In order to be able to work in the Netherlands with a foreign healthcare diploma, your diploma first must be officially recognized. After recognition of the diploma, mandatory registration in the BIG-register follows for some professions. These are two separate applications. We try to make this a continuous process for you as much as possible. But there are, for example, mandatory documents that you must provide for your BIG-registration.

Professions in the BIG register

The professions for which BIG-registration is mandatory are: pharmacist, doctor, physiotherapist, healthcare psychologist, clinical technologist, educational psychologist-generalist, physician assistant, psychotherapist, dentist, midwife and nurse.

If you have a profession that does not require registration in the BIG register, you can immediately start working in your profession after your diploma is recognized. View the list of professions that do not require BIG registration.

You would like to return to work in your profession. That is understandable. However, before you start the entire process, it is good to think carefully about whether this really suits you and your situation. We therefore advise you, after reading this page, to check for yourself whether you can say yes to the following questions:

• Do I have sufficient motivation and time to learn the Dutch language at the required level and prepare for tests?
• Do I not mind taking additional internships or training courses if necessary? This applies to approximately 50% – 75% of applicants.
• Do I have no problem taking action by myself? This may be necessary, for example, when looking for an internship;
• Do I easily make contact with other people and network? This is also important for arranging shadowing days or internships.
• Do I have enough financial space? Different parts cost money. Going through the entire process in addition to a full-time job can sometimes be difficult.

Attention! If you receive benefits from the minicipality in which you live, you may not be able to work during some parts of the process. Talk to your municipality about this in advance.

How long exactly it takes before you can work in your profession in the Netherlands varies per profession and per person. An important step is to have your diploma recognized. This is often followed by an application for registration in the BIG register. You must prepare matters and provide documents for both. The required level of Dutch language, communication skills and substantive knowledge is high. In total, the entire process takes on average between six months and three years.

How long it takes depends on:

• how much time you (still) need to learn the Dutch language and possibly also the English language at the required language levels: learning Dutch at the right level takes on average one and a half to two years;
• how quickly it is possible to collect all documents (evidence) required for the application. Obtaining documents from outside the Netherlands sometimes takes a long time. Also, many documents or copies of these documents must be certified and translated;
• how much time you (still) need to prepare for the professional test (only for doctors, dentists and nurses);
• at what time there is room for taking the professional test;
• whether you are advised to first complete additional training or internship before your diploma can be recognized;
• whether you need to arrange other matters such as a residence permit.

In the Netherlands, for a number of professions there is a difference between the basic profession (for example doctor or nurse) and a specialization (for example oncologist or gynaecologist). In the Netherlands, there are legally recognized specializations for 5 professions. These professions are: pharmacist, doctor, healthcare psychologist, dentist and nurse. The List of specialisms and specialist registers gives you an overview of the legally recognized specialisms per profession.

Recognition of a specialization is a separate process

We only assess, recognize and register your basic diploma for the basic profession (for example doctor or nurse). The specialist registration committee (SRC) of your profession assesses, recognizes and registers your specialization. Recognizing your specialty is therefore a separate process. The SRC are also not part of the government. The SRC's also have their own requirements for recognition. This may also mean that you are recognized for the basic profession, but not for your specialization. Or that you must complete additional internships or follow additional training for your specialization to be recognized.

Initiate application

You can start your application for recognition of your specialization through us. You can read more about this later in this overview.

There are various organizations that offer help and support to healthcare providers with a foreign diploma.

• The UAF: for refugee students and professionals
  The UAF is a foundation that supports refugee students and professionals in their development and integration into the Dutch labor market. They have information, step-by-step plans and courses to guide you step by step through the procedure. They help you find language institutes that offer good preparation courses. You can also get a mentor who will guide you in the preparation of the medical assessment (professional test).
• VBGA: for foreign qualified doctors
  The Association of Foreign Certified Doctors (VBGA) guides and supports foreign qualified doctors in the recognition procedure and during their medical career in the Netherlands. The VBGA website provides information for foreign doctors about the procedure and what you can expect. There is also information for foreign nurses.
• OBUA: for foreign qualified doctors
  The Education for Foreign Doctors Foundation (OBUA) consists of foreign and Dutch doctors. The foundation supports foreign doctors to obtain their BIG registration by organizing education. They also help find internships and paid work to gain experience in Dutch healthcare.
• EDUFORYOU: for newcomers to the Netherlands
  Ed4U is a social organization that is committed to equalize opportunities in the labor market and within education for newcomers in the Netherlands. Cursusaanbod – EDU4U
• Foundation On the Way to Work
  The 'On the way to work' foundation supports foreign doctors on their way to BIG registration. They organize language lessons, preparatory workshops for the professional test, you are assigned a mentor and you can gain work experience in healthcare through them. Traject BIG-registratie ‣ OWNW

Many professions have their own professional association. Professional associations sometimes also have information on their websites for healthcare providers with a foreign diploma. There is also often a telephone number you can call for more information. They often know a lot about the Dutch labor market and your profession. They can also sometimes tell you something about the differences between the foreign and Dutch training courses for your profession.

Below you will find an overview of a number of associations.

Doctors: Foreign doctors | KNMG

Dentists: Requirements for working as a dentist in the Netherlands | KNMT

Pharmacists: Homepage | KNMP

Nurses: How to become a nurse practitioner in the Netherlands | V&VN (venvn.nl)

Health psychologists: Foreign professional qualification (fgzpt.nl)

Psychotherapists: Foreign professional qualification (fgzpt.nl)

Physiotherapists: KNGF

Midwives: Registration after training abroad - KNOV

Physician Assistant: Application for BIG registration: open for Physician Assistants - NAPA from May 15th

The professional association of the professions for which BIG registration is not required (but recognition is required) can be found on this page: Other professions (Article 34 professions) | Registration | BIG register (bigregister.nl)

We think it is important that you know what to expect before you decide to submit an application for a Declaration of Professional Competence. We therefore regularly organize (online) information meetings. During this meeting, the procedure and the documents that you must provide will be explained. The second part of the meeting consists of more specific information per profession (type). Of course you can also ask questions. The presentations are given in English. You can register for one of these meetings on this website.
 

Customer contact center

You can also contact our customer contact center with your questions. You can call or email us.

The total costs of the entire process varies per person. The total costs can consist of a number of things:

• course or training in Dutch and possibly English at the correct level and taking a test. Take into account an amount of approximately €500,- per level;
• Costs for documents (evidence) that you must send with the application;
• Costs for having documents certified and/or translated;
• Costs for the professional content tests (BI tests) for doctors, dentists and nurses You pay a contribution to the costs between €400,- (nurses) and €1.700,- (doctors);
• Costs for exam training, travel expenses, books for the tests mentioned above (not mandatory);
• Costs for any additional learning or internship program. For example, if you receive advice on your application to take additional training, this will incur costs. These costs vary by profession and type of additional education. These costs are charged by the educational institution;
• Costs of €85,- for the mandatory BIG registration if this is necessary to be allowed to work in your profession;
• If you also want to have your specialist diploma recognized and registered, this will also incur costs. The combined rate for recognition and registration is approximately € 2.285,-. If an adjustment internship must be completed, an additional € 750,- will be added (a different rate applies for general practice). The recognition and registration of a specialist diploma is not done by the BIG register, but by Specialist Registration Committees (SRC). These are not government organizations. This makes the costs higher.

There are no costs involved for you to have your diploma recognized by the BIG register.

For some professions, we know that almost everyone who wants to have their diploma recognized encounters the same extra steps or hurdles. Below you will find an overview of these professions with explanations and, where possible, advice:

Caregiver in Healthcare (VIG)

The Dutch VIG training consists of three parts: hospital care, elderly care and care for the disabled. When assessing your application, we will look at whether you have training or experience in all three of these components. If one is missing, you often have to do an additional internship. Finding an internship in your area can be difficult. You can therefore also choose to take the vocational learning path (BBL). This is a course with a combination of work and learning. You will then obtain a Dutch VIG diploma in just over two years and earn a salary in the meantime.

Healthcare psychologist and psychotherapist

In the Netherlands, the healthcare psychologist (GZ psychologist) is a specialization that takes approximately two years after the master's program in psychology. This is really different from most other countries. It often turns out that additional training is necessary because a foreign master's degree differs too much from the Dutch training. In addition, in the Netherlands there is a difference between work guidance and working under supervision. The latter form is often missing in foreign courses. Please note that your diploma cannot be recognized immediately.

Nurse

In the Netherlands, people are broadly trained to become a general nurse. When assessing your application, we will check whether you have training or experience in all areas. If one is missing, you will need to take additional training or do an internship. This often concerns care for the disabled (GGZ) or care for the elderly (VTT). These internships are not always easy to find. It is also possible to apply for recognition as a caregiver in individual health care (VIG) with a foreign nursing diploma. You can also apply for both professions at the same time.

Dentist

If the application has a negative outcome, some dentists choose to apply for recognition as a registered dental hygienist. In the Netherlands this is also a protected profession. If you apply for recognition as a dental hygienist, your dental training will be compared with the Dutch dental hygienist training. Our experiences show that the differences are often so big, that this application is also rejected. Or that many internships and courses still have to be completed to be recognized. A second option is to register for a dental hygienist training program with possible exemptions for certain components. 

There are a certain number of training places each year (numerus fixus). You will then participate with Dutch students in the selection for a training place. This is often a draw.

Doctor

In the Netherlands, your basic education (bachelor's or master's) and your specialty are assessed separately. All knowledge of a basic doctor is tested in an assessment (a kind of test). This may mean that you are also asked questions and cases about topics that you learned during your studies, but don't work with anymore. Are you not passing some parts of the assessment? This may then mean that you will have to undertake additional training in the form of an internship in a Dutch hospital. Arranging internships is often experienced as difficult. You will then enter together with regular Dutch students.

Pharmacist

Dutch training as a pharmacist is often very different from most foreign training courses. Most applicants therefore often have to complete a three-year Dutch master's degree in pharmacy (with a pre-master's degree). It is therefore also sensible to look at the alternatives for people with a foreign pharmacy diploma: What is possible with a foreign pharmacy diploma without BIG registration? | BIG register (bigregister.nl). You can of course also choose to immediately do the Dutch master's degree in pharmacy before applying for recognition.

Dental hygienist

Our experience shows that Belgian diplomas for this profession are not immediately recognized. The Belgian training does not match the Dutch training. This means that an additional adjustment period of several months/years is often required. What exactly is needed depends on your education and work experience. If you apply for recognition, you will receive customized advice from the committee.

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Tips

• Don't read everything at once.
• Write down your questions. You can then ask us all your questions later.
• Perhaps someone close to you can help you read and understand the information.

Speaking, understanding, reading and writing good Dutch is necessary to be able to work in Dutch healthcare. You must therefore provide proof of your Dutch language skills with your application. The required language level varies per profession. It varies per person how long it takes to learn the Dutch language. Learning Dutch at the right level takes an average of one and a half to two years. You must also provide proof of your English reading skills.

On this website you will find information about what valid proof of language proficiency is, the required level for your profession and where you can go to learn Dutch and English.

On this website you will also find a step-by-step plan in which all steps of the 'Declaration of Professional Competence' application procedure are described. Here you will also find information about what you need to arrange, for example, to be able to log in to 'mijn.bigregister.nl'. The application process consists the following parts:

• submit application with all documents/evidence;
• assessment of completeness and correctness of the application;
• the BI test for doctors, dentists and nurses;
• substantive assessment by the CBGV;
• decision on application with, if necessary, advice on additional internships or training.

You must provide various (mandatory) documents with your application. These are also called supporting documents. With these documents you 'prove', for example, your education, your language skills, any work experience, additional training or courses or your identity. These documents must meet (legal) requirements.

The documents are a very important part of the application. Therefore, first collect all documents and only then submit your application. Please contact us if you have any questions. 

Mandatory and additional documents

There are documents that everyone is required to provide and there are documents that you only provide if they apply to you. Without the mandatory documents, we cannot and may not process your application. The additional documents are not mandatory, but are important for your application. For example, think of additional training or courses that you have completed. These documents support the assessment of your knowledge and skills. We therefore advise you to provide all documents you have.

Overview of all documents with the requirements

On the page 'Documents that you must submit with your application' you will find an overview of the documents (evidence) that you must collect. Each document contains an explanation and indicates which requirements the document or the contents of the document must meet. And there is also a distinction between mandatory and additional documents.

Arranging documents takes a lot of time

It is good to know that you must provide at least seven to eight mandatory documents in addition to the application form. Depending on your situation, additional documents may be added. Arranging all the documents often takes quite a lot of time. Especially if they have to come from abroad. Arrange this before you submit the application, so that your application for recognition will proceed most quickly.

Certification and translation of documents

Most documents must be certified. Do you have documents that are not in Dutch or English? Then you must also send a translation from a sworn translator. Therefore, read our explanation about certification and translation carefully.

Do you have any questions about the documents?

Then make an appointment for our consultation hours. During the consultation hours you will have a personal appointment with one of our employees. This appointment takes half an hour. For example, you can ask questions about your application and the documents you must provide. It is also possible to have your documents viewed. The appointment can take place on location in The Hague or online. Even if you are not yet sure whether you want to submit an application, you can register for the consultation hours.

To complete the entire process successfully, it is important that you make easy contact with other people. In the Netherlands we call this networking. For example, you can ask friends/family/neighbors if they know someone who practices your profession in the Netherlands and ask if you can get in touch with them. You can also search for volunteer work at a healthcare organization. This way you will learn more quickly how healthcare works in the Netherlands. And maybe someone can help you find a paid job.

Improve your networking skills yourself

If your networking skills are not that strong yet, or if you find it exciting to approach people, you can consider improving your networking skills by following a training or workshop. There are many providers in the Netherlands who can help you with this.

Are you a refugee and a client of the UAF?

Then you can possibly make use of a mentor. This is a Dutch professional who shares his or her experience and network with you.

Are you a doctor but not a refugee?

Then you can place your request for help on the VBGA help square.

Doctors, dentists and nurses must take a professional test as part of their diploma recognition. This test is called the beroepsinhoudelijke test (BI-test) in dutch. This test examines in which areas your knowledge and skills are equal to the Dutch level and in which areas perhaps not (yet). The content varies per profession. It is possible to prepare for this test.

Testing information meetings

In preparation, you can participate in an information meeting about this test. This information meeting is given by the authority that administers the test.

Contents of the test

Below you will find a link for each profession to read more information about the content of the test and preparation options.

For nurses

The Vocational Education Consortium is the implementing organization for the BI test for foreign qualified nurses. Information about (the content of) this test can be found at: Foreign graduates. Here you will find, among other things, a study guide for the preparations and examples for the knowledge test.

For doctors

In the assessment doctor document you will find general information about the content and structure of tests. In addition, you can use the suggestions below to prepare for the tests:

• The digital books of the clinical subjects are available via the website https://studeergeneeskunde.nl/.
  Please note! The books about scenarios that can also be found on this website are not suitable for preparation of the BI test.
• On the Compendium Medicine website you will find a summary of basic medical knowledge in a number of volumes.
• VGT manual and e-learning – This book prepares Dutch medical students for the interuniversity Progress Test in Medicine.

There are also various organizations that offer workshops in preparation for the tests:

OBUA: OBUA | Education of Foreign Doctors
VBGA: Welcome » VBGA
On the Way to Work Foundation
Edu4you

For dentists

You will find general information about the content and structure of tests on our website. After official registration with ACTA by the CIBG, you can prepare for the professional content test (BI test) on the ACTA website on the BI test Canvas course specially designed for the BI test.

An important part of the preparation is practicing with the Simodont and using Canvas, ACTA's digital learning environment. This is also stated in the document 'Information about professional content test: the Dental knowledge and skills test'.

If you want to work in the Netherlands, it is necessary that you also know how Dutch healthcare works. This also helps with the test (for doctors, nurses and dentists). It also helps you make the right choices later. There are several ways to get acquainted with Dutch healthcare:

• Volunteer work;
• Job shadowing;
• Reading books about Dutch healthcare (including 'This is how healthcare works in the Netherlands').

Volunteer work Dutch healthcare

This will give you an idea of ​​working in Dutch healthcare and the way of communicating between doctors, nurses and patients. You will also learn medical words in Dutch. You can contact volunteer organizations in your area, or ask about options at the municipality where you live. Refugees can also contact 'Vluchtelingenwerk'. To be able to do volunteer work, you often need to speak Dutch well.

Internship with a Dutch healthcare provider

In order to prepare for your work in the Netherlands and for the Professional Test (BI test), it is important to do a shadowing internship with a Dutch healthcare provider who practices the same profession as you do. This way you will gain insight into the daily practice of a healthcare provider and you will learn medical Dutch words. You can also see, for example, how healthcare providers and patients interact with each other. And how a history and physical examination is taken in the Netherlands.

The best time for this internship is just before you submit an application or when your application process is already underway. To really learn from this experience, you need to speak and understand Dutch well.

Read books about Dutch healthcare

You can read these books to learn about healthcare:

• 'Textbook of Public Health and Healthcare', K. Stronks;
• “What about standing?” Dutch course for non-Dutch speaking doctors', L.M. Bekedam, L.H.M. Palenstein Helderman-Susan;
• 'Recipe for success for the AKV test', P. Herfs (the AKV test itself is no longer part of the procedure, but the book is certainly still useful);
• 'This is how healthcare works in the Netherlands' (2023 edition) - De Argumentenfabriek.

Are you going to prepare for having your diploma recognized? Please know that you can ask us for help if something is not clear or if you have questions about your personal situation.

Customer contact center

If you have any questions, you can of course contact our customer contact center. You can call or email us.

Consultation hours for questions about your personal situation

Have you read a lot of information, but do you still have questions about your personal situation? Then schedule an appointment for one of our consultation hours. You can then ask an employee questions about your application or about the documents you must provide. The appointment can take place both on location (in The Hague) and online. Dutch or English will be spoken during the appointment. Read more about our consultation hours and registration.

Once you have submitted your application, two parties have a role in processing your application:

• Bureau Foreign Healthcare Providers (BBZ) of the CIBG/BIG register.
  This department will assess your application and your documents for accuracy and validity. They will also answer your questions and guide you and your application through the entire process.
• The Committee on Foreign Health Qualifications (CBGV)
  They assess the content of your application and assess your knowledge and skills. Read more about the committee on the Committee on Foreign Health Graduates page on this website and in the 'Assessment and consultation' section below.

For doctors, dentists or nurses, the Professional Test (BI-test) is an important part of the application process. The other professions do not have to take this test.
 

Payment and registration

Once your application is complete, you will receive a letter from us inviting you to register. In this letter you will also find information about the payment. After your payment, you will receive the details and information with which you can register for the test. You can read what the costs per test are on our website.

The test

The content of the BI test varies per profession and consists of different parts. The tests are also administered by various testing authorities. The tests are administered at a number of times each year. You will find more information about the content of the test on our website. It is also good to know that the BIG register (Bureau of Foreign Healthcare Providers) and the committee do not concern the content of the tests and are not involved in this.

What is the test for?

The BI test is a way to assess in which areas you have sufficient knowledge and skills and which may not (yet). It is therefore not really a test that you can fail or pass. Are there parts where you are not yet at the right level? You will then receive advice from the committee on how you can improve your knowledge and skills for those components. In most cases, the BI test will be followed by an advisory interview with the Committee on Foreign Health Qualifications (CBGV), which will assess the content of your application.

The substantive assessment of your knowledge and skills is done by an independent committee of experts: the Committee on Foreign Health Qualifications (CBGV). Each profession has eight of its own committee members. These members all work in practice or at training institutions.

The assessment of your application by the CBGV

The committee advises on the basis of all your documents and the results of the BI test (for doctors, dentists and nurses) whether you will receive a Declaration of Professional Competence. It may also be that the committee believes that you must first complete additional training or an internship to complement missing knowledge or skills. You can read more about this in the next section.

The committee compares your training with the final level of the current Dutch training for your profession. The committee first assesses whether your education is equivalent to a Dutch education in terms of content and level. If your education is not (almost) the same as the Dutch education, the committee will check whether the differences are compensated by other education, courses or training that you have followed or by your work experiences in your profession. It is therefore important that you provide all information (documents) about your additional education, courses, training or your work experiences with your application.

Consultation

After the assessment, for most professions, you will receive an invitation for an advisory interview with the Foreign Health Graduates Committee (CBGV). In this conversation you will hear the advice that the CBGV will give about your application. During this conversation, the CBGV sometimes also asks you questions.

You will find more information about the assessment and the decision on this website.

The CBGV may decide that your knowledge (training) and/or experience does not currently meet the requirements set by the Netherlands and that you must first complete additional training or an internship. Advice for some form of additional training is common. So you are certainly not the only one if you receive this advice.

What kind of advice?

The courses in the Netherlands are very broad. A lot of attention is paid to care for the elderly, young people and care for mental problems. The committee regularly sees that this breadth is lacking in foreign training. If you have been told that additional training is required, this means that the committee believes that the knowledge and/or skills you lack can be supplemented within three years. You should then consider following certain internships, courses or courses.  You will receive customized advice from the committee for this. How long it takes to supplement, depends on what has been advised. This can range from a few months to three years.

How does it work?

You follow the additional training or internship at an educational institution or university. So you have to arrange this yourself. You can report to the study advisor of the program with the advice of the CBGV. All courses and universities have a website where you can find contact details. If you are unable to find a suitable training place or internship or if you have any questions, you can contact one of our consultants for consultation and tips.

If the committee believes that the missing knowledge and/or skills cannot be supplemented within three years, your application will be rejected. Then it's possible to follow a Dutch master's program. You will then have a Dutch diploma. This is no longer part of the recognition procedure.

Have you obtained legally recognized specialization abroad and would you like to have this recognized as well? Then you indicate this on your application form. The recognition of your specialty is a separate process at another (non-governmental) organization. You only initiate the application through us.

How does it work?

We inform the specialist registration committee (SRC) of your profession that you have submitted an application to us and that you also want to have your specialization recognized and registered. Each SRC has its own requirements for recognition of the specialty. These requirements are stricter than the requirements for recognition of the basic profession. This may also mean that you are recognized for the basic profession, but not (yet) for your specialty. Or that you must complete additional internships or follow additional training to recognize the specialization. After your specialization has been recognized, you will be registered in the specialist register. BIG registration is a prerequisite for registration in the specialist register.

The relevant specialist register will contact you for the recognition and registration process of your specialization. This usually happens after they informed by us that your diploma has been recognized and that you are registered in the BIG register. Sometimes they contact you earlier.

Consent to forward your data to the specialist register

If you have a specialization that you would like to have recognised, we will also ask your permission in the application form to forward your data to the specialist register of your profession. Only then we are allowed to forward your data and certain documents to the committee.

There are costs associated with recognizing and registering a specialization. Read more under 'recognition of diploma costs'.

More information

Information about the procedure for the recognition of your specialist diploma and the requirements associated with the specialty can be found on the website of the specialist register of your profession:

• Recognition of foreign diplomas in The Netherlands | KNMP
• Specialist register of doctors
• Register of specialists in healthcare psychologists
• Register of specialists for dentists
• Register of specialist nurses.

Explanation of specialisms in the Netherlands

If you are not or insufficiently familiar with the content of various specialties in the Netherlands, read this explanation per specialism (Medical specialisms | medical contact).

There are no costs associated with the application for a Certificate of Professional Competence (recognition of basic profession diploma) and the assessment by the CBGV. You do have to pay for the BI test. The exact costs depend on the profession for which you are applying. View the costs per test. Having your specialization recognized does cost money.

Possible other costs

• When applying, you must provide proof of your Dutch language skills and English reading skills at the correct level. There are costs associated with taking courses and obtaining a Dutch and English language certificate. These costs vary per provider.
• Having copies of supporting documents certified or having these documents translated costs money.
• If the CBGV comes to the conclusion that you must follow additional training (internship, course or clerkship), this will incur (sometimes high) costs. You pay these costs to the training institution.

Recognizing the costs of a specialization

There are costs associated with having your specialization diploma recognized. The combined rate for recognition and registration is approximately € 2.285,-. If an adjustment internship must be completed, an additional € 750,- will be added (a different rate applies for general practice). You do not pay these costs to us, but to the specialist registration committee.

On this website you will find a lot of general information about the application process. However, it may happen that you have questions or doubts about the meaning for your personal situation. Or maybe somewhere along the way you no longer know how to proceed.

Questions: make an appointment for the consultation hour

An appointment with an employee lasts half an hour. For example, you can ask questions about your application and the documents you must provide. It is also possible to have your documents viewed. The appointment can take place on location in The Hague or online. Even if you are not yet sure whether you want to submit an application, you can register for the consultation hours.

Are you stuck somewhere? Then make an appointment with a consultant

It is also possible that you get stuck later in the application process or no longer know what to do or what is expected of you. In that case, you can contact one of our consultants. They will listen to your problem and will try to find a solution with you.

More information

You can find more information about the consultation hours and the consultants via big-register.nl/buitenlandsdiploma.

After submitting your application, you can log in to 'mijn.bigregister.nl'. Here you will find your personal digital file. Here you will find our messages about your request and all the documents you submitted. You can also view the status of your application here.

BIG stands for: Professions in Individual Healthcare. It is a legal, online and public register. Only those who are included in the BIG register may use a protected professional title and may independently perform the reserved actions associated with the profession. Anyone in the Netherlands and abroad can look at the register and look up the healthcare providers listed in it. Read more about the BIG register.

For which professions?

BIG registration is mandatory for pharmacists, doctors, physiotherapists, registered dental hygienists, healthcare psychologists, clinical technologists, general educational psychologists, physician assistants, psychotherapists, dentists, nurses and midwives.

And the other professions?

Healthcare providers in the other professions may work in the Dutch healthcare after receiving their diploma, or in the case of a foreign diploma, after receiving a Declaration of Professional Competence. They do not need BIG registration. It is also not possible to apply for BIG registration with another profession.

Applying for a BIG registration consists of the following steps:

• collect the requested additional documents;
• complete the application form;
• print and sign the application form;
• attach the required documents;
• send the application and the documents to the postal address of the BIG register (CIBG) in Heerlen;
• you will receive our (provisional) decision about your BIG registration;
• first registration under conditions: 3 months of work under supervision;
• After 3 months, have the supervision form completed and signed and then sent;
• conditional registration is converted into definitive registration;
• From the moment of final registration you are authorized to work independently in your profession.

Attention! Did you obtain your Certificate of Professional Competence more than 5 years ago? Then there are additional requirements in terms of work experience or education. Please contact us if this applies to you. 

Just as with the recognition of your diploma, you must provide a number of mandatory documents for your BIG registration. Some of these documents have already been arranged via your Declaration of Professional Competence. But you still have to arrange some of it. Read the information about these documents carefully. Unfortunately, we often see that these documents are not included in the application or do not meet the requirements. Your BIG registration cannot be arranged without these documents.

What you need for your BIG registration:

• A recognized diploma for one of the professions for which BIG registration is required
  This is arranged with your Declaration of Professional Competence. You no longer have to supply these yourself.
• Proof that you master the Dutch language at the correct level
  Your Declaration of Professional Competence is proof of this. You no longer have to supply this.
• Proof that you are not subject to an active professional restriction (CCPS) and that you have no criminal convictions (CGC).
  You demonstrate this by sending certain official statements with your application. You must have these certificates from the country where you obtained your degree and from any country where you have lived or worked for more than three months. Read the explanation about these documents carefully.

Arrange the documents on time, but not too early

You would like to get to work and requesting documents abroad often takes a lot of time. Therefore, request these documents immediately as soon as it is clear that your diploma will be recognized. This is often during the advisory meeting with the committee. Don't apply for the documents too early. They are only valid for three months. If you are unsure about the right time to apply, please contact our consultants for consultation.

Has your application for registration in the BIG register been approved? Then you will first be registered for three months under certain conditions. The condition is that you must first work for three months under the supervision of a BIG-registered healthcare provider who works in the same profession as you. This supervisor must be included in the BIG register. You will also receive a letter from us about this if your BIG registration application has been approved.

The purpose

The purpose is to become acquainted with working in your profession in Dutch healthcare. After these three months, complete the supervision form and have it signed by your supervisor. You will receive this form from us. Then you send the form to us. If everything is in order, your registration will be converted into a 'normal' registration and you may work independently in your profession. A BIG registration is valid for 5 years.

The costs for a BIG registration application are €85.

Additional costs

You must provide documents (evidence) for your BIG registration. These are documents that prove that there are no foreign jurisdictional restrictions or criminal convictions against you. A fee is often charged for obtaining this evidence. These fees vary per country. Take into account an amount of approximately…. per proof.

Costs for translating the documents

If your documents are in a language other than Dutch or English, you must also have the documents translated by an official translator. There are also costs associated with this. Read more about translation.

Registration costs for specialist diploma

Would you also like to have your specialist diploma registered? Then there are also costs involved. This is a combined rate for recognition and registration. Read more about this under the section 'Costs of diploma recognition'. If you are registered in the specialist register for your specialization, we will be notified of this. Registering your specialization with your BIG registration is free of charge for you.

All healthcare providers in the BIG register must re-register in the BIG register every five years. This is called 're-registration'. To be allowed to re-register you must meet the requirements. You must have actually worked a minimum number of hours in your profession. You also must have actually worked with patients during those hours. If requested, you must also be able to prove (provide supporting documents) that you have worked these hours. This is checked on a sample bases.

Have you not worked enough hours? It is then possible to re-register by obtaining a certain training certificate (PRC).

Why re-registration?

The purpose of re-registration is to increase the quality of healthcare. Reregistration ensures that care in the BIG professions is only provided by healthcare providers who actually actively work in their profession. You will receive a letter from us about your re-registration six months before the date (your final re-registration date) that you must have applied for your re-registration. If you would like to know more about this, you can read more about reregistration on our website.

Cost

Re-registration costs €85, just like registration.

Your registration in the BIG register comes with a number of rights and obligations. Together they ensure that the quality of care remains high. For example, a BIG registration means that you may use the professional title of your profession, such as doctor, dentist or nurse. It also means that you may perform the reserved actions associated with that profession. Other healthcare providers may not use these titles or perform the reserved actions independently. You can read more about this on the BIG register website.

As soon as you are in the BIG register, you are subject to disciplinary law. Disciplinary law in healthcare is a special form of jurisdiction. Based on a complaint about a situation in which something went wrong, a disciplinary board assesses whether a healthcare provider has worked in accordance with the rules that apply to the profession. The central goal is to learn from situations in which something went wrong. You can read more about this on the website of the central disciplinary board.

Measure included during registration

Healthcare providers can also be imposed measures as a kind of 'punishment' by a disciplinary board or by the Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ). Some measures mean that you are no longer allowed to work in your profession partially, temporarily or at all. Sometimes a measure also has consequences for your registration in the BIG register. Measures under which you are partially, temporarily or no longer allowed to work in your profession are always made public and included in your registration. You can read more on the page: 'Measures'

If your specialty diploma is recognized by the specialist registration committee of your profession, they will let us know. We will then include your specialization when you register in the BIG register. This is called specialisatie aantekenen in Dutch. Information about recognizing and registering your specialization can be found under phase 3, heading 'Having your specialization recognized'.

The I Care public campaign shows how diverse the healthcare sector is. The campaign is intended to make people enthusiastic about a job in healthcare and welfare. For example, as a caregiver, activity supervisor, laboratory technician or IT professional. The campaign website also contains more than 600 stories by employees in healthcare and welfare. You will also find information about education and professions. You will also find vacancies there and you can request free personal career advice.

You can find information about the labor market in healthcare on the website of the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Statistics Netherlands also collects figures on the healthcare and welfare labor market. In the dashboard on the healthcare and welfare labor market you will find figures of the most recent figures and developments on the labor market within healthcare and welfare, at national level, per region and per sector.

Opportunities for doctors

Every quarter, the labor market monitor in Medical Contact (Labor Market Monitor | medical contact) shows how many doctors there are and what vacancies there are. The Labor Market Monitor calculates the number of vacancies per 100 registered specialists for each discipline.This monitor gives a good idea of ​​which specialty has a good chance of finding a job and which specialty has far fewer opportunities. More background about working in the Netherlands as a doctor can be found on the VBGA website (Working in the Netherlands as a doctor » VBGA).

Opportunities for dentists

The labor market opportunities for dentists in the Netherlands are bright. See the article about 'Good prospects for dentists' on the KNMT website via the link How do you become a dentist in the Netherlands? | KNMT. Advice about working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma can also be found on the KNMT website. They have created various checklists for if you want to start as an employee, as a self-employed person or if you want to start your own practice. Step-by-step plan to start with a foreign diploma | KNMT

To help foreign dentists get started on the labor market, the KNMT offers the online course 'At home in the Dutch dialogue' through the KNMT Academy. This course is intended to improve communication with the patient and is also intended as a cultural deepening.

Opportunities for nurses

The labor market opportunities for nurses are good. There is a major shortage of nurses in the Netherlands. And this shortage is expected to increase further. Health and welfare care is a major industry in the Netherlands. Nurses can work in different fields. Think of hospitals, nursing homes, care for the disabled, community nursing, mental health care and psychiatry. If you search for 'open vacancies for nurses' on Google, you will find various sites with open vacancies.
 

This overview is not complete yet and will be supplemented as new information becomes available. 

You want to work in Dutch healthcare. That is good, because many people are needed in healthcare. And we are happy if you take the time to read everything and go through the entire process. Yet a job is not always self-evident. In some professions the chances are greater than in others. Recognition and registration are therefore no guarantee of a job. Sometimes multiple applications are required. And sometimes you have a better chance by (first) choosing a different type of job in healthcare.

Sometime it takes longer to find a job in your profesion then expected. Or you may have reasons for not wanting to go through the entire procedure of having your diploma recognized. For example, for financial reasons, or because it takes a lot of time. An alternative path in which your knowledge and skills are also used may be a possibility. This can range from a study, other work in Dutch healthcare or a combination of both.

Doctors

There are quite a few options for doctors. The UAF has created an xxx for choosing an alternative. They also have a list of possible options. The list is of course never complete.

Dentists

As a dentist, you may consider working as a dental hygienist. You must still complete xxx years of training as a dental hygienist. You may receive exemptions for certain components. After completing this training, you can work as a dental hygienist. There is a numerus fixus for these courses. This means that there are only a certain number of training places each year and you must participate with Dutch students in the selection for a training place. This is often a draw.

Nurses

It is possible for nurses to work as a nurse in Individual Healthcare (VIG). You then apply for recognition as a VIG with your nursing diploma. The professional level of this profession is 1 level lower (level 3) than nurses (level 4 or 5). The requirements for recognition are therefore also lower. When applying for recognition as a VIG'er, you do not have to take a BI test and you do not have to provide proof of English language proficiency.

You may also be able to work as a healthcare assistant. This is one level lower (level 2). You do not need to apply for recognition of your diploma for this. Every employer will want you to speak sufficient Dutch.

GZ-psychologist

Due to the differences with the Dutch training program, in most cases an adjustment period is necessary before recognition and registration as a mental health psychologist in the Netherlands is possible. With a master's degree in psychology (such as a Belgian master's degree), you can immediately start working in the Netherlands as a basic psychologist. You will then work as a psychologist under the supervision of a registered GZ psychologist. Recognition or registration is then not necessary.

Pharmacist

There are various alternatives for people with a foreign pharmacy diploma. On our website you will find more information about what is possible with a foreign pharmacy diploma without BIG registration.

 

This overview is not complete and will be supplemented if there is new or additional information.

Work permit

Registration in the BIG register does not immediately give the right to work in the Netherlands. Because you are not a national of an EEA country*, you also need a work permit. If you have found work in your profession, your employer must submit an application for a work permit to the UWV Employment Permits Office or the UWV/IND Digital Labor Migration Desk. If you have any questions about this, please contact the UWV Employment Permits Office.

You do not need a work permit or employment permit if your residence document states 'work freely permitted' or 'knowledge migrant'

Residence permit

In addition to a possible work permit, you must have a valid residence document. You must contact the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) for a residence document.
 

*EEA countries are the countries of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.