Preparing for application

For your BIG registration you need an official copy of a valid diploma. Depending on your situation, additional documents may be required. Make sure you have everything complete before you start the online registration, that will save time.

What does everyone need?

For the application for a BIG registration, each applicant must provide a (certified copy of a) valid diploma of the profession for which you are applying for registration. You can provide the diploma in two ways:

Via the direct link with 'My diplomas' from DUO
If your diploma is included in My diplomas and you log in to 'My BIG register' with DigiD, you can select your diploma in our online application form. Your diploma will then be checked directly in My diplomas. Have you just obtained your diploma? Then it may take a few weeks before the diploma is available in My diplomas.
Upload copy (only for clinical psychologist or psychotherapist)
Did you graduate as a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist after 1 June 2025 and have you given permission to the CRT to share your data? Then you can upload a regular copy of your diploma in My BIG register. We will check the data via the CRT. Did you obtain your diploma before 1 June 2025? Then you must send a certified copy by post.
Certified copy by post
Some diplomas, such as those of the general remedial educationalist, are not listed in DUO. In that case, you will see in the online form that you must send a certified copy. This also applies if you log in with a BIG login (i.e. without DigiD). Send the copy by post after submitting your application. Most courses provide one or more certified copies as standard.

Apply for DigiD?

Please request a DigiD to be able to login. Logging in with DigiD has a number of advantages: for most professions, the diploma can be checked directly in My diplomas from DUO, various details are filled in and printing out, signing and sending the application by post is no longer necessary. Anyone with a Citizen Service Number (BSN) can apply for DigiD. If you do not yet have a BSN, you can request a (temporary) BIG login .

Possible additional documents

If one of the following situations applies to you, this means that you must submit one or more additional documents with your application. The situations state which document it concerns.

Did you complete a vocational training in another language?

Did you follow your vocational training in a language other than Dutch, for example in English? Then you need proof of language proficiency. If you have a foreign diploma, then other procedures apply.

Have you lived or worked abroad in your profession?

Then you must provide 2 types of additional evidence:

Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) – This shows that your foreign registration is still valid and that there are no restrictions. This is also called: Letter of Good Standing , Attest of (Unbedenklichkeits)bescheinigung .
Declaration of Good Conduct (CGC) – This shows that you have no criminal record.

You apply for both declarations in any country where you have lived or worked in your profession for more than 3 months after obtaining your diploma.

The statements:

may not be older than 3 months
must be original or certified

The list of competent authorities shows where you can request these statements.
You usually request a CGC from the Ministry of Justice or Home Affairs of the country in question. You do not need to provide a CCPS or CGC from the Netherlands .

View examples: documents/evidence that you must provide from abroad.

Have you completed a bilingual physiotherapy course?

A number of schools offer the physiotherapy course in Dutch and English. Read carefully what you need to provide an additional document in which situation.

Then there are two possibilities:

1. You obtained your physiotherapy diploma from one of these schools.

Fontys Eindhoven
Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen
Saxion
Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

These courses ask your permission to inform the BIG register that you followed the course in Dutch. You do not have to provide proof of this yourself.

Please note! If you do not give permission for your data to be shared, you must submit the school's statement yourself with your registration application.

2. You have completed your education in Dutch at one of these schools:

Amsterdam University of Applies Sciences
SOMT Amersfoort (bachelor) combined with Maastricht University (master)
Tim van der Laan

These courses do not (yet) share any information with us. You must always submit the school's statement that you followed the course in Dutch with your registration application.

Is your diploma older than 5 years?

If you are a pharmacist, physician, physiotherapist, healthcare psychologist, clinical technologist, general educational psychologist, physician assistant, psychotherapist, dentist, nurse or midwife and you want to register with a diploma that is older than 5 years, you must also meet the criteria for re-registration. You must have worked a certain number of hours within the area of expertise of your profession (work experience criteria) or have obtained a Periodic Registration Certificate (PRC) via a set training programme for the core skills of your profession (training criteria). You can find more information in the specific re-registration criteria for your profession.

Please note! With a diploma older than 5 years, digital application via 'My BIG register' is not possible. You submit your registration application via an application form (PDF in Dutch).

Explanation when submitting documents

You can upload certain documents in 'My BIG register'. In the 'explanation of submitting documents' you will find information about which documents you can upload and which mail must be sent. You will also find an explanation of how uploading works.

Do you have all the necessary documents at home?

Start your online application