Mental Health Licensing & Regulation in the Netherlands: 2025 Guide

In the Netherlands, the regulation of mental health professionals is strictly divided: legally protected roles like psychiatrists and psychotherapists require mandatory government registration in the BIG register, while alternative therapists follow different standards.

This guide explains the requirements for each profession, how to verify a provider's credentials on the BIG register, and what to look for to ensure you receive qualified care.

Table of Contents | Jump Ahead

Official Legal Framework

Regulatory Authorities

Professional Categories and Scope of Practice

Verification Procedures for the Public

Complaint Procedures

Protected Titles and Legal Framework

Current Professional Statistics

Language Requirements

Recommendations for the Public

Sources and Verification

Official Legal Framework

Primary Legislation:

• Individual Healthcare Professions Act (BIG): Wet op de Beroepen in de Individuele Gezondheidszorg
• Healthcare Quality, Complaints and Disputes Act (Wkkgz): Quality standards for healthcare
• Mental Health Care Act: Specific mental health service regulations

Regulatory Authorities

1. CIBG (CENTRAL INFORMATION POINT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS)

Authority: Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS)

Role: Administration of BIG register and professional licensing

Functions:

• BIG register maintenance and administration
• Professional qualification assessment
• Disciplinary measure enforcement
• International qualification recognition
• Re-registration processing every 5 years

2. MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WELFARE AND SPORT (VWS)

Role: Overall healthcare regulation and policy

Authority: BIG Act implementation and oversight

Functions:

• Healthcare legislation development
• Professional standards setting
• Quality assurance oversight
• International healthcare agreements
• Disciplinary court oversight

3. DISCIPLINARY COURTS FOR HEALTHCARE

Authority: Healthcare Professionals Act

Jurisdiction: All BIG-registered healthcare professionals

Functions:

• Professional misconduct investigations
• Disciplinary measure imposition
• Appeals processing
• Public protection measures
• Professional standards enforcement

4. NAP (DUTCH AWARDING ORGANISATION OF EAP)

Role: Alternative psychotherapy registration

Authority: European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) recognition

Functions:

• ECP (European Certificate for Psychotherapy) registration
• Alternative psychotherapy practitioner oversight
• Quality standards for non-BIG registered therapists
• Insurance company liaison for reimbursement
• Continuing professional development requirements

5. DUTCH PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (NIP)

Dutch Name: Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen
Role: Primary professional association for psychologists in the Netherlands
Authority: Professional body setting quality standards for its members (distinct from statutory BIG registration)
Functions:

• Setting professional and ethical standards for members
• Maintaining a public register of NIP-qualified psychologists
• Advocating for the profession of psychology
• Providing continuing education and professional development
• Handling complaints against its members via an internal disciplinary board

Professional Categories and Scope of Practice

1. HEALTHCARE PSYCHOLOGIST (FULLY REGULATED)

Regulatory Authority: CIBG/BIG register

License Required: BIG registration mandatory

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree: 3-year Psychology Bachelor's from a recognised university
• Master's Degree: Psychology Master's with healthcare specialisation
• Post-Master Training: 2-year GZ-psychologist training program
• Supervised Practice: Extensive supervised clinical experience
• Competency Assessment: Professional competency evaluation

• Psychological Assessment: Comprehensive psychological evaluation
• Diagnosis: Mental health disorder diagnosis
• Treatment Planning: Evidence-based treatment programs
• Psychotherapy: Limited psychotherapeutic interventions
• Referrals: Can refer to psychiatrists and other specialists
• Restrictions: Cannot prescribe medication

• Work Experience: 3,120 hours over 5 years OR
• Training Requirement: Continuing education alternative
• Professional Development: Ongoing competency maintenance

2. PSYCHOTHERAPIST (HIGHLY RESTRICTED)

Regulatory Authority: Government-controlled registration

License Required: Strict government licensing

Eligibility Restrictions:

• Psychologists: Master's level psychology degree
• Psychiatrists: Medical degree with psychiatric specialisation
• Medical Doctors: Medical degree with additional training

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Family Therapy
• Psychoanalytic Therapy
• Psychodynamic Therapy

• Modality-Specific Training: Government-approved training programs
• Supervised Practice: Extensive supervised clinical experience
• Assessment: Professional competency evaluation
• Registration: Entry into the national psychotherapist register

• Full Psychotherapy: Comprehensive psychotherapeutic treatment
• Specialised Interventions: Advanced therapeutic techniques
• Complex Cases: Treatment of severe mental health conditions
• Insurance Coverage: Covered by the health insurance system

3. PSYCHIATRIST (FULLY REGULATED)

Regulatory Authority: Medical specialist registration

License Required: Medical license plus psychiatric specialisation

Education Requirements:

• Medical Degree: 6-year medical studies
• Medical License: BIG registration as a medical doctor
• Psychiatric Residency: Specialised psychiatric training
• Board Certification: Psychiatric specialist certification

• Full Medical Authority: Can prescribe medication
• Psychiatric Diagnosis: Complex psychiatric assessment
• Medical Procedures: Psychiatric medical interventions
• Hospitalisation: Can admit patients to psychiatric facilities
• Psychotherapy: Can provide psychotherapeutic treatment

4. ECP-THERAPIST (ALTERNATIVE REGISTRATION)

Regulatory Authority: NAP (Dutch EAP organisation)

Status: Alternative to government-regulated psychotherapy

Education Requirements:

• University Degree: Level 6 first university degree
• 11 Modules: Psycho-social basic knowledge modules
• EAP-Recognised Training: Training in EAP-approved modalities
• Continuing Education: Annual CPD requirements

• Psycho-social Knowledge: Level 6 university-level knowledge
• Modality Training: EAP-recognised psychotherapy approach
• CPD Compliance: Continuing professional development every 2 years

• Private Practice: Exclusively private-pay services
• Alternative Approaches: Non-government-approved therapeutic modalities
• Insurance Coverage: Limited coverage by some private insurers
• Title Restrictions: Cannot use "Psychotherapist" title

5. CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST (KLINISCH PSYCHOLOOG)

• Dutch Title: Klinisch Psycholoog
• Regulatory Authority: CIBG/BIG register
• License Required: BIG registration mandatory

• Bachelor's Degree: 3-year Psychology Bachelor's from a recognised university
• Master's Degree: Psychology Master's with clinical specialisation
• Post-Master Specialist Training: Minimum 4-year clinical psychology specialisation program (including supervised practical experience)
• Competency Assessment: Successful completion of professional competency evaluations

• Advanced Psychological Assessment: Complex diagnostic evaluations in clinical settings
• Diagnosis and Treatment: Diagnosis and treatment planning for severe and complex mental disorders
• Psychotherapy: Full psychotherapeutic interventions with broad therapeutic approaches
• Collaboration: Works closely with medical professionals, psychiatrists, and multidisciplinary teams
• Referral Rights: Can initiate referrals within mental health services
• Restrictions: Cannot prescribe medication (reserved for medical doctors)

• Work Experience: Minimum required clinical practice hours over 5 years
• Continuing Education: Ongoing professional development and training
• Maintenance of Competency: Adherence to BIG register standards and ethical codes

Verification Procedures for the Public

Verifying BIG-Registered Professionals:

• BIG Register Search: Use online BIG register at english.bigregister.nl
• BIG Number Verification: Check professional's BIG registration number
• Professional Website: BIG number must be displayed on professional websites
• Email Signature: BIG number required in professional email signatures
• Current Registration: Verify current registration status (renewed every 5 years)

• Public Access: BIG register is publicly accessible online
• Search Function: Search by name, profession, or BIG number
• Registration Status: Confirms current registration and any restrictions
• Disciplinary Measures: Shows any disciplinary actions or suspensions

Verifying ECP-Therapist Credentials:

• NAP Register: Check NAP public register for ECP certification
• EAP Recognition: Verify therapeutic modality is EAP-recognised
• Training Background: Confirm university-level education
• Insurance Coverage: Check if covered by specific health insurers
• CPD Compliance: Verify continuing education requirements

Red Flags - Warning Signs:

• No BIG Registration: Cannot provide BIG number for regulated professions
• Unauthorised Titles: Using "Psychotherapist" without proper government licensing
• Unverified Training: Cannot document recognised training programs
• False Insurance Claims: Claiming full insurance coverage without proper licensing
• Unlicensed Practice: Practising regulated professions without BIG registration

Complaint Procedures

For BIG-Registered Professionals:

Process:

• Written Complaint: Submit a detailed complaint to disciplinary court
• Investigation: Professional conduct investigation
• Disciplinary Measures: Possible sanctions including:
• Professional warnings
• Fines
• Conditional measures
• Temporary suspension
• Permanent prohibition from practice
• Public Record: Disciplinary measures published in public register
• Appeal Process: Right to appeal disciplinary decisions

For ECP-Therapists:

Process:

• NAP Complaint: Submit a complaint to NAP organisation
• Professional Standards: Investigation of ECP standards violations
• Registration Actions: Possible suspension or removal from the ECP register
• Insurance Notification: Notification to health insurance companies

For Unlicensed Practice:

Enforcement: Healthcare inspection and law enforcement

Penalties: Fines and legal action for title misuse

Protected Titles and Legal Framework

Legally Protected Titles (BIG Act):

• "Psychotherapeut": Strictly protected, requires government licensing
• "Gezondheidszorgpsycholoog": Protected healthcare psychologist title
• "Psychiatrist": Protected medical specialist title

Prohibited Practices:

• Title Misuse: Using "Psychotherapist" without proper licensing
• Similar Titles: Using titles that resemble protected titles
• False Representation: Claiming government registration without proper licensing

Permitted Alternative Titles:

• "ECP-Therapist": Permitted for ECP-registered practitioners
• "Therapeut": General therapy title (with qualifications)
• "Counsellor": Counselling services (with appropriate training)

Legal Penalties:

• Criminal Prosecution: For unauthorised use of protected titles
• Professional Sanctions: Disciplinary court actions
• Civil Liability: Damages for professional misconduct

Current Professional Statistics

• Active Registrations: Several thousand registered GZ-psychologists
• Re-registration Rate: 5-year renewal requirement
• Work Requirements: 3,120 hours over 5 years for re-registration

• ~5,000 licensed psychotherapists in the Netherlands
• Restricted Modalities: Only government-approved approaches
• Insurance Coverage: Full coverage by health insurance system
• Clinical Settings: Many work in institutional settings

• ~350 registered practitioners with NAP
• Private Practice: Exclusively private-pay services
• Limited Insurance: Partial coverage by some insurers
• Alternative Modalities: Non-government-approved approaches

Language Requirements

For International Applicants:

• Dutch Proficiency: Required for all healthcare professions
• Professional Level: Must demonstrate professional-level Dutch
• Assessment: Language assessment as part of registration process
• Documentation: All professional documentation in Dutch

Professional Communication:

• Patient Care: Dutch language essential for patient communication
• Professional Documentation: All records and reports in Dutch
• Continuing Education: Most programs conducted in Dutch

Recommendations for the Public

When Seeking Mental Health Services:

• Verify BIG Registration: Check BIG register for healthcare psychologists
• Confirm Specialisation: Ensure appropriate professional qualifications
• Insurance Coverage: Verify insurance coverage for chosen practitioner
• Professional Background: Check education and training credentials
• Language Proficiency: Ensure practitioner has adequate Dutch proficiency

For Serious Mental Health Issues:

• Medical Evaluation: Consider psychiatrist for complex cases requiring medication
• Emergency Care: Use emergency services for psychiatric crises
• Insurance Coverage: Access covered treatment through BIG-registered professionals

Understanding Alternative Practitioners:

• ECP Registration: Verify ECP certification for alternative therapists
• Insurance Limitations: Understand limited insurance coverage
• Quality Standards: Check NAP registration and training background
• Private Payment: Prepare for private payment arrangements

Red Flags to Avoid:

• No BIG Registration: Practitioners claiming to be healthcare psychologists without BIG registration
• Unauthorised Titles: Use of "Psychotherapist" title without proper licensing
• Unverified Training: Cannot document recognised training programs
• False Insurance Claims: Claiming full coverage without proper licensing

Sources and Verification

CIBG

Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

Dutch Psychological Association (NIP)

NAP