Includes license requirements for key professional services that are open to U.S. service providers.
Last Published: 7/20/2019

Licensing requirements for professional services vary according to industry. Some of these are listed below.

Accountancy
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago (ICATT) establishes the general regulatory body and addresses matters such as the ethics, discipline, professional conduct, and standards of its members and students. The ICATT Rules and Regulations address the requirements for membership of the institute. In addition to being an ICATT member, individuals wishing to practice accountancy in Trinidad and Tobago must hold a practicing certificate in accordance with the Chartered Accountants Practicing Regulations 2011. Provision is also made for reciprocal membership where a person is a member of an accountancy body outside of Trinidad and Tobago that is deemed to be of equivalent standing to that of the ICATT and provided that the accountancy body grants reciprocal membership to ICATT members.

Architectural, urban planning and landscape architectural services
The Architecture Profession Act CAP 90:02 establishes the Board of Architecture, which is responsible for assessing the qualifications and experience, and conducting examinations as necessary of persons applying for registration as an architect; registering suitably qualified applicants; and issuing certificates of registration Entitlement to registration is based on a person’s character (i.e. being a fit and proper person to practice architecture), appropriate academic qualifications, and no less than three years practical experience in the trade.

Engineering services
The Board of Engineering has the responsibility for assessing the qualifications and experience (and conducting exams, as necessary) of persons applying for registration as registered engineers, registering suitably qualified applicants, and issuing certificates of registration. Applicants are entitled to registration as a registered engineer if they are persons who are qualified, fit, and proper to practice, and pay the prescribed fee. A person is qualified where he has been awarded a degree, diploma, or other qualification in engineering granted by a recognized university or school of engineering, has had not less than four years of experience in the practice of engineering, and has acquired a sufficient standard of proficiency. Nationality and/or residence criteria are not a relevant consideration in determining registration.

Legal
Generally, legal services may only be provided by persons admitted to practice within the jurisdiction, although there are exceptions. The Legal Profession Act CAP 90:03 provides that an attorney-at-law who desires to practice law in TT must apply to the registrar for a practicing certificate. The act establishes the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and provides that every attorney-at law holding a practicing certificate is and must remain a member of the association as long as the practicing certificate has effect. As such, membership is compulsory. Eligibility to be admitted by the court to practice as an attorney-at-law is based on qualifications, good character, and citizenship. Nationality is therefore a significant consideration in determining eligibility for admission to practice law. While TT citizens receive the most favorable treatment, CARICOM and Commonwealth nationals are generally more favorably treated than persons belonging to third States.

Medical services
The Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago, comprised of all registered practitioners and the Council of the Board, is responsible for receiving and reviewing applications for registration as a medical practitioner. Any fit and proper person who is qualified to practice medicine is eligible for registration under the act. A person is qualified if he/she holds a diploma, license, certificate or other status or other form of recognition granted by an approved institution. The council of the board may issue a temporary license, other than a “special temporary license,” to persons who meet the above criteria except for the fact that their approved diploma is not from an institution listed in the schedule.

Dental services
The Dental Board of Trinidad and Tobago is a council that is responsible for its management and the registration of persons to practice dentistry and the enrolment of persons as dental auxiliaries. The council is specifically charged with, inter alia, determining and keeping under review the professional qualifications and experience required of an applicant for registration or enrolment. It regulates the training of persons enrolled as dental auxiliaries and publishes for general information a list of recognized universities, colleges, or other institutions.

Veterinarians
Any person is eligible for registration where he/she is entitled to registration as a veterinary surgeon in the UK, or holds a holds a certificate granted in another country that is recognized by the board as furnishing a sufficient guarantee of the possession of requisite knowledge and skill for the efficient practice of veterinary surgery. Nationality and/or residence criteria are not made a condition for registration.

Nurses and Midwives
Any fit and proper person is entitled to be registered as a nurse upon passing examinations prescribed by the council following the completion of a course of training in a recognized institution or being registered or registrable on the Register of the General Nursing Council of England and Wales or any country with reciprocal recognition arrangements with TT. Provision is also made for persons not satisfying the aforementioned criteria but registered in the country in which they graduated as a nurse to be registered subject to such conditions as the council may impose. Nationality and/or residence are not made conditions for registration.
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