The situation has changed, and craftsmen now have the opportunity to legalize their skills. This can be done at the Center for Independent Certification and Validation under the Ministry of Education and Science.
Orozbek: 25 Years of Experience Without Documents
Orozbek Tölöbekov is a plumber with more than 25 years of experience. He learned the profession on his own after the collapse of the USSR and has worked for many years in private companies, installing systems in residential buildings and institutions. Despite thousands of completed jobs, he had no official confirmation of his skills.“Nowadays, the requirements for documents have become stricter. I love my job and do not intend to change it, but the lack of a certificate limited my opportunities,” Orozbek shares.
He applied to the center to validate his skills and obtain a state certificate.
Stories of Specialists: From Builders to Ambitious Migrants
The validation procedure is becoming increasingly popular among craftsmen of different ages. Each of them sees the certificate as a solution to their specific problems.Maxim is only 21 years old, but he has already worked as a plumber for five years. He supports himself and his family, but the lack of specialized education has become a barrier for him.
“I started working at a young age, and I have significant experience. Now I want to get certified to officially find a job and have the opportunity to go abroad,” Maxim shares.
Another candidate, who works in carpentry and plumbing, already has experience in labor migration and knows that documentary confirmation of skills is important in the international labor market.
“I worked abroad, and without the appropriate documents, it is difficult to hold a decent position. I want to validate my skills here to be ready for new opportunities,” he notes.
How Does the Skills Validation System Work?
As of the beginning of 2024, a validation procedure has been officially introduced in Kyrgyzstan, allowing for the confirmation of qualifications acquired through practice. This process is managed by the Center for Independent Certification and Validation, established in August 2023.The procedure involves three parties: the candidate, an independent expert, and a potential employer. The exam is conducted according to international standards, and the specialist must not only complete the task but also adhere to all technological regulations and safety standards.
The Role of Business in Evaluation
An important feature of the system is the presence of employers at the exams. For companies, this is not just a formality, but an effective way to select personnel. Managers observe the process, assessing the candidates' skills, their work with tools, and professional discipline. Employers can also include foreign companies that have entered the Kyrgyz market.This collaboration benefits both parties:
- The employer gains confidence in the craftsman's qualifications and can assess them in action before signing a contract.
- The craftsman gets the opportunity for employment right at the examination stage.
Statistical Data and Future
According to the director of the Center for Independent Certification and Validation, Janar Shamatova, formal employment in Kyrgyzstan covers about 37% of workers, while the rest are in the shadows. The validation system aims to change this situation.“Our certificates are valued not only in Kyrgyzstan and Russia but also in other countries. Over the past two years, more than a thousand people have approached us, of which 800 have successfully passed validation,” Shamatova emphasizes.
The program covers a wide range of professions: from construction to services and manufacturing. “People in various trades can validate their skills, including locksmiths, carpenters, tailors, cooks, and maids,” she added.
Certification can be obtained not only in Bishkek but also in the regions—based on accredited colleges and assessment centers.
The list of centers conducting validation for priority professions includes:
- Bishkek College of Architecture and Construction Management;
- Tokmok College of KNAU named after Skryabin;
- Issyk-Kul Industrial-Pedagogical College;
- Naryn Agrarian-Economic College of NSU;
- Osh Industrial-Pedagogical College of OshGU;
- Jalal-Abad College of JAGU named after Osmonov;
- Kyzyl-Kiya College of Mining Technology, Innovation, and Economics named after T. Kulatov;
- Kara-Balta Technical and Economic College;
- In Bishkek, there are also vocational lyceums No. 99, No. 10, No. 3, No. 5, No. 17, No. 98, No. 100, No. 93, No. 94.
