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Introduction

Have you obtained a degree in veterinary medicine outside the EEA or Switzerland and would you like to work as a veterinarian in the Netherlands? If so, you need to apply for registration in the ‘Register of Veterinary Medical Practitioners’. In case your performance level has not been found equivalent (yet) to the Dutch degree in Veterinary Medicine, the Commission for Foreign Animal Healthcare Graduates (CBGD) assesses whether the deficiencies can be compensated with a remedial course of up to 1 year. You can follow this remedial course at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Upon successful completion of this course, one is eligible for ‘recognition, admission and registration’ in the register of Veterinary Medical Practitioners. Before you can enroll in the remediation program, you must complete the following steps:

Step 1 Apply for recognition, admission and registration in the register of Veterinary Medical Practitioners

For more information about recognition, admission and registration as a veterinarian with a foreign degree in veterinary medicine, please visit the of the register of Veterinary Medical Practitioners.

Step 2 Veterinary Medicine Knowledge and Skills test

You may choose to take the Veterinary Medicine knowledge and skills test at Utrecht University, provided the CBGD has indicated your eligibility after their initial assessment of your performance level. The results of this test will be additionally considered by the CBGD during a subsequent assessment. The fee for the Knowledge and Skills Test is EUR 1,600 (2024/exempt from VAT).

Step 3 Advice CBGD after asessment

After you have taken the KVD test, the CBGD reassesses your file taking into account the test results. A recommendation from the CBGD follows this reassessment.

Step 4 Registration Remedial Course for Veterinarians with a non-EEA or Swiss diploma

After a positive advice from the CBGD for participation in the Remedial Course, you can register for this course at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The Remedial Course consists of a generic part of 15 ECTS (European credit points), focused on working as a veterinarian in the Netherlands and a customized part of up to 45 ECTS. The content is determined individually, based on the advice of the CBGD. The components of your track will be scheduled sequentially as much as possible. The duration of the remedial course is a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 months. The costs of the trajectory are for the applicant.

Language requirements

English (you need to show the results of one of these test)

• IELTS, Academic Module. The minimum required IELTS score (overall band) is: 6.5 with at least 6.0 for the sections ‘writing, speaking, listening and reading’.
• TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language). The minimum required TOEFL score is 93 (internet-based test) with at least a score of 24 for reading, 22 for listening, 20 for speaking and 20 for writing. ITP-TOEFL scores are not accepted.
• Cambridge Certificate (not available to students from China):
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced (CAE). Minimum score: 176 total, 169 for writing
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency (CPE). Minimum score: 180 total, 169 for writing

Exceptions: You do not need to submit proof of language proficiency if you:

• Obtained a degree from a Dutch university
• Obtained a high school diploma and/or bachelor's degree in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Africa
• Obtained an IB Diploma or EB Diploma (for English language education).

Dutch

• NT2, Program II (Dutch as a second language, level 2), taken by the Examination Services Department of 'DUO'. It is advisable to register with DUO as soon as possible.
• Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language: 'Educative Professional' (formerly PAT) or 'Educative Capable to start' (formerly PTHO).

Starting moment

September 2024 (Click here for an example of the trajectory)

Language

Dutch

Location

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Utrecht (online learning is part of the course)

Duration

A minimum of  4 and a maximum of 12 months

The course can only be taken full-time with a study load averaging 40 hours per week. Please note that for the core rotations in equine and companion animals, you will rotate for a period of time during the course with some shifts at the University Animal Hospital.

Official proof of passing the course

Certificate

Costs

The total costs of the course depend on prior education and existing knowledge (maximum EUR 20.927).

• Generic part (15 EC – EUR 6.643,-)
• Tailormade part
  • Core rotations in Veterinary Public Health (7,5 EC/EUR 3.321,-)
  • Core rotations in Enquine (7,5 EC/EUR 3.321,-)
  • Core rotations in Farm Animal Health (7,5 EC/EUR 3.321,-)
  • Core rotations in Companion Animals (7,5 EC/EUR 3.321,-)
  • Extramuraal education (15 EC/EUR 1.000,-/travelling costs are at your own expense)