legitimerade

Legitimerade is a term used in Swedish to denote individuals who hold a legally recognized authorization to practice a regulated profession. The concept is central in health and social care but can also apply to other regulated fields. A legitimation is an official permit issued by a licensing authority—primarily Socialstyrelsen in health and social care—that attests the holder has completed the required education, training and meets professional and ethical standards. The license authorizes practice within a defined scope and, in many professions, the use of protected professional titles.

To become legitimerad, a person typically completes an accredited degree and a supervised practice period; in some cases additional national exams or registration steps are required. After a license is granted, it remains valid subject to ongoing competence requirements and can be suspended or revoked for professional misconduct, failure to maintain standards, or violations of ethical rules. The status is often registered or publicly searchable, providing transparency about who is authorized to practice.

In everyday language, the term signals trust and accountability: a legitimerad professional has demonstrated competence and is answerable to public authorities and professional bodies. Examples include legitimerad läkare, legitimerad sjuksköterska, legitimerad tandläkare and legitimerad psykolog. Rules and processes vary by profession and country, but the core idea is the same: legitimation is a formal authorization to practice that protects patients and maintains standards in regulated professions.