Conditions of registration
Introduction
In Belgium, the title of psychologist has been legally protected since 1993. To use this title, you must be registered on the list of the Psychologists Commission. This also applies to compound titles such as clinical psychologist, occupational psychologist, neuropsychologist, etc.
When you apply for registration, the Psychologists Commission verifies that you meet the legal requirements. Depending on the country where you obtained your degree, different supporting documents must be submitted. The requirements are laid down in the Act of 8 November 1993 protecting the title of psychologist for Belgian degrees and in Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament for foreign degrees.
This page is intended to help you determine whether you are eligible to use the title of psychologist in Belgium and to guide you through the documents required to submit your application for registration on the list of psychologists.
Please note that all required documents must be submitted in one of the following four languages: Dutch, French, German or English. If your documents are in another language, they must be accompanied by a certified translation into one of these four languages.
Degrees obtained in Belgium
If you hold a master's degree, licentiate degree or doctoral degree in psychology awarded by a Belgian university, you may submit your application for registration directly by providing either your diploma or a certificate confirming that you have successfully completed your master's degree (transcripts or lists of grades are not accepted).
Certain older degree titles may also qualify for registration, although such cases have become increasingly rare. If you believe this applies to your situation, please send an email to info@compsy.be with a copy of your diploma.
Degrees obtained outside Belgium
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1) Degrees obtained in a Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or the United Kingdom (before 01/01/2021)
Two situations must be distinguished:
a) The profession is regulated in the country where you obtained your degree:
In accordance with Article 13(1) of Directive 2005/36/EC, you may submit an application for registration with the Psychologists Commission if, in the country where you obtained your degree:
- the profession of psychologist, either as a whole or specifically within your field of practice, is regulated by law;
- the profession is supervised by a competent authority established by law;
- and you have been officially recognised as a psychologist by that competent authority.
In this case, you must provide:
- proof of your recognition issued by the competent authority;
- a copy of your diploma.
If you have not been recognised by the competent authority and it is not possible for you to obtain such recognition, you have two options:
a) Submit a certificate issued by your university or higher education institution, together with a copy of your diploma. This certificate must confirm that your degree complies with Directive 2005/36/EC and that it gives access to recognition as a psychologist in the country where it was obtained.
b) Apply for a specific recognition (equivalence) of your degree title through one of the Belgian NARIC centres.
b) The profession is not regulated in the country where you obtained your degree:
Also in accordance with Article 13(1) of Directive 2005/36/EC, if the profession of psychologist, or more specifically your field of practice, is not regulated in the country where you obtained your degree and recognition by a competent authority is not possible, you may apply for registration by submitting one of the following sets of documents:
First option:
- a copy of your diploma;
- a certificate issued by your university stating that it constitutes a competent authority within the meaning of Directive 2005/36/EC and that your training prepares you for the practice of the profession of psychologist;
- and proof of at least one year of professional experience as a psychologist during the previous ten years.
Second option:
- a copy of your diploma;
- a certificate issued by your university stating that your training constitutes a regulated education and training within the meaning of Article 3(e) of Directive 2005/36/EC.
If you are unable to provide any of the above documents, you must first obtain a specific recognition (equivalence) of your degree title through one of the Belgian NARIC centres before submitting an application for registration with the Psychologists Commission.
b) Degrees obtained in a third country (outside the European Union) or in the United Kingdom (from 01/01/2021)
If your degree has already been recognised in a Member State of the European Union, two situations are possible.
1) The profession of psychologist, or your field of practice, is regulated in that Member State
You may submit an application for registration by providing the following documents:
- proof of recognition issued by the competent authority of that Member State;
- a copy of your diploma.
2) The profession of psychologist, or more specifically your field of practice, is not regulated in that Member State
You may submit an application for registration by providing the following documents:
- a decision recognising the equivalence of your degree, issued by the authority responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications in that Member State;
- proof of at least three years of professional experience as a psychologist in that Member State;
- the documents demonstrating that you meet the conditions laid down in Article 13(1) of Directive 2005/36/EC.
If you do not fall under either of the two situations described above, you must first obtain a specific recognition (equivalence) of your degree title from one of the Belgian NARIC centres before you can submit an application for registration with the Psychologists Commission.
If your degree obtained in a third country has never been recognised in a Member State of the European Union, you must also first obtain a specific recognition (equivalence) of your degree title from one of the Belgian NARIC centres before you can submit an application for registration with the Psychologists Commission.
