It means that the student has to pass the licensing exam before gaining their degree, as opposed to medical students, for example, who graduate before taking the state exam.

So when nurses graduate in Italy, they are already qualified to practise (they only have to apply to the IPASVI nursing college to be included on the professional nursing register).

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/qualify

http://web.uniroma2.it/module/name/Content/newlang/english/a...