Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in Belgium: 2026 Guide

Belgium regulates mental health care in two layers. One law protects the title of psychologist; health law governs who may practise clinical psychology and psychotherapy.

We are a clinician-run directory. This guide keeps to what the law says and what you can check yourself.

The short answer: who is regulated

The title of psychologist has been protected since 1993. Under that law, no one may use the title of psychologist without meeting the conditions it sets, starting with the required university diploma.¹ The Commission des Psychologues keeps the list of people who meet the conditions and wish to use the title.²

Practice is the second layer, under federal health law. No one may practise clinical psychology without an agrément issued by the minister for Public Health.³ Clinical orthopedagogy is regulated the same way: no one may practise it without an agrément either.³ The agrément goes only to someone holding a university degree in clinical psychology of at least five years, or 300 ECTS credits, including a placement.³ Someone who qualified in psychology before the rule took effect counts as equivalent if they can show three years of professional experience in clinical psychology.³

Psychotherapy is regulated as a form of treatment rather than as a separate title. The law defines psychotherapy as a form of treatment within health care, and requires a specific university-level training of at least 70 ECTS credits from those who exercise it.⁴ That training sits at a university or a haute école, and it comes with a professional placement of at least two years full-time.⁴ The law also carries transitional groups. A practitioner who held a professional title under the law, completed a specific psychotherapy training by the 2015-2016 academic year, and could show they were practising psychotherapy by 1 September 2018, may still practise it autonomously.⁴ The same applies to someone who had begun that training by the 2016-2017 academic year.⁴

How to check a registration in two minutes

The Commission des Psychologues (Psychologencommissie) is the official body for the psychologist title and its ethics in Belgium, in its own words the body that “regulates, protects, and strengthens” them.⁵ Its list is public.

1. Ask the professional for their Commission registration number.
2. Open the Commission’s official list search. The search offers a registration number field and filters by sector of activity and location.⁶
3. Confirm the person appears on the list.
4. If the name is not there, ask why before you book.

The Commission’s list is about the title. It is not where the clinical-psychology agrément is shown, so if a practitioner presents themselves as a clinical psychologist, ask to see that recognition and which authority issued it.

The kinds of professional, and which one you need

People use the word therapist loosely. In Belgium, these are the roles that matter.

Counsellor and coach are labels outside these frameworks. No public list stands behind them, so apply the same check: ask what registration the person holds, and look it up.

Which one do you need? For talking therapy, a psychologist on the Commission list is the standard route. If medication may help, see a psychiatrist, through your family doctor or privately.

Protected title: what the law reserves

The 1993 law makes the title itself the checkpoint. The conditions include holding the required diploma and being entered on the list of Article 2.¹ So a person calling themselves a psychologist in Belgium should appear on the Commission’s list, and it is fair to ask when they do not.

If something goes wrong: making a complaint

For a psychologist on the Commission list, write to the Commission des Psychologues. It maintains the professional rules for the people it lists, and it operates disciplinary bodies for them.

For care delivered in the health system, you can also raise concerns through the health service where you were treated. Put any complaint in writing and keep copies.

Trained abroad? Getting recognised to practise

This section is for clinicians, not for people seeking help. EU-qualified psychologists use the EU recognition route; the 1993 law also recognises foreign diplomas declared equivalent by the competent authority.¹ Confirm the current process with the Commission before planning a move.

Find a registered therapist in Belgium

When you are ready, start with a list you can verify. Our directory shows the credentials each therapist states, and you can check any psychologist against the Commission’s official list yourself.

See our guide to choosing the right therapist. It covers what to ask and what to check.

Written and reviewed by Team TherapyRoute, a clinician-run directory. Last verified 2026. Rules change, so confirm current status with the Commission des Psychologues and the federal health authorities.

References

1. [1] Loi du 8 novembre 1993 protégeant le titre de psychologue, Art. 1 - conditions du port du titre (diplôme requis; inscription sur la liste de l’article 2; diplômes étrangers reconnus équivalents) etaamb.openjustice.be.
2. [2] Loi du 8 novembre 1993, Art. 2-3 - la Commission des Psychologues tient la liste des personnes remplissant les conditions etaamb.openjustice.be.
3. [3] Loi du 4 avril 2014 réglementant les professions des soins de santé mentale, art. 21quatervicies - agrément ministériel pour l’exercice de la psychologie clinique etaamb.openjustice.be.
4. [4] Loi du 10 juillet 2016 (art. 68/2/1 inséré dans la loi coordonnée) - la psychothérapie comme forme de traitement des soins de santé; formation spécifique d’au minimum 70 crédits ECTS etaamb.openjustice.be.
5. [5] Commission des Psychologues / Psychologencommissie - the official body for the title of psychologists in Belgium compsy.be.
6. [6] Commission des Psychologues - Search a psychologist (official list) compsy.be/en_GB/search.