Hiring a dentist from abroad.

A Spanish dentist who wants to come to the Netherlands, a candidate from Brazil with ten years’ experience: across the border there is supply. But between “hired” and “chairside” sits a procedure you had better know in advance.

The basic rule

Nobody may work independently as a dentist in the Netherlands without entry in the BIG register, the Dutch professional register for healthcare workers. Which route gets you there depends on where the qualification was obtained. And both routes share the same gatekeeper: learn Dutch first, register afterwards.

A qualification from the EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland

Then recognition of the qualification is automatic in most cases, and recognition and BIG registration are handled in a single procedure with a lead time of at most around three months. The real work is the language: you can only register once the language requirement is met.

The language requirement: B2+, not a formality

Every dentist trained abroad has to master Dutch at B2+ level: B2, plus demonstrable competence in interactive medical Dutch — the conversation at the chair, in other words. Acceptable proof includes a diploma from a Dutch-language vocational course, Dutch-language primary plus secondary education, a statement of professional competence (valid for two years) or a certificate from the official language test. For a motivated candidate starting from nothing, count on months to well over a year of language study — this is the stage to weigh most heavily in your planning.

A qualification from outside the EEA

Then the route is longer and stricter, in a fixed order:

• 1. Qualification verification: a check on whether the training is equivalent to the Dutch dentistry degree.
• 2. Language certificates: Dutch at B2+ and English at B2.
• 3. Professional competence test: which can only be sat once the language certificates are in.

All in all this is not a matter of weeks but a process of many months to years. So anyone with a candidate from outside the EEA in mind should plan a start date on the stage the process has actually reached, not on hope.

Specialists: one more register

An orthodontist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon with a foreign qualification must additionally be recognised by the Dutch registration committee for dental specialisms and entered in the corresponding specialist register.

What you can do as a practice

At the first meeting, check three things: is the candidate already in the BIG register (free to look up online), how good is their Dutch really, and what stage is any procedure at. That prevents the classic mistake: signing a contract with a start date the procedure will never meet.

We guide this kind of process during placements — from the first BIG check to a start date that is actually realistic. Tell us what is going on.

Are you the candidate yourself? All the steps — registering, the hours requirement and re-registration — are on our page about BIG registration in dental care.

Sources

• KNMT — voldoen aan de taaleis van het BIG-register
• BIG-register — buitenlands diploma
• KNMT — registratie buitenslands gediplomeerde tandarts-specialist