ASEAN Members States (AMS) aim to realize the free flow of skilled labour within ASEAN by 2015 as embodied in the Economic Blueprint, one of the three blueprints adopted for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). 

Thus far, a Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) Framework has been formalized among AMS for the mutual recognition of education and experiences obtained in seven priority sectors

• architectural services,
• surveying,
• medical practitioners,
• dental practitioners,
• engineering services,
• nursing and accounting services, and
• tourism professionals.  

All 10 ASEAN Member States are already participating members of these seven MRAs and different mechanisms are being established to administer their implementation. The 8th MRA on Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) aims to facilitate the mobility of tourism professionals within ASEAN based on competence-based tourism qualifications.

While MRAS have been reached in 7 professions in ASEAN, work remains on defining competency-based qualifications and benchmarks.