In 28 April 2010 correspondence to the Research Directorate, a representative from the Authorization and Profesional Registry Directorate (Dirección de Autorización y Registro Profesional) of the Directorate General of Professions (Dirección General de Profesiones) of the Federal Ministry of Education (Secretaría de Educación Pública, SEP) (Mexico 14 Feb. 2010) stated that the National Registry of Professionals is a database that contains information on individuals who have registered their professional title (título profesional) and obtained a corresponding professional licence (cédula profesional) (ibid. 28 Apr. 2010a). This registry is administered by the Directorate General of Professions (ibid.).

In 28 April 2010 correspondence to the Research Directorate, a representative from the Department of Educational Institutions (Departamento de Instituciones Educativas) of SEP (ibid. 14 Feb. 2010) stated that the Federal Law on the Practice of Professions in the Federal District (Ley Reglamentaria del Artículo 5o. Constitucional, Relativo al Ejercicio de las Profesiones en el Distrito Federal) is the legal instrument that governs the Directorate General of Professions (Mexico 28 Apr. 2010b).

He also added that this directorate is the only institution entitled to issue professional licences throughout Mexico and that these licences are valid in all states (ibid.).

Section 3 of the Act states that individuals who hold a professional licence or a university degree can obtain a [professional] licence after registering their title or their graduation diploma (Mexico 1945, Sec. 3; ibid. 28 Apr. 2010b). This card is a licence to practise a profession (Mexico 1945, Sec. 3; ibid. 28 Apr. 2010a). Under the Act, anyone practising a profession must: have the legal capacity to exercise their civil rights, must hold a legally issued and duly registered [professional] title, and must hold a professional licence issued by the Directorate General of Professions (Mexico 1945, Sec. 25). Under section 1 of the Act, the professional title is issued by the government, or by any other agency entitled to issue such a document, which attests that its holder has successfully completed a program of study leading to a diploma or has the necessary knowledge to be granted such a title in accordance with the law (Mexico 1945, Sec. 1).

According to the SEP website, Mexican professionals who study in Mexico to become technicians, professional technicians, university technologists, associate professional officers, or in order to obtain a bachelor’s degree, can register and be issued a professional licence (Mexico 18 Feb. 2010).

In his correspondence, the Representative from the Department of Educational Institutions indicated that the National Registry of Professionals was created on 26 May 1945 (Mexico 27 Apr. 2010), the same year that the first professional licence was issued (ibid. 28 Apr. 2010a). According to this Representative, the first licence was numbered 1 (ibid. 27 Apr. 2010). Since then, the licence numbers have corresponded to the number of professional licences issued (ibid.). He estimated that there are approximately 6,437,000 licences in circulation (ibid.). Consequently, on 28 April 2010, the department started issuing professional licences with numbers that contain seven digits (ibid.).

In his correspondence, the Representative of the Authorization and Professional Registry Directorate indicated that the information shown on professional licences issued by the SEP can be verified on the agency’s website (Mexico 28 Apr. 2010a).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Mexico. 28 April 2010a. Dirección de Autorización y Registro Profesional de la Dirección General de Profesiones du Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). Written communication sent to the Research Directorate by a representative.

_____. 28 April 2010b. Departamento de Instituciones Educativas de la Dirección General de Profesiones du Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). Written communication sent to the Research Directorate by a representative.

_____. 27 April 2010. Departamento de Instituciones Educativas de la Dirección General de Profesiones du Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). Written communication sent to the Research Directorate by a representative.

_____. 18 February 2010. Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). “Direcciones de la SEP - Registro de Titulo y Expedición de Cédula.” [Accessed 29 Apr. 2010]

_____. 14 February 2010. Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). “Direcciones de la SEP - Directorio de Funcionarios.” [Accessed 29 Apr. 2010]

_____. 1945 [amended in 1993]. Ley Reglamentaria del Artículo 5o. Constitucional, Relativo al Ejercicio de las Profesiones en el Distrito Federal. [Accessed 28 Apr. 2010]