The Federal Law specifies the powers of federal executive bodies in the field of education and in the field of research and development (R&D) as regards issuance, validation, recognition, and establishment of equivalency for documents concerning education, academic degrees, and academic titles, as well as the creation and definition of authority and the composition of thesis committees for PhD and Doctor of Science candidates.
The Federal Law also stipulates that for the purposes of state certification of scientific and educational research workers by the Russian Federation Government, a State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles is being established under the federal executive body in charge of developing state policy and regulation in the sphere of scientific work and R&D.