Overseas graduates face extra requirements for professional practice in Malaysia

Graduates who pursue professional programs abroad will face additional hurdles before they can practice in Malaysia. Deputy Minister of Higher Education Adam Adli Abd. Halim stated that the registration of professionals, whether educated locally or internationally, is strictly governed by law and the regulations of the respective professional bodies.

While the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) is responsible for quality assurance of programs offered by Malaysian higher education institutions, including those overseen by professional bodies, overseas graduates must independently verify and apply for professional registration. This is because specific conditions, such as clinical training, internship periods, professional exams, or competency assessments, may be required.

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Graduates who follow study programs abroad need to check and apply for professional registration to the relevant professional bodies.

Adam Adli addressed concerns about the coordination between the Ministry, accreditation agencies, and professional bodies to prevent discrepancies between academic accreditation and professional registration requirements for students studying abroad. He clarified that the jurisdictional boundaries between MQA and Malaysian professional bodies are clear for quality assurance of local programs. For local professional programs, MQA and professional bodies collaborate through joint technical committees, ensuring that accredited programs meet recognized professional standards. Graduates from such programs can then register directly with the relevant professional bodies.

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This is because there are certain conditions where a graduate needs to fulfill additional requirements such as clinical training, internship period, professional examination or competency assessment before they are eligible to be registered as a professional practitioner in our country.