Medical assessment – AKV test for MBO and HBO

General Knowledge and Skills Test (AKV )

Would you as a professional at MBO (secondary vocational education) or HBO (higher professional education) level with a foreign diploma (obtained from outside the EU) like to work in the Dutch healthcare system? Then first you need to have your diploma recognised. You need a declaration of competence for this.

In order to assess if this declaration can be issued, you need to take the General Knowledge and Skills (AKV) test. Nurses must also take the professional competence test. The results of the tests partly determine whether you receive a declaration of competence or whether additional education is required.

Dates and enrolment

The assessment procedure always starts with a General Knowledge and Skills test (AKV). The AKV tests your knowledge and skills of the Dutch and English language. There is an AKV test for the Senior Secondary Vocational (MBO) and the Higher Vocational (HBO) professionals.

If you have an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge certificate, you may be eligible for exemption from the English section of the AKV test. In article 11 of the AKV rules and regulations you will find more information about the certificates that qualify for exemption.

MBO professions in the Netherlands:

• Pharmacist assistant
• General nurse
• Individual healthcare worker

In order to pass the AKV test for the MBO professionals you need to:

• Master the Dutch language at B1 level;
• Master the English language at B1 level;
• Have knowledge of professional expressions.
  

HBO professions in the Netherlands:

• Dietician
• Occupational Therapist
• Physiotherapist
• Skin therapist
• Speech therapist
• Dental hygienist
• Remedial therapist
• Optometrist
• Orthoptist
• Podiatrist
• Radiodiagnostic technician
• Radiotherapeutic technician
• Prosthodontist
• Midwife
• Bachelor medical care provider
• Physician assistant

In order to pass the AKV test for the HBO professionals, you need to:

• Master the Dutch language at B2 level;
• Master the English language at B2 level
• Have knowledge of professional expressions.

» General information AKV test (including information on preperation)
» Sample test

Professional Competence Assessment 

Nurses also need to take a Professional Competence assessment. If you have passed the AKV test , you may participate in the second part of the assessment procedure: a professional competence test. The results of the professional competence test determine whether you receive a declaration of professional competence or if additional education is required.

» Information about the professional competence assessment

Enrol here for the AKV for MBO and HBO professionals:

Enrol here

(Please note that you can not register for an AKV exam before February 9th. Exams will resume on this date.)

Also study the information about the AKV test for academics