The Order is also responsible for the elaboration of specific technical and deontological norms and has an autonomous disciplinary regime by imperative of tutelage, in the pursue of public interest.
[1] The establishment of professional Order is exceptional and can only take place when its purpose is to safeguard a public interest of particular importance that the State cannot directly ensure.
[1] Under the law, the term Order (in Portuguese: Ordem) is to be used only when the exercise of the regulated professions depends on the prior attainment of a bachelor's degree or higher.
Orders can be internally subdivided into specialized colleges (in Portuguese: Colégios das Especialidades), which group different areas of expertise within the Profession.
The Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, under Article 267 (4), establishes that Orders can only be incorporated to satisfy specific needs and that they cannot perform the functions of trade unions associations.