Cross-border recognition of the professional experience of lead archaeologists

06 August 2025

Cross-border recognition of the professional experience of lead archaeologists

06 August 2025

Within the framework of the #ACCESS project, CESCI is working to identify legal and administrative obstacles that complicate the everyday lives of people living in the Hungarian–Slovak border region, and to develop solutions in cooperation with the relevant authorities. A highly effective tool in this effort is the Helpdesk service available on the project website, which allows citizens to report such obstacles.

CESCI researches and presents the relevant legislation of the neighboring country for citizens, and has already successfully addressed a previous Helpdesk submission regarding the difficulties faced by Slovak commuters in obtaining Hungarian SIM cards. The case highlighted a lack of information and insufficient communication, which was resolved with the involvement of the competent authority (the National Media and Infocommunications Authority of Hungary).

Another case, related to cross-border employment and the recognition of professional experience of lead archaeologists, was also brought to CESCI’s attention through the #ACCESS Helpdesk. According to the report, the recognition of lead archaeologists’ acquired professional experience between Hungary and Slovakia currently faces several difficulties. Our project further investigated the issue and found that the recognition of excavation experience for lead archaeologists is based on different procedures in Hungary and Slovakia, even though the expectations are highly similar. Under current circumstances, archaeologists with excavation experience cannot take up lead positions across the border, as administrative differences hinder the free movement of labor.

The investigation revealed that:

Archaeologists who have studied and worked in Hungary cannot obtain excavation permits in Slovakia.
In Slovakia, obtaining the permit requires employment with a designated heritage protection organization and proof of at least three years of continuous employment as a lead archaeologist on Slovak excavations. Additionally, a special eligibility certificate must be obtained from a designated Committee.
In Hungary, the Excavation Committee evaluates whether a person meets the requirements to lead excavations based on appropriate qualifications and professional experience measured by a specific points system.

In both countries, the permit is granted to the employing legal entity, but in Slovakia, the recognition of professional experience is tied to years of work, while in Hungary it is mainly based on the number of excavations through a scoring system.

In response to the case, CESCI contacted both the Hungarian Excavation Committee and the Slovak Archeologická Rada (Excavation Committee – Monuments Board) both of which were cooperative in investigating the issue. Stakeholder involvement continued with an expert consultation organized by CESCI, during which the committees also examined the long-term feasibility of creating a unified permit system.

The expert consultation concluded the following:

Both the Hungarian and Slovak Excavation Committees supported the mutual recognition of professional experience for lead archaeologists and were open to ensuring compatibility between the systems based on years or points of experience. However, introducing a unified permitting system would require amendments to the national legislation of both Slovakia and Hungary.
According to Slovak experts, amending the heritage protection law is currently on the agenda, and falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.
Experts requested from the individual who acquired professional experience in Hungary to contact the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic, which can provide detailed information on the rules for obtaining the eligibility certificate and offer assistance in recognizing the acquired experience, provided the statutory requirements are met.

The participants of the expert consultation appreciated the opportunity to discuss the mutual recognition of professional archaeological practice for lead archaeologists. They also expressed a strong willingness to cooperate in aligning the two countries’ similar heritage protection systems, as both aim to continuously raise the professional standards of archaeological research.

CESCI treats employment-related issues in the border region as a priority within the #ACCESS project, with the goal of eliminating the associated legal and administrative barriers.

Building partnership!

The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.

For more information visit www.skhu.eu.

Building partnership!

The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.

For more information visit www.skhu.eu.