Understanding the Professional Situation Certificate (SEP)
The Professional Situation Certificate, issued by Mexico’s Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP), may soon become a new labor requirement to validate certifications, studies, and competencies for both job applicants and active employees. This document verifies educational backgrounds, certifications, skills, and even highlights any sanctions.
Accessibility of the Professional Situation Certificate
With just a few clicks, employers can now easily access a worker’s academic history through the SEP’s Professional Situation Certificate. To obtain this document, one only needs the professional identification number or the full name and CURP (Unique Registry of Population) of the individual.
Validity and Legality of Requesting the Certificate
Roberto Herrera, a senior labor law specialist at EY, states that the Professional Situation Certificate holds validity as it is issued by the SEP. Jaime Rodríguez Eguiarte, a partner at Ibarra del Paso Gallego, confirms that companies can request this certificate from both job applicants and active employees during recruitment, hiring, or even throughout the employment relationship.
Professional License vs. Professional Situation Certificate
While a professional license is mandatory to practice one’s profession, the Professional Situation Certificate can serve as an employment condition depending on the field. This document is more common in healthcare, legal, piloting, and architecture professions.
Jaime Rodríguez Eguiarte explains that certain professions, like medicine, require a valid professional license for practitioners to issue prescriptions or treat patients outside of their mandatory training periods. In contrast, the Professional Situation Certificate aims to provide certainty that an individual possesses the necessary technical skills, has completed required courses, and is qualified to perform the offered activities.
Professional Situation Certificate as a New Requirement in Job Postings
According to Roberto Herrera, the Professional Situation Certificate is similar to a CURP but includes detailed academic situation information for each person, holds official validity, and can be part of the documents requested by companies during their hiring process.
The Federal Labor Law allows for the suspension of employment if a worker’s actions (e.g., a driver without a valid license) hinder their job performance. This applies to sectors like healthcare, where nurses must have a valid professional license and clear of any sanctions.
Sancions: A Key Aspect of the Professional Situation Certificate
One crucial aspect of the Professional Situation Certificate is verifying if an individual can perform specific activities without any sanctions. This document acts as a double-check, ensuring that the person’s professional status remains valid and free of any misconduct or criminal charges.
Roberto Herrera explains that the certificate’s limited validity (approximately 15 days) stems from the sanctions section, which might indicate that the certificate’s validity period is tied to this information. Jaime Rodríguez Eguiarte adds that the certificate’s validity is likely connected to the sanctions listed, allowing employers to verify if a worker holds the required specialization and capacity.
The Professional Situation Certificate Complements, Not Replaces, the Professional License
It’s essential to understand that the Professional Situation Certificate complements, rather than replaces, the professional license. Just as the RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is provided when filing taxes with SAT and updated based on tax payments, the Professional Situation Certificate will be periodically updated to reflect a professional’s current status.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Professional Situation Certificate? It’s a document issued by Mexico’s SEP that verifies educational backgrounds, certifications, skills, and any sanctions for job applicants or active employees.
- How can employers access this certificate? By using the professional identification number or full name and CURP of the individual through the SEP’s online platform.
- Is it legal for companies to request this certificate? Yes, according to the Federal Labor Law and expert opinions, companies can request this certificate during recruitment, hiring, or throughout the employment relationship.
- Does this certificate replace the professional license? No, it complements the professional license by providing additional information on a professional’s skills, course completion, and any sanctions.
- What is the validity period of this certificate? Its limited validity (approximately 15 days) is tied to the sanctions section, ensuring that the information remains current.
