Naar Diplomas and qualifications

Foreign diploma in the Netherlands

Working as an instructor in secondary vocational education (MBO)

Do you hold a diploma from an EEA member state Link opent externe pagina or Switzerland, and would you like to work indefinitely as an instructor at a Dutch MBO institute? If so, you need to apply for recognition of your foreign professional qualification. If you would like to work in the Netherlands as an instructor occasionally or temporarily, you need to register this intention.

Conditions

Working indefinitely as an instructor
  • You hold an EU residency permit.
  • Your diploma was issued in an EEA member state or Switzerland.
  • Your level of expertise in your field is the same as as that of the vocational training programme you intend to teach, or higher.
  • You have teaching skills at the level of a specialist programme or middle-management training programme, or higher.
You will find the full terms and conditions in the Regeling erkenning EU-beroepskwalificaties onderwijspersoneel (link in Dutch) Link opent externe pagina .
Temporary or occasional work as an instructor
  • You hold an EU residency permit.
  • Your diploma was issued in an EEA member state or Switzerland.
  • You are eligible to work as an MBO instructor in the country where your diploma was issued.

Relevant teaching duties

Recognition or registration is intended for people who wish to work as instructors at MBO institutes. An instructor is a person who has obtained practical experience within the professional field the students are being prepared for. Instructors coach their students in acquiring practical skills. 

Apply or register

Apply for recognition of your professional qualification online. The link is in Dutch. Submit all requested supporting documents.

Apply for recognition professional qualification MBO instructorApply for recognition professional qualification MBO instructor (link in Dutch)

Apply with a form

If you cannot apply online, use the 'Recognition of EU professional qualifications for senior secondary vocational education (mbo) instructors' form to apply for recognition of your professional qualification.

Register temporary or occasional work as an instructor

If you would like to work as an instructor occasionally or temporarily, please use the ‘Temporary or occasional services of EU professional qualifications for instructors in senior secondary vocational education (mbo)’ form to register.

What happens next

Recognition of your professional qualification

The procedure to recognise your foreign professional qualification is as follows:

  • You submit a form requesting recognition of your professional qualification. The supporting documents you need to include are specified on the form.
  • In relation to your diploma, DUO may consult Nuffic Link opent externe pagina  or make enquiries with the relevant authorities in the country where the diploma was issued.
  • If these authorities are unable to verify your diploma, we require a statement from your educational institute confirming that you graduated successfully.
  • We will inform you of the decision.
  • If we reject your application, you can lodge an objection.
Temporary or occasional work

The procedure to register temporary or occasional work is as follows:

  • You submit the registration form. The supporting documents you need to include are specified on the form.
  • DUO makes enquiries about your diploma with the relevant authorities in the country where the diploma was issued.
  • If these authorities are unable to verify your diploma, we require a statement from your educational institute confirming that you graduated successfully.
  • We will inform you of our decision.
  • If your registration is accepted, you will receive a letter confirming the registration. You will then be eligible to work as an instructor in MBO.
  • If we reject your registration, you can lodge an objection.

Free

Recognition of your foreign professional qualification or registration of temporary or occasional work as an instructor at an MBO institute is free.

Contact

Please contact the Diploma Services Department if you have any questions. You can call us on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on +31 50 599 77 78. Or send an email to diplomaservices@duo.nl.