As a foreign osteopath it is possible to work in the Netherlands. If you want to register in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma, the Dutch register (NRO) will assess your diploma against the Dutch osteopathic standards and national standards for medical knowledge.
This does not mean we don’t acknowledge your diploma on forehand but, for registration, your diploma must meet the standards.
For registration in the register, a certified Dutch language test certificate at the language level B2 (program II) of the Common European Training Framework must be provided.
The State Exams Dutch as a Second Language (Nt2: Nederlands als tweede taal) are the national language proficiency exams for non-native adult speakers, who want to study or work in the Netherlands. The Diploma State Exams Nt2 is officially recognized by the government. For osteopathy the required language level is B2. Program II is intended for people who want to enter higher education (hbo) or university studies (wo) or for those who apply for a job at an academic level. The language level of this program is B2 (CEFR). Please see https://www.staatsexamensnt2.nl for more information.
The profession Osteopathy or title is not recognized in the Netherlands but, as a form of healthcare, partly regulated by law regarding quality and complaints. In order to be a healthcare provider in the Netherlands you must meet these national regulations.
These are the first steps.
On our website you can read about all the criteria for registration, like practice standards and guidelines.
If you think you can meet all of those aspects you can apply for registration (by sending a mail), we will provide you information about the procedures, costs and necessary documents needed for the assessment.
• For more information about osteopathy in the Netherlands see:
– NRO (register): www.osteopathie-nro.nl
– NVO (professional association): www.osteopathie.nl
• For more information about Dutch law and the health inspection see:
• For more information about Dutch language NT2 level see:
– https://www.staatsexamensnt2.nl
• For more information about medical knowledge see: