Working in the healthcare

Where you a doctor, dentist, nurse or did you have another medical profession in your country of origin? The UAF likes to think along with refugee healthcare professionals about how they can practice their profession in the Netherlands again.

BIG registration: authority for healthcare providers

Doctor, dentist, pharmacist, physiotherapist, healthcare psychologist, psychotherapist, nurse and midwife are examples of protected professional titles in the Netherlands. This means that you may only use this professional title after permission from the government. For example, you cannot call yourself a doctor without permission. If you want permission to work in these professions, you must have a BIG registration.

Visit www.bigregister.nl for a complete list of protected professional titles and for more information.

Assessment procedure

For a BIG registration, your (professional) knowledge and skills must meet Dutch requirements. You have to go through an assessment procedure. Than they know what your knowledge is and what you still need to learn for a BIG registration.

Pharmacist

Based on research and experience, the UAF does not support the assessment procedure for pharmacists. If you are a pharmacist, our program counselors will talk to you about how you can best use your knowledge and experience in the Netherlands.

Guidance by UAF

The UAF conducts consultations with you to discuss options and make a plan. We will discuss with you whether the medical assessment is a realistic route. What can you do to create the greatest possible chance of success? The UAF provides good advice that will help you get a succesfull start.

The UAF has created step-by-step plans to give you an idea of what to expect if you do a medical assessment. You will go through and follow this step-by-step plan in detail with a supervisor. Are you already curious about the obligations to obtain your BIG Registration? Check out the website the CIBG.

How can the UAF support healthcare professionals?

Personal guidance medical assessment

Preparing for a medical assessment is intensive. Moreover, finding the right information can be challenging. Our career counselors are highly knowledgeable about this assessment procedure. They'll provide you with insight into the steps you need to follow. You'll also receive tips to increase your chances of success. You'll work with the UAF to improve your Dutch (medical) language skills, among other things. A mentor, internship, and/or practical experience placement can help you gain experience and familiarize you with Dutch healthcare culture. This experience will help you complete the medical assessment and obtain your BIG registration.

The UAF has learned that you really have to take the individual steps of the process to complete the assessment properly. After these steps, you should ultimately be able to register in the BIG register and you can work in your profession again.

What are the fees?

Obtaining a BIG registration entails many costs. For example, the costs for the tests and a medical Dutch course. In addition, a notary must recognize and register your diploma and experience. The UAF will help you to explore the options for financial support.

Yumna fled the war in Yemen with her husband and child

She has been in the Netherlands for five years now. In Yemen, she was specializing in Internal Medicine. Here, she has to start largely from scratch: learning the language, obtaining her BIG registration as a resident physician, and then returning to college to (re)specialize in Internal Medicine. The UAF is helping her along the way, providing advice, guidance, financial support, and a medical mentor. Through the project, she connected with Marga, who works at OLVG.

When can the UAF help?

Whether the UAF can help you depends on your personal situation.

Preparing to study in the Netherlands
You can apply for support from the UAF if you meet these conditions:

You have applied for asylum or you have a residence permit based on asylum.
You want to study at MBO level 3 or 4, HBO or university.
You have completed at least 10 years of education.
You started with or you speak Dutch at B1 level.

Don't speak Dutch at B1 level yet and want to learn it online through self-study? Then register with the UAF AcademyTo use the UAF Academy, you need Dutch or English at least at A2 level.

Do you want to study in the Netherlands?
This is possible if you have a minimum command of Dutch at B1 level (also for English-language courses).

Have you already studied and do you want to start working right away?
Often it is necessary that you follow a training or course to practice your profession in the Netherlands. Contact the UAF to discuss what you need.

How can you register?
Please fill out the contact form below.

Medical assessments