102.07.2026.
Latvian Qualifications Framework Level to Be Included in All State-Recognised Education Documents from the New Academic Year
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, all state-recognised formal education documents issued in Latvia will include the corresponding Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF) level. This requirement will apply across all levels of the LQF—from basic education to doctoral qualifications—ensuring a consistent approach to the presentation of qualifications throughout the formal education system.
The LQF level is already indicated on vocational education documents and in higher education diploma supplements. Under the new Cabinet Regulations, the relevant LQF level will also be included in general education documents. As a result, all state-recognised education documents certifying qualifications obtained within the formal education system will contain a reference to the applicable LQF level.
The Latvian Qualifications Framework is an eight-level national framework referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Including the LQF level in education documents will enhance the transparency, comparability, and recognition of qualifications both nationally and internationally, thereby supporting learner mobility, access to further education, and the recognition of qualifications across Europe.
02.07.2026
New Cabinet Regulations on the Issuance of Vocational Education Documents
02.07.2026.
New Cabinet Regulations have entered into force, establishing the procedures for the preparation and issuance of state-recognised vocational education and professional qualification documents.
The most significant change is that, from now on, vocational education and professional qualification documents—such as diplomas, certificates, and professional qualification certificates—will be issued in electronic format. These documents will be signed with a qualified electronic signature and an electronic time stamp, ensuring their legal validity while providing a more convenient, secure, and efficient way to receive, use, and verify them.
25 May 2026 Cabinet of Ministers regulations No 306 (in latvian) “Regulations on State-Recognised Documents Certifying Vocational Education and Professional Qualifications, Module Certificates, and Documents Certifying the Completion of a Part of a Vocational Education Programme”
10.01.2026
Amendments to the Issuance of Professional Qualification Certificates: Certificates Now Also Issued for EQF/LQF Level 8 Qualifications
10.01.2026.
Amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations governing state-recognised professional education and professional qualification documents have entered into force, introducing updates to the issuance and design of these documents. One of the most significant changes is that Professional Qualification Certificates and Certificates of a Part of a Professional Qualification will now also be issued to individuals who have been awarded a professional qualification, or part thereof, at Level 8 of the Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF).
To reflect this change, the certificate templates have been updated to include Level 8 professional qualifications, ensuring a consistent approach to the issuance of professional qualification documents across all levels of the Latvian Qualifications Framework. This represents an important step in the formal recognition and clear identification of the highest-level professional qualifications, both nationally and internationally.
The amendments also introduce several additional improvements. Professional Qualification Certificates and Certificates of a Part of a Professional Qualification will be issued in electronic format, accompanied by electronically generated supplements. In addition, the regulations clarify the templates and formatting requirements for several state-recognised professional education documents.
Overall, these amendments support a modern, coherent, and transparent system for issuing professional qualification documents while ensuring that Level 8 professional qualifications are recognised through state-approved documentation in accordance with the updated regulatory framework.
10.03.2026
Changes in Latvian sectoral qualification structures
At the meeting of the Sub-Council of the Tripartite Cooperation on Vocational Education and Employment on February 11, 2026, a decision was made to divide the sectoral qualification structure (SQS) “Metalworking, mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering sector (including mechanics)” into two SQS “Metalworking and mechanical engineering sector” and “Mechanical engineering sector”.
15.04.2024
Amendments to Cabinet Regulations regarding the issuance of Professional Education Qualification documents
on April 3, 2024, amendments to Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No 202 „Procedure by which state recognised education documents certifying higher education are issued” came in force, several changes were made to issued documents.
!! Due to the large number of qualification entries in the qualification database, the replacement of sample documents is being performed gradually!!
15.04.2024
Amendments to Cabinet Regulations regarding the issuance of Professional Education Qualification documents
on 7 February 2023 Cabinet Regulation No. 52 “Regulations regarding documents certifying State recognised vocational education and vocational qualification, certificates of the module and documents certifying the acquisition of part of the vocational education programme” has been adopted, Regulations prescribe several qualification documents, which are issued for partial acquisition of the vocational education programme, changes have been made to the qualification documents, which ensure conformity with amendments to the Professional Education Law.
Example documents:
English
CERTIFICATE of vocational basic education
CERTIFICATE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION
CERTIFICATE of vocational education (arodizglītība)
DIPLOMA of vocational secondary education
Latvian
APLIECĪBA par profesionālo pamatizglītību
PROFESIONĀLĀS KVALIFIKĀCIJAS APLIECĪBA
ATESTĀTS par arodizglītību
DIPLOMS par profesionālo vidējo izglītību
!! Due to the large number of qualification entries in the qualification database, the replacement of sample documents is being performed gradually!!
26.10.2020
Study – Visibility and use of the Latvian Qualifications Database in Latvia
Academic Information Centre (AIC) conducted a study (July-November 2019) with an aim to explore how and for what purpose Latvian education policy makers, implementers and their social partners (target audience) use Latvian Qualifications Database (LQD).
Main conclusions are that the promotion activities have been sufficient to reach the current target audience of LQD. LQD is used by target audience for different work related purposes, and target audience sees LQD as source of information that they are keen on using in the future, that for the time being does not need any major improvements.
It was also pointed out that future LQD promotion activities should include more information on opportunities provided by LQD and target audience might be extended to all who work in education sector, such as education providers, career counsellors, people working with unemployed, specialists in the field of education etc.
More detailed information can be found in study summary.
23.09.2020
Latvian National Coordination Point has prepared informative video presentations
Latvian NCP has prepared three informative video presentations in Latvian on LQF and Latvian qualifications in national and European education information area.
In the video presentations about:
• the Latvian Qualifications Framework we tell about national qualifications frameworks in general and how they were developed, as well as we explain in more detail what is LQF and how it is referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
• the Latvian Qualifications Database we tell about, how it was developed, what type of information can be found there, and more importantly how to use it and how it can be used in work and in regular life.
• Europass platform we tell about the new platform developed by the European Commission, its new functions and benefits, as well as how to create your CV in the new and more user-friendly format.
14.09.2020
LQD as a Good Practice Example of National Qualifications Databases
On 14th September, 2020 the Slovenian National Coordination Point organised an international conference: 10 Years of Slovenian Qualifications Framework. The aim of the conference was to reflect on development of the Slovenian Qualifications Framework and to present the new SQF portal.
In this conference among other international participants Academic Information Centre – Latvian National Coordination Point was invited to share their good practice on the development of the Latvian Qualifications Database.
More detailed information about the conference and the video of the livestream can be found here.
02.09.2020
Interactive Video About Latvian Qualifications Framework and European Qualifications Framework
Academic Informations Centre (AIC) – National Coordinations Point (NCP) the animated video in English have been made on what is Latvian Qualifications Framework (LQF) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF), how to use both frameworks and learning outcomes to compare national qualifications between different European countries, and how to find information on qualifications in Latvian Qualifications Database (LQD) and the new Europass platform.
01.09.2020
The New Learning Content Comes into Effect in General Basic Education and General Secondary Education
With this September 1st the new learning content comes into effect in line with „Regulations on the state basic education standard and basic education programme samples” and „Regulations on the state general secondary education standard and education programme samples”.
The new learning outcomes are added in the LQD for General Basic education and General Secondary education qualifications, in line with the new learning content.
02.07.2020
New and Updated Europass Platform Launched
From 1st July the new and updated Europass platform is now available. There you may find services provided before along with a new education and carrier management tool services. The new platform contains information from all Europe.
Latvian qualifications in English and Latvian from Latvian Qualifications Database are included in the new Europass platform. Therefore, qualifications are no longer available on ESCO.
The new Europass platform: https://europa.eu
29.05.2020
Deadline Changed for Study Directions Accreditation of Higher Education Qualifications
According to the “Amendments in the Law of Higher Education Institutions”, in effect from 09.05.2020., accreditation schedule had been changed for the study directions that should be accredited in 2019.
In the LQD, the accreditation period is being extended in the description of qualifications for higher education qualifications, whose accreditation period ends in 2019.
15.05.2020
Latvian Qualifications Database Included in the Publication on National Qualification Databases and Registers in Europe
Information about Latvian Qualifications Database is included in the publication “Qualifications Registers in Selected European Union Countries” (Warsaw, Poland. 2020) on national qualifications databases and registers in such countries as Austria, Croatia, France, Poland, Scotland and Slovakia.
The publication was created and published by Education Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
The publication is available here.
30.04.2020
Latvian Qualifications Available in European Education Portals
The information on Latvian qualifications is available in European Skills/Competences, qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) portal, in latest open data format developed by the European Commission.
Latvian Qualifications in ESCO portal: https://ec.europa.eu/esco/portal/qualification#nutsFilters=LV&sorting=alphabetical&page=1
10.12.2019
Qualification Statistics Now Available in the LQD
It is now possible to view the statistics in different dimensions on all qualifications obtainable in the Latvian education. One can find out, how many and which LQF/EQF level qualifications are implemented in respective awarding bodies; in which Thematic areas (ISCED) are most qualifications in Latvia etc.
Each chart can be saved as an image and also printed.
Video: How to use statistics on qualifications?
10.12.2019
Option to Compare Qualifications Developed in the LQD
It is now possible to compare any two qualifications. It is possible to compare LQF/EQF levels, learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, competences), awarding bodies etc., between selected qualifications.
Video: How to compare qualifications?
19.09.2019
Descriptions of Professional Qualifications Updated with Sectoral Qualifications Framework
The National Centre for Education with the support of the European Social Fund have developed the Sectoral Qualifications Framework, which is a general description of sectoral occupations, as well as review of specialisations and related occupations that are included in the sectoral occupations. The Sectoral Qualifications Framework ascribes qualification levels to occupations and specialisations.
In the LQD, new fields are developed in order to add the Sectoral Qualifications Framework to the corresponding professional qualifications, and this information is gradually added in the respective description of qualifications.
08.07.2019
Deadline Extended for Study Directions Accreditation of Higher Education Qualifications
According to the “Amendments in the Law of Higher Education Institutions”, in effect from 01.01.2019., accreditation schedule had been changed for the study directions that should be accredited in 2019.
In the LQD, the accreditation period is being extended in the description of qualifications for higher education qualifications, whose accreditation period ends in 2019.
20.05.2019
Learning Outcomes Updated in Descriptions of Professional Qualifications
The National Centre for Education with the support of the European Social Fund have created new and updated occupational standards and professional qualification requirements that are included in the Classification of Occupations.
Gradually, the new and updated learning outcomes – knowledge, skills and competences are added in the professional qualifications’ description in accordance to the new occupational standards and professional qualification requirements.