Diploma over 5 years old

If you are a clinical technologist, dentist, doctor, health psychologist, midwife, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, physician assistant, psychotherapist, registered dental hygienist (temporary BIG registration) and remedial educationalist and you obtained your diploma more than 5 years ago, you must meet additional requirements. These are the same requirements that apply to re-registration.

Last updated on the 12th of december 2024

What is re-registration?

Every five years, all healthcare providers in the BIG register are asked to apply for re-registration. Re-registration helps to ensure that care is provided by care providers who are active in their profession. To do this, they must demonstrate that they have worked a certain number of hours in their profession (work experience criteria), or can obtain a Periodic Registration Certificate (PRC) for the core skills of their profession (training criteria) through a defined training pathway, and thus demonstrate that they meet the required level.

What does this mean for your application?

If you want to register with a Dutch or a recognised foreign diploma that you obtained more than 5 years ago, you must also immediately meet the (work experience) criteria for re-registration. In order to demonstrate that you meet these additional requirements, you must provide certain documents (supporting documents) with your application.

You can find more information about the criteria in the specific criteria for your profession. Advice regarding the supporting documents to be provided, can be found on documentary proof of work experience.

The procedure

Below you will see the steps of the application procedure if your diploma is more than 5 years old.

The application in 8 steps
1. 1.Check the conditions
  For registration in the BIG register with a diploma which is more than 5 years old, you must meet the following conditions:
  - you must have a valid professional diploma for the profession for which you wish to register;
  - you must meet the re-registration criteria for your profession;
  - you must be able to exercise your profession without restrictions;
  - you must not be under supervision (guardianship) due to a physical or mental issue.
2. 2.Prepare your application:
  
  For your application to be processed quickly, it is important that you prepare the application properly. We recommend that you start by reading the ‘Prepare your application’ section. Here you will find, among other things, the regularly required documents that you must include with the application. You must also carefully read the extra criteria that apply to your profession.
3. 3.Supporting documents showing proof of work experience or training
  
  Supporting documents include an employer's declaration and a job description, for example. On our page 'Documentary proof of work experience', you will find suggestions for the documents you can submit in order to demonstrate your work experience.
  
  Work experience that you gained in the Netherlands, but for which you were not registered in the BIG register, may not be counted towards re-registration. The same applies to work experience outside the Netherlands, which must be acquired in an authorised manner.
  
  What if you do not meet the work experience requirements?
  
  Then you may be able to register by obtaining a Periodic Registration Certificate (PRC) through a special training programme.
  
  Please always contact us to find out if obtaining a PRC is possible for you.
4. 4.Complete the application form
  You must submit your registration application by means of an application form (PDF). Below, you can find out which form to use:
  - If you have sufficient work experience that meets the specified re-registration criteria, use the 'aanvraagformulier werkervaring' [in Dutch] (application form for registration with work experience);
  - If you have obtained a Periodic Registration Certificate (PRC), use the 'aanvraagformulier scholing' [in Dutch] (application form for registration with training ).
  - If you have a foreign diploma and wish to obtain a Periodic Registration Certificate (PRC) for your profession, please contact us first.
5. 5.Submit your application and the required documents
6. 6.Track your application in ‘Mijn BIG-register’
  
  Here, you will find your personal digital dossier as soon as your application and documents have been received and processed. Your application and the submitted documents will be visible here. You will also find (a copy off) all correspondence from us and you can view the status of your application.
  
  In order to be registered in ‘Mijn BIG-register'[in Dutch], you need DigiD (if you have a citizen service number (BSN)) or a BIG login (if you do not yet have a BSN). If you do not yet have a login method, request one first via DigiD, or if you do not yet have a BIG login, you can request one via this website.
7. 7.Decision and registration
  
  Once your application is complete, we will assess it. You will receive a proposed decision on your application within 8 weeks. Once your application has been approved, you will be registered in the BIG register. Your name, profession and BIG number will be published on this website and can be viewed by anyone.
  
  Please ensure that your BIG number is easy to find and visible to your current and prospective healthcare users. This way, they will always know that they are dealing with a qualified healthcare provider.
  
  On this website, you can find more information about aspects such as the rights and obligations of BIG registration and the mandatory 5-yearly re-registration.
8. 8.Objections and appeals (if applicable)