ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE for NURSES To be able to work in the Netherlands as a nurse you have to be included in the BIG register.

If you have qualified as a nurse outside the EEA or Switzerland, you cannot register directly. Your qualifications must first be recognized. You will need to apply for a Declaration of Professional Competence. The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport issues these declarations on the advice of the Foreign Health Care Qualifications Commission (CBGV), an independent advisory commission of health experts. Assessment Since 2007, the CBGV assesses professional competence of nurses on the basis of a set of knowledge and skill tests. This reliable and standardized assessment of knowledge and skills not only ensures that everyone has the same opportunities, but also safeguards the quality of the intake of healthcare providers in training and practice. The assessment is in Dutch and is divided in two parts. 1. General knowledge and skill test The assessment procedure begins with an evaluation of the applicants general knowledge and skills, including command of Dutch and English, familiarity with the Dutch healthcare system and ICT skills. The assessment tests do not form an examination as such, with hard and fast pass or fail results. Rather, the combined result of all assessments provides a general impression of your current level of knowledge and skills. The fee for this test is 200. 2. Professional assessment Only if your score in the first part of the assessment is acceptable, you will be invited for the second part, which examines professional knowledge. This part assesses the candidate on the basis of the entire curriculum for recently graduated nurses in the Netherlands. This is to ensure that the level of the candidate is equivalent to that of a nurse trained in the Netherlands. This is necessary for the inclusion in the BIG register. For the professional assessment the fee is 400.

The final step in the advisory procedure is often an interview with the candidate by members of the Foreign Health Care Qualifications Commission (CBGV). The final decision on applications lies with the health minister, but the CBGVs advice is often decisive. The cost for the evaluation of the application file is 50.

If the detailed assessment shows that the level of the candidate is not equivalent to that of a Dutch-trained nurse, it enables specific advice to be given regarding extra training. In this way, candidates can make specific and effective choices to ensure that they reach the required level equivalent to that of a Dutch qualification in Nursing.

Information about the procedure Candidates will have to fill out an application form for a Declaration of Professional Competence by assessment. The following set of documents is required along with the application form: - the original of the Diploma/Certificate in Nursing - the original certificate of registration as a nurse, which certificate should be recent, not older than 12 months (a certified copy of the certificate will be accepted) - the original licence to practice as a nurse, or a letter of good standing to be issued by the legal authorities in the country of origin of the candidate (a certified copy of the certificate will be accepted) - a certified copy of valid passport/identity card. The documents will need to be translated by a registered interpreter if the original document is not in Dutch, English, French or German. Copies of the translation will have to be validated also. All these documents are essential for the evaluation of the application. Without these documents the application will not be considered. The tests are conducted several times a year. Both tests are held in Arnhem, the Netherlands. The total costs for the assessment procedure are 650. For the candidate to be successful in the assessment, the command of Dutch needs to be almost fluent, at least the level of NT II level 2 (Dutch as a second language level 2). The assessment procedure is completely in Dutch.