Kazakhstan Recognizes Course Certificates as Equivalent to University Diplomas
Kazakhstan’s National Council for Professional Qualifications, in collaboration with industry experts, has approved a new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) that officially recognizes certificates from professional and advanced training courses as valid proof of education for employment purposes.
Previously, only diplomas from universities, colleges, and technical schools were accepted. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, the revised system now also includes non-formal and informal learning, skills and knowledge acquired outside traditional educational institutions over a person’s lifetime. The reform is based on the European Qualifications Framework and tailored to meet the evolving demands of Kazakhstan’s labor market.
“The updated NQF was developed in line with Kazakhstan’s labor and education legislation and incorporates international practices. It is based on transparency and comparability, which ensures recognition of competencies acquired in different sectors and facilitates labor mobility. The framework supports lifelong learning and is tailored to the real needs of the economy,” said First Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askarbek Yertayev.
The framework consists of eight levels, ranked by increasing complexity of tasks, responsibility, and knowledge intensity. Under the new system, not only are diplomas and work experience recognized, but certificates from short-term courses and qualifications verified via the Career Enbek portal are now considered official evidence of skills.
The Ministry also clarified labor code provisions regarding multiple employment. Citizens are permitted to work for more than one employer, provided the total working time does not exceed 12 hours per day, up to eight hours at the primary job and four hours in secondary employment. However, minors under 18 and employees in hazardous occupations, excluding healthcare workers, are prohibited from holding multiple jobs. Civil servants may not take on secondary employment, except in teaching, research, or creative roles.
As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, authorities have recently increased pressure on employers who pay “gray wages”, salaries paid off the books without tax or social contributions.
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