to directly benefit from equivalency, bypassing aptitude tests or supplementary training. The Ministry noted that this provision is already applied by the sectoral commission for medical and paramedical diploma equivalencies, with favorable decisions granted to several doctors who specialized in Germany after verifying their professional experience.

This clarification comes amid ongoing discussions about the return of medical profess