ID cards for regulated social welfare and healthcare professionals

The ID card for regulated social welfare and healthcare professionals is intended for social welfare and healthcare professionals, such as doctors, pharmacists, nurses and bachelors of social services.

The professional ID card is used to identify users reliably in healthcare information systems and use electronic signatures in patient documents and prescriptions.

The applicant of an ID card must have a valid practice right in the Terhikki or Suosikki register. If no valid practice right is listed in the Terhikki or Suosikki register, it is not possible to order an ID card.

A regulated social welfare and health care professional's ID card is personal and it is tied to the card holder’s professional practice rights. A social welfare and healthcare professional can work nationwide in all healthcare sector organisations with the same ID card.

The professional ID card is valid for five years, unless there are valid limiting factors to the person’s professional practice rights.

The following data is displayed on the front of the card: card validity, the card holder’s registration number, their last and first name, and their professional title. The cardholder's photograph is printed on the front of the card if the card is ordered with a picture. The information on the back of the card includes the card’s serial number.

Are you renewing your ID card?

If your current ID card has less than three months of validity left, you can renew it through the WebVartti service. When you order a new card via WebVartti, you can order it either with or without a photo, as indicated by your previous ID card. The photo on the card cannot be changed on WebVartti. If your current card does not have a photo but you want a photo on your new card, order a new one from a registration point. You can renew your ID card for regulated social welfare and healthcare professionals on WebVartti only if your current card has less than three months of validity left or if your name has changed.

Instructions for using the WebWartti service can be found at the end of the page under the heading "Instructions and Terms of Use".

Do the following

How do I order my first ID card?

If you are ordering your first ID card for professionals or if your previous professional ID is no longer valid, order a new card at a public health service registration point. If you work in a pharmacy, order your first ID card primarily from the pharmacy's own registration point.

1. Book an appointment at the registration point. Contact the selected registration point either directly or make an appointment through the appointment service. The appointment service is only available at some registration points.

Public registration authorities by hospital district

Appointment service for registration points

2. Bring a valid identification document to the registration point:

electronic ID card or passport
passport or electronic ID card issued by a Member State of the European Economic Area, Sitzerland or San Marino
a passport issued by an authority of another state.

If you do not have any of the aforementioned documents, the police may, at request, verify your identity and draw up a separate identification document. The police will send the identification document to the registration authority.

3. You will receive your ID card by post approximately two weeks after ordering it. After the card arrives, you will also receive an activation PIN in a separate letter which you will need to activate the card.

How do I start using the ID card?

In order to use your card for e.g. identification purposes or signing prescriptions, you must first activate it. To active your card, you will need an activation code, which is sent to you in a separate letter. During activation, you will create two personal PINs for the card.

Instructions for activating the ID card

I forgot my PIN code. How do I change my card’s PIN code?

If you have forgotten one or both of your personal PIN numbers, you can create new ones yourself. To create a new PIN, you will need an activation code, card reader software, and a card reader.

Changing the PIN code and releasing a forgotten code

How soon will I receive the card?

The delivery time for the card and the activation code letter is approximately two weeks. The activation code is sent approximately 4 working days after the card has been sent.

Instructions

Activating a smart card with an activation code

Changing the PIN code and releasing a forgotten code

Price

The professional ID card itself is free of charge, but the public health service registration point may charge a fee for its registration services. You can check the possible service fees by contacting the registration point. Some of the registration points indicate the price of their service in the appointment booking service.

ID card instructions and terms of use

Social Welfare and Health Care Smart Card User Guide (pdf in finnish)

WebVartti instructions (pdf in finnish)

Sending an encrypted and digitally signed e-mail using a certificate (pdf in finnish)

Terms and conditions for professional ID cards for social welfare and healthcare professionals (pdf)