The Netherlands has a highly regulated health care system and a formal pathway for doctors who want to practice there. For students and foreign-trained doctors, the key issues are whether the medical degree is recognized, whether Dutch language requirements are met, and whether BIG registration and immigration requirements apply.
This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide to becoming a working doctor in the Netherlands. Whether you are a health care professional interested in practicing medicine or a student considering a medical degree in the Netherlands, this article will help you navigate the education, recognition, registration, language, and immigration requirements needed to reach your academic and career goals in medicine.
How to Become a Doctor in the Netherlands
After obtaining your medical degree either in the Netherlands or from a foreign institution, you must go through several steps and qualifications to become a doctor in the Netherlands. Here is a brief overview of the steps to pursuing a career in medicine in the Netherlands.
Step 1. Obtain a Medical Degree That Is Recognized in the Netherlands
To work as a doctor in the Netherlands, you need a Dutch medical degree or a foreign qualification that is officially recognized for Dutch practice. In the Dutch route, medicine is typically a three-year WO bachelor’s degree followed by a three-year WO master’s degree in Medicine. During the master’s phase, students complete clinical training and clerkships.
Foreign-trained doctors should start with the BIG-register recognition page and the BIG-register Advice Wizard, because the route depends on where the diploma was obtained. Some EEA or Swiss qualifications may qualify for automatic recognition with BIG registration, while doctors with diplomas obtained outside Europe usually go through the Certificate of Competence procedure before BIG registration.
Step 2. Register Your Foreign Diploma at BIG-register
Strictly speaking, you register as a health care professional in the BIG-register; the BIG-register is not simply a diploma registry. Doctors have a protected professional title in the Netherlands, and they must be included in the BIG-register before they are allowed to practice as doctors.
If your diploma is foreign, it must be recognized before you can register. Common documents include a valid diploma, a copy of your passport or residence permit, a recent CV, and proof of Dutch language proficiency. If you have lived or worked abroad in your profession, you may also need documents showing that you have no restrictions on your professional authority and no relevant criminal convictions. Diplomas older than five years can trigger extra work-experience or training requirements.
Step 3. Complete an Internship (Co-schappen)
In Dutch medical education, co-schappen are clinical clerkships or rotations that take place during the medical master’s program. They are not normally a separate internship that starts only after BIG registration.
For foreign-trained doctors, the Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates may decide during the recognition procedure that additional training, an additional course, or a work placement is needed before the diploma can be recognized. The exact requirement depends on the assessment of your qualifications and professional test results.
Step 4. Obtain a Dutch Medical License
In the Netherlands, the practical licensing step for a doctor is BIG registration as a physician, rather than a separate post-internship national “Artsexamen.” If you have a Dutch diploma, you can apply for BIG registration with your diploma and any required documents. If you have a foreign diploma, recognition must happen first.
Doctors with diplomas obtained outside Europe usually follow the Certificate of Competence route. In that procedure, doctors take a professional content test, called the BI-test, and the Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates assesses the application. Only after positive recognition and BIG registration can you work in the Netherlands as a doctor.
Step 5. Be Proficient in the Local Language
Dutch language proficiency is a core requirement because most patients and colleagues communicate in Dutch. Doctors fall under the academic or scientific education level and generally need Dutch at B2+ level, which is above B2 but below C1.
A language certificate must test reading, writing, speaking, and listening; must be at the required level; must be passed; and generally may not be older than two years. Doctors using the Certificate of Competence route must also provide proof of English reading skills. The State Examination of Dutch as a Second Language (NT2) is useful for B1 or B2 requirements, but doctors should check the BIG-register’s accepted B2+ tests before relying on a specific certificate. You can also read more about recognized language proficiency tests for studying in the Netherlands.
Step 6. Complete an Adaptation Program (If Required)
In some cases, foreign-trained doctors may be required to complete additional training, a course, or a work placement before their diploma can be recognized. This is not a standard program for every applicant. It depends on the assessment of your education, documents, and professional test results by the relevant Dutch authorities.
Step 7. Apply for a Work Visa and Residence Permit
Lastly, foreign nationals interested in pursuing a medical career in the Netherlands must make sure they have the right immigration status. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens generally do not need a Dutch residence permit or work permit to live and work in the Netherlands, but professional recognition and BIG registration rules still apply.
Non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals usually need a valid residence and work route. For employed doctors, one common route is the highly skilled migrant residence permit, which must be applied for by an employer recognized by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service. A health care professional practicing a BIG-regulated profession must also be registered in the BIG-register. You may consult the official IND website, the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country, or the official Dutch government website for detailed information on work visa and residence permit requirements.
FAQs: How to Become a Doctor in the Netherlands
Is It Allowed for a Foreign National to Practice Medicine in the Netherlands?
Yes, foreign nationals can pursue a medical career in the Netherlands. However, they must meet the professional recognition, language, BIG registration, and immigration requirements that apply to their situation.
The exact route depends on where the medical diploma was obtained and whether it qualifies for automatic recognition. Some EEA or Swiss qualifications may be recognized through a faster route, while doctors with diplomas obtained outside Europe usually need the Certificate of Competence procedure. This procedure can include document assessment, proof of Dutch and English language skills, the BI-test for doctors, and an assessment by the Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates.
Foreign specialists should also check whether they need specialist recognition and registration through the Royal Dutch Medical Association if they want to use a specialist title, such as general practitioner, medical specialist, company doctor, or another legally recognized specialist title. BIG registration is required before specialist registration.
Because the procedure and requirements vary depending on each applicant’s education, professional history, and nationality, applicants should use the official BIG-register Advice Wizard and official Dutch government or IND pages for the most accurate information.
What is the Average Salary for Doctors in the Netherlands?
There is no single reliable “average doctor salary” that applies to all doctors in the Netherlands. Pay depends on whether the doctor is a junior doctor, resident, general practitioner, salaried medical specialist, academic medical specialist, self-employed specialist, or professor, and on the collective labor agreement or contract that applies.
As a current official reference point, the 2026–2027 collective labor agreement for Dutch university medical centers lists gross monthly full-time salaries for academic medical specialists. From July 1, 2026, the Medical Specialist scale is €7,727 to €9,136 per month, and the University Medical Specialist scale is €10,032 to €14,265 per month. Professor/medical specialist and department-head scales are higher, reaching €17,846 per month from July 1, 2026, and €18,471 per month from May 1, 2027.
Because salaries outside university medical centers and earnings for self-employed doctors can differ significantly, applicants should check the current collective labor agreement or employment contract that applies to their role rather than relying on a general salary estimate.
To conclude, successfully pursuing a career as a doctor in the Netherlands involves several steps: obtaining a Dutch medical degree or recognized foreign qualification, meeting Dutch language requirements, completing any required professional test or additional training, registering in the BIG-register, and arranging the correct immigration status if you are not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen. These procedures help ensure that doctors are qualified and authorized to provide safe care in the Dutch health care system.
We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Netherlands Study Guide and Available Programs in Europe to learn more about studying in the country.
