Industry - Act No 8/1996 respecting the Authorization of Several Professional Titles of Specialists in Technical and Design Faculties

[Translation from Icelandic
1 July 2006]

Act respecting the Authorization of Several Professional Titles of Specialists in Technical and Design Faculties No. 8/1996, with Later Amendments

Art. 1

The present Act applies to the following professional titles:-
1. Chartered Engineers,
2. Engineers,
3. Architects,
4. Constructing Architects,
5. [Furniture and Interior Architects (Furniture and Interior Designers), or part of this title,]¹⁾
6. Technicians,
7. [Landscape Architects (Landscape Designers)...¹⁾]²⁾
8. Planners,
[9. Electrical Specialists,]³⁾
[10. Computer Scientists.] ¹⁾
[11. Graphic Designers]⁴⁾

¹⁾ Act No. 147/2002, Art. 1 ²⁾ Act No. 4/2000, Art. 1 ³⁾ Act No. 69/2002, Art.1  ⁴⁾ Act. No. 84/2006, Art. 1

Art. 2

 The right to use the professional titles to which the present Act applies or words which cover these titles belongs only to those persons who have obtained the Minister's permission, cf. Art. 3, or those who have obtained the Minister's confirmation of permission to have a corresponding professional title which has been granted in [a State being a party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or a Member State of the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association or the Faroe Islands] ¹⁾, cf. Art. 4. [Those having completed a Bachelor of Science or Master Examination in computer science from an approved Icelandic University do not require such permission from the Minister.]²⁾ [Those having completed a BA or Master Examination in graphic design from an approved Icelandic University as well as a final examination in graphic design from The Icelandic School of Arts and Crafts or The School of Fine Arts in Akureyri do not either require such permission from the Minister.] ³⁾

¹⁾Act No. 108/2006, Art. 37 ²⁾ Act No. 147/2002, Art.2  ³⁾ Act. No. 84/2006, Art. 2

Art. 3

Nobody may be granted the permission referred to in Art. 2, unless he has completed final examination in the faculty concerned.

The specialized associations of the faculties to which the present Act applies shall lay down rules¹⁾ as to which studies be considered to lead to final examination in the professional faculty concerned. These rules shall enter into force when these have been ratified by the Minister and published in the "Government Gazette". The right to acquire a permit belongs to those who have completed study in accordance with the rules under reference in the Minister's assessment after having obtained the opinion of the professional association concerned.

¹⁾ Regulations 112/1997 (planning), Announcement 845/1999 (Chartered Engineers)

Art. 4

The Minister shall confirm permission to use professional titles to which the present Act applies in respect of an application from a citizen of a State within the European Economic Area if the party concerned submits a certificate from a State within the European Economic Area meeting the conditions of:-

1. Directive 85/384/EEC, [with subsequent amendments], 1) in case of an Architect
2. Directive 89/48/EEC, [with subsequent amendments], 1) in case of other professionals.

[Citizens of Member States of the Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association and the Faroese enjoy  the same right.] ²⁾

[Upon the implementation of sub-paragraph 1, para. 1 care shall be taken that rejection of permission be substantiated. Courts of Law may be consulted about the matter, also in case a decision is not made within three months as of the time an applicant submits his/her application along with appendices]. ¹⁾

¹⁾ Act No. 69/2002, Art. 2 ²⁾ Act No. 108/2006, Art. 38 

Art. 5

The Minister will decide upon dispute which may arise concerning the use of professional titles.

Art. 6

The Minister shall keep a record of those having obtained permission to use professional titles in accordance with the present Act.

Art. 7

The Minister shall by means of Regulations lay down further provisions concerning people's right to have professional titles in accordance with the present Act.

Art. 8

Violations of the present Act are subject to fines.

Art. 9

EEA acts referred to in the present Act are published in the special issue "EES-gerdir", cf. Announcement in Division C of the "Government Gazette" No. 31/1993, No. S 34 in pp. 1 - 8 and pp. 125 – 140, [as well as in the EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities]. ¹⁾

¹⁾ Act No. 69/2002, Art. 3

Art. 10

The present Act enters into force forthwith. ...

Temporary Provisions

The provisions of the present Act do not alter the right which people have acquired to use the professional titles to which the present Act applies prior to the entry into force of the present Act.