Be prepared
If you have a Dutch qualification and wish to work abroad, it is important to find out in advance whether the profession you wish to practise is freely accessible. Proper preparation is crucial.
The following services may be of interest to you. In addition, you can also contact the National Contact Point for Professional Recognition (NCP) if you have any questions.
Useful certificates and declarations:
- Teaching professions: teaching qualification certificate
- Professions in the healthcare sector: letter of good standing
- Other regulated professions: NCP declaration
- Diploma description
Do you have a Dutch diploma which qualifies you to teach in the Netherlands, and do you want to teach abroad? If so, you can apply for a teaching qualification certificate from the Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO). This specifies the subjects which you are qualified to teach in the Netherlands, as well as the types of schools where you may teach. This certificate is required if you intend to apply for recognition of your teaching qualification in another country. Further information is provided on DUO's website.
Most countries require a letter of good standing from the country in which you obtained the diploma. This is a declaration that specifies your profession and the title associated with it that you may use in the Netherlands. It also specifies whether you are subject to any restrictions. In short, it is a confirmation in English of your listing in the register maintained under the Dutch Individual Healthcare Professions Act (BIG Register). This document is also known as the Declaration of Current Professional Status. Further information is provided on the BIG Register website.
The National Contact Point can issue an NCP declaration for other regulated professions. An NCP declaration states that a diploma obtained in the Netherlands is regulated under Directive 2005/36/EC. View more information about the declaration and the application procedure.
A diploma description is more comprehensive than an NCP declaration. It is a description of a Dutch diploma in either English or Spanish. It provides a prospective employer, government agency or teaching institute with more detailed insight into your education and therefore increases your prospect of finding a job or study abroad. View more information about the diploma description.