More information about the documents you have to send to us
On this page, you will find more information about the documents (evidence) when applying for a certificate of competence or a recognition of professional qualifications. There are documents that everyone has to send to us, and there are documents that you only have to send to us if they are relevant for your situation. Each document contains more information about what must be in it. You can also find out if the document has to be the original or if it can be an authenticated or normal copy.
Some documents need to be authenticated and/or translated. Carefully read the information under ‘Certifying and translations’.
Which documents does everyone have to send to us?
- A completed application form for a certificate of competence or recognition of professional qualifications
Ideally, you should complete this form online. You must then print the form and sign it with a pen.
- A completed profession-specific annex
You only have to complete this form if there is an annex for your profession. You can find these annexes immediately below the general application form. Ideally, you should complete this form online. You must then print the form.
- An authenticated copy of your professional qualification
Most training institutions give out one or more authenticated copies along with the original qualification. Please note that it may take some time to apply for a (new) authenticated copy of your qualification. Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
- An authenticated copy of the overview of subjects that comes with your professional qualification
Most training institutions give out one or more authenticated copies of the original list of grades. It may take some time to apply for a (new) authenticated copy.
Read about authenticating your copy.
- An authenticated copy of a description of the training programme
This is a clear and complete substantive description of the training programme you took during your professional training. This is sometimes called a syllabus or curriculum. Please note: this overview is not the same as the previously mentioned overview of subjects. The overview of subjects must meet the requirements mentioned below:- Your name must be on the overview of subjects.
- It must be about the time of your professional training.
- It must give a description of the subjects you took.
- It must be divided into theoretical and practical subjects and must detail the number of hours of education in each subject.
Read about authenticating your copy.
- An authenticated copy of a valid identity document
Important: all information on the document must be clearly visible. Do not send your original identity document to us. Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
- A declaration of competence (the original or an authenticated copy)
This document must make clear that you are competent to work in the profession for which you are sending an application form in the country where you obtained your professional qualification. Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
Any additional documents
You must send us the documents below if they are relevant for your situation. We recommend that you send all relevant documents together with your application form. They may be important when we assess your application.
- A curriculum vitae (CV)
This is an overview of where and when you worked, what kind of work you did, which courses and training you took, which of your publications have been published and in which journal, etc. You must write this document in Dutch yourself.
- An authenticated copy of the front and back of your valid residence document
Important: all information on the document must be clearly visible. Read more about who may authenticate your copy. Please note: do not send your original residence document to us.
- An authenticated copy of the certificate/diploma of your qualification as a legally recognised specialist
Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
- Any other certificates or diplomas
Think of any other specialist training or follow-up training after your professional training. You must send the original or an authenticated copy. Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
- A recognition of your professional qualifications by another EU Member State, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland (the original or an authenticated copy)
This is an official declaration by the designated competent authority in another EU Member State, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. You only have to send this document to us if you worked in your profession in the country that recognised your professional qualifications. Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
- An authenticated copy of evidence that shows that you can read, speak and write Dutch sufficiently well
Think of certificates/diplomas for Dutch-language education or training or a certificate for a Dutch language course. If you can show that you can read, speak and write Dutch sufficiently well, you may not have to take the Dutch language proficiency part of the general knowledge and skills test (AKV-test).
- An authenticated copy of evidence that shows that you can read, speak and write English sufficiently well
Think of certificates/diplomas for English-language education or training or an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge certificate for the right level. If you can show that you can read, speak and write English sufficiently well, you may not have to take the English language proficiency part of the general knowledge and skills test (AKV-test).
- Certificates or diplomas for courses and/or training in your profession (originals or authenticated copies)
Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
- A declaration (which may be from your employer) about your practical and/or professional experience (the original or an authenticated copy)
This must be an official, signed declaration (from your employer or another party) showing the exact work you did in which job and during which period. Read more about who may authenticate your copy.
Delete personal data of other people from your documents
None of the documents (evidence) you send to us may include personal data of other people. For example, if your documents include personal data of patients or colleagues, you must black them out. This is because of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You may not share personal data of third parties without their permission. We may not use documents with personal data of third parties for the assessment, so they will be destroyed.