Guatemala requires all university graduates to register with the professional college (colegio profesional) corresponding to their degree within six months of graduation. This mandatory registration, known as colegiatura profesional, is established by Decreto 72 (Ley de Colegiacion Profesional Obligatoria) and applies to every profession that has a recognized university-level degree program. Without active colegiatura, a professional cannot legally practice their profession in Guatemala.
The system of professional colleges serves multiple purposes: it maintains ethical standards within each profession, provides a registry of qualified practitioners for public verification, offers continuing education opportunities, and gives each profession a collective voice in public policy. Guatemala has professional colleges for lawyers and notaries (the largest and most prominent), engineers, architects, doctors and surgeons, accountants, psychologists, economists, pharmacists, veterinarians, and many other professions.
Annual membership must be maintained through payment of the annual quota. If a professional allows their colegiatura to lapse (colegiado inactivo), they cannot sign professional documents, serve as expert witnesses, or hold positions that require active professional registration. For lawyers and notaries, an inactive colegiatura means they cannot sign legal documents or notarize anything — effectively suspending their entire practice.
Quick summary: Professional registration is mandatory within 6 months of graduation (Q200 fine if late). Annual fee required to stay active. You cannot practice without it. Located at Edificio Colegios Profesionales, 0 Calle 15-46, Zona 15, Nivel 8.
Information verified March 2026.
Major Professional Colleges
| College | Profession |
|---|---|
| Colegio de Abogados y Notarios | Lawyers and Notaries |
| Colegio de Ingenieros | Engineers (all specialties) |
| Colegio de Arquitectos | Architects |
| Colegio de Medicos y Cirujanos | Physicians and Surgeons |
| CCPA (Contadores Publicos y Auditores) | Accountants and Auditors |
| Colegio de Farmaceuticos y Quimicos | Pharmacists and Chemists |
| Colegio de Economistas | Economists |
| Colegio de Psicologos | Psychologists |
Requirements
- Certification of graduation (max 6 months old) from the university
- Original university degree with SAT and Contraloria seals
- Authenticated photocopy of DPI
- Studio photographs (cedula or passport size)
- Payment of registration fee
- For lawyers: criminal and police background checks, plus two sworn declarations from active colegiados
Step-by-Step Process
- Obtain graduation certification from your university (must be recent, max 6 months)
- Register your degree with SAT (tax stamps) and Contraloria General de Cuentas
- Gather all required documents per your specific professional college
- Visit the corresponding professional college at Edificio Colegios Profesionales (0 Calle 15-46, Zona 15, Nivel 8, Guatemala City)
- Submit your application and pay the registration fee
- Receive your colegiado number and active status card
- Pay annual fees to maintain active status
From the US (Diaspora Info)
- Guatemalan professionals abroad who want to practice in Guatemala must first have active colegiatura
- If you graduated from a foreign university, your degree must be homologated by USAC before you can join a professional college
- A representative with poder especial can handle the registration process in Guatemala
- Maintaining active colegiatura while abroad allows you to resume practice immediately upon return
Edge Cases & Special Situations
Details
If you graduated from a foreign university, your degree must first be homologated (validated) by USAC (Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala). The homologation process evaluates whether the foreign university is accredited and the curriculum matches Guatemalan standards. Only after successful homologation can you apply for colegiatura. See our foreign degree equivalency guide. This process can take 6-12 months.
Details
If you stop paying annual dues, your status becomes ‘colegiado inactivo.’ This means you cannot sign professional documents, serve as an expert witness, or hold positions requiring active registration. For lawyers, inactive status means you cannot notarize documents. To reactivate, you must pay all back dues (cuotas atrasadas) plus any reactivation fees. Some colleges charge the full accumulated amount; others offer payment plans.
Details
Yes. If you have a law degree and an engineering degree, you must register with both the Colegio de Abogados y Notarios AND the Colegio de Ingenieros, and pay annual dues to both. Each colegiatura is independent. However, you only need active status in the college corresponding to the profession you are currently practicing.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- Do not miss the 6-month deadline. The Q200 fine is the least of your worries — practicing without registration is illegal and any professional work you do without it has no legal standing.
- Pay your annual fee on time. Lapsing into inactive status means you cannot sign professional documents, and reactivation requires paying back dues.
- Lawyers and notaries have the most stringent requirements including character references from two active colegiados and background checks. Start gathering these early.
- Keep your colegiado card current. Many institutions (courts, banks, government offices) verify active status before accepting professional services.