Article 5 of the Mexican Constitution protects the freedom to work in any lawful profession. It then adds: “La ley determinará en cada entidad federativa, cuáles son las profesiones que necesitan título para su ejercicio” (The law shall determine in each federal entity which professions need a title to be practiced). The same law sets the conditions for obtaining the title and names the authorities that issue it.
The Vocabulary of the Title
Profesionista, a person who has studied a profession and practices it. The Diccionario del español de México of El Colegio de México gives the example un profesionista de gran valor, a professional of great worth.
Titularse, to obtain one’s professional title: “El año pasado se titularon casi todos mis compañeros de generación” (Last year almost all my classmates got their titles). Pasante, a person who has passed all the courses of a degree but has not yet taken the professional exam, as in un pasante de derecho, a law pasante.
The Accountant’s Signature
A dictamen fiscal is an accountant’s audit opinion on a taxpayer’s financial statements for tax purposes. Article 52 of Mexico’s Federal Tax Code allows only registered persons to sign one. Registration is open to Mexicans “que tengan título de contador público registrado ante la Secretaría de Educación Pública” (who hold a title of public accountant registered with the Ministry of Public Education).
They must also have belonged to a recognized professional association for at least three years, hold a certification and have at least three years of experience preparing tax audits. Foreign accountants qualify only where an international treaty allows it.
Becoming a Notary
In April 2024, the office of Mexico City’s legal counsel published the schedule of the exams for the patent of aspirant to the office of notary.
Under the city’s notary law, an aspirant must be a lawyer “con cédula profesional” (with a professional license) and prove at least twelve months of uninterrupted practice in a notary’s office. The patent of notary is issued by the head of the city government. The city’s notary offices are known by number.
The False Psychiatrist
In November 2024, Marilyn Cote, a woman in Puebla who presented herself as a psychiatrist, became national news. The Ministry of Public Education found that she had no professional license in the health fields. On November 14, El Financiero reported that she “fue denunciada por la Secretaría de Educación Pública por usurpación de profesión” (was denounced by the Ministry of Public Education for usurping a profession). (Video in Spanish.)
The Prosecutor’s License
In January 2024, critics questioned whether Ulises Lara met the requirements to lead the prosecutor’s office of Mexico City on an interim basis.
A license as a law graduate is “requisito indispensable para que cualquier persona ocupe un cargo de fiscal” (an indispensable requirement for anyone to hold the office of prosecutor), El Universal wrote. The records of the Ministry of Public Education had shown only a license in sociology for him.
On January 9, 2024, the ministry issued him “una cédula profesional de licenciado en derecho” (a professional license as a law graduate).
Doubts About 305,333 Titles
In September 2021, El Financiero reported on a review by the Auditoría Superior de la Federación, the federal audit office.
It had found “dudas en la autenticidad de 305 mil 333 títulos y 29 mil 588 cédulas profesionales” (doubts about the authenticity of 305,333 titles and 29,588 professional licenses) registered by the Ministry of Public Education. The ministry replied that the universities issue the degrees, and that the audit did not affect the authenticity of the licenses.
Usurping a Profession
Article 250 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code punishes anyone who claims the standing of a professional without the legal title. The penalty is one to six years in prison and a fine.
The title rests on the cédula profesional, which the Ministry of Public Education issues through its Directorate General of Professions. The cédula is required in fields such as health, law, architecture and engineering.