If you obtained your diploma abroad, in many cases your application must be assessed first by the Committee of Foreign-Qualified Veterinarians (CBGD). This committee of experts assesses whether your knowledge and skills are sufficiently equivalent to those of veterinarians with a Dutch diploma. There is a subcommittee of independent experts for each professional group.
What does the CBGD do?
- The committee assesses the content of your education and your work experience and/or further education, and compares this with the final level of the Dutch training for your profession. This is the assessment framework for the evaluation and the recommendation regarding your registration.
- If necessary, the committee may request a diploma evaluation of your diploma from Nuffic or S-BB. This evaluation indicates how many years you have studied and the level at which your education is regarded in the Netherlands. This serves as background information for the assessment.
- The committee advises the Veterinary Register on your application.
The individual committee members advise the register and do not provide advice outside the application procedures. A complete application is always required for the assessment of an application.
In which situations does the CBGD advise?
The CBGD assesses applications from:
- Veterinarians with a degree from outside the EEA or Switzerland
- Veterinary assistants, veterinary nurses, animal physiotherapists, or embryo transplanters / embryo winners with a degree from within or outside the EEA or Switzerland
How does the committee asses your diploma?
- The Veterinarians Committee assesses both the content of your education and your work experience abroad.
- The Dutch veterinary medicine program lasts 6 years: a 3-year bachelor's degree (basic theory and skills) and a 3-year master's degree (focused on care for horses, companion animals, and farm animals).
- The assessment is based on the six basic competencies of the 6-year Dutch veterinary medicine program. These competencies are part of the international VetPro competency profile.
- The Master's courses focus on knowledge and skills for diagnostics and clinical skills for treating diseases, surgery, anesthesia, prevention, animal welfare, scientific research, communication, and professional skills. The committee assesses your degree and work experience on all these aspects.
- The committee may set additional requirements in its recommendation, such as participation in the knowledge and skills test or a preparatory course.
- The Dutch veterinary assistant training program lasts 4 years at the MBO level and focuses on practical tasks within a veterinary practice.
- The committee assesses your education and your work experience.
- For the assessment, consideration is given to the core tasks set out in the national professional profile at MBO-4 level .
- The Dutch training program teaches how to care for animals, collaborate with veterinarians and colleagues, perform support tasks accurately and responsibly, communicate with clients, and maintain administration. The committee assesses your diploma and work experience based on all these aspects.
- After the application, you will receive an overview stating which knowledge and skills you possess in which areas.
The committee may set additional requirements in its recommendation, such as an examination or a preparatory course.
- The Animal Physiotherapy program is a postgraduate program of approximately two years following a professional physiotherapy program focused on humans (at a higher professional level).
- You must provide proof of the professional training in human physiotherapy you have completed.
- The committee assesses your education and work experience.
- The Dutch program consists of advanced physiotherapy training combined with knowledge of veterinary medicine and specific competencies focused on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems in dogs and horses, developing treatment plans, prevention, and communication.
- The course combines theory and practice in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and physiotherapeutic techniques.
- The committee assesses your diploma and work experience based on all the aspects mentioned above.
No statutory basic competencies are yet available for embryo transplanters.
Possible recommendations from the CBGD to the Veterinary Register
- Negative recommendation (rejection):
Your qualifications and experience are not equivalent to the Dutch standard, and the shortcomings are too significant to remedy. To register, you must complete the standard Dutch vocational training for your profession. - Negative recommendation, but with the possibility to supplement:
Your diploma and experience are not equivalent to the Dutch level, but the committee sees opportunities for you to supplement this. This could involve additional training, an assessment, or an internship. Once you have met these requirements, you may submit a new application.
For veterinarians: for this profession, the only option available is to take a specific Knowledge and Skills Test . - Positive recommendation:
Your diploma is recognized and you are registered in the Veterinary Register.
Who is on the committee?
The committee consists of expert members who have knowledge of veterinary education or have extensive work experience in the veterinary field. This enables the committee members to provide careful advice on the professional qualifications of individual applicants. They function independently and without burden and consultation. The members are appointed for a period of 4 years. The committee meets on the first Thursday of the month to review incoming registration requests.
Chairman CBGD
Prof. dr. Jan Willem Hesselink
Professional group of veterinarians (dierenartsen)
Prof. dr. Wim Kremer, expert member and substitute expert member;
Dr. Claudia Wolschrijn, expert member;
Drs. Arjan den Hertog, expert member;
Prof. dr. Marianne Baronesse Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, expert member;
Drs. Hugo de Groot, substitute expert member;
Drs. Paul Nabuurs, substitute expert member;
Dr. Rebecca Nordquist, substitute expert member.
Professional group of paraveterinary veterinary assistants (paraveterinair dierenartsassistenten)
Drs. Alida Moene, expert member;
Pascale Fuchs, expert member;
Annemarieke de Man, substitute expert member;
Marleen Langen, substitute expert member;
Professional group of animal physiotherapists (dierenfysiotherapeuten)
Michiel Moens, expert member;
Elma Bakker, expert member;
Guy Blom, substitute expert member;
Emma Blijdenstein, substitute expert member.
Professional group of reproduction technicians (embryo transfer) (embryotransplanteurs/winners)
Dr. Peter Vos, expert member;
Drs. Jakomien Noordman, expert member;
Dr. Hilde Aardema, substitute expert member;
Drs. Ianthe Brussen-Moens, substitute expert member.
Background information in brief
- The Veterinary Register falls under the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.
- The CBDG advises the Veterinary Register on specific applications from veterinarians with a foreign diploma. for recognition and registration .
- The commission was established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
- The Veterinary Register is administered by the CIBG on behalf of the Minister of LVVN.
- The CIBG is an implementing organization of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
- The CIBG performs this task due to the similarities with the BIG register: the professional register for care to people.
The following regulations apply to the Veterinary Register: