Changes to the National Shortage Occupation List for Work Permits

The Home Office have announced the following changes to the National Shortage Occupation list.

New Occupations Added to the List

Teachers: with immediate effect, all posts in Scotland covering compulsory schooling will be added to the list.

As a result of this change work permit applications for Teachers in Scotland will no longer be subject to a full resident labour test.

This change to the shortage occupation list has been the result of consultation with the Scottish Executive and the General Teaching Council for Scotland .

Occupations Removed from the List

With effect from 29 May 2007, the following occupations will be removed from the National Shortage List:

• Senior Physiotherapists
• Salaried General Dental Practitioners
• Salaried Assistant Dentists
• Salaried Vocational Dental Practitioners

All work permit applications received by the Border and Immigration Agency on or after 29 May 2007 for these posts will now need to be subject to a full resident labour test. Employers will be required to submit evidence that posts have been advertised, with full details of those who applied and were interviewed, and why resident nationals were not considered suitable. Only when the resident labour test has been satisfied will consideration be given to issuing a work permit.

This change has been the result of consultation with the Department of Health and sector stakeholders.