Cap. 451 Art. 2Interpretation.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

"applicant" means a person from an Agreement State applying to a designated authority for authorization to practise a regulated profession in Malta; "application" means a request submitted by an applicant;

"competent authority", in relation to -

(a) any document, certificate, diploma or qualification, or attestation of competence; or

(b) a period of professional and vocational experience, means the authority, body or person in a Member State authorized under the legislation or established practice of that State to issue, award or recognize such document, certificate, diploma or qualification, or attestation of competence or to certify any such period of professional and vocational experience; "designated authority" means a licence, permit or warrant awarding body or authority in Malta designated for the mutual recognition of qualifications in relation to a regulated profession or regulated professional activity as listed in the Schedule or as may be determined by regulations from time to time; "diploma" includes any degree, diploma, certificate, attestation of competence, or other similar evidence of formal qualifications or of education and training awarded by a competent authority in a Member State designated according to the law of that state; "European Union" has the same meaning assigned to it in the Treaty; "Member State" means a state member of the European Union;

"Minister" unless otherwise specified, means the Minister responsible for education;

"practice" in relation to any regulated profession, includes -

(a) the taking up or pursuit of the profession, whether in a self-employed capacity or as an employed person; and

(b) the right to use, in the course of such pursuit, a professional title or designatory letters, or the enjoyment of any special status corresponding to a diploma, granted by a designated authority for that profession; "professional experience" means the actual and lawful full-time or equivalent part-time pursuit of the profession concerned in a Member State;

"regulated profession and regulated professional activity" means those regulated professions and professional activities listed in the Schedule; "the Treaty" has the same meaning assigned to it in the European

Union Act.