Assessment and decision

Assessment

The assessment is carried out by an independent committee of experts known as the Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates [Commissie Buitenlands Gediplomeerden Volksgezondheid] (CBGV). The members of this committee work in medical practice and at the educational institutions.

The courses in the Netherlands are different to courses abroad. The commission compares the course attended with the current Dutch course. Among other things the commission assesses whether the course attended is equivalent as regards content and level. Your qualification is recognised if the characteristics of your course are the same, or almost the same, as the Dutch course.

If that is not the case the commission will check whether the differences have been compensated by a different course, training and/or work experience. That is why it is important that your information about additional training, courses you have attended and work experience is complete. The commission uses this as a basis to advise whether an additional course/extra practical training/professional skill trial is necessary in order to obtain a certificate of competence.

Characteristics of Dutch courses

Dutch courses have the following characteristics:

• They are broad-based courses aimed at all patient categories and all care sectors, namely prevention, home care and primary and secondary care.
• The courses prepare students to become independent professionals. Care providers in the Netherlands often work independently. This means they have to be able to make diagnoses and needs assessments themselves.
• The courses not only focus on professional-technical aspects of the profession, but also on skills and competencies such as cooperation, methodical working, evidence-based thinking and professional conduct.

The assessment of your application is based on, among other things, the above characteristics.

Interview with the Commission

If your application is not approved, or not immediately, there is a possibility that you will be invited to a meeting with the commission during which the advice and any follow-up procedure will be clarified. You may, for example, need to do an additional course. This differs per profession and per person. An additional course can sometimes take several years and will also cost extra.

Intended decision

After we have received the commission's advice, we will send you a message explaining which decision we intend to take. This is referred to as the intended decision. What is more, if the decision is subject to conditions, such as attending additional courses, this will be stated in the intended decision. You have two weeks to respond to this intended decision. If you wish, you can also request a judgement review.

The decision

If you have not responded to the intended decision, you will receive the definitive decision two weeks later.

The positive decision is your certificate

If you have received a positive decision, this will be your certificate of competence. In that case you should keep the document in a safe place.

Negative decision?

If you have received a negative decision, this will mean your qualification has not been recognised. You will then be unable to work in your profession in the Netherlands. If you do not agree with the decision, you have the option of lodging an objection. You have 6 weeks to do this. In your decision and on this website you can find an explanation of how to lodge an objection and how much time you have to do so.

Questions about the decision

If you have any questions about the decision, or if you want to know what you should do as a result of the decision, you should contact our Client Contact Centre. When doing so, you should always state the reference shown on your decision.