Everything About Being A Doctor In Belgium

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium is Western European country, bordered by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and the North Sea. It is one of the six founding countries of the European Union. Dutch (59% speakers), French (41% speakers) and German (few German speakers) are the three official languages in the country. So the country has Flanders (Dutch speakers) and Walloon (French Speakers) making it population 11 million (2015 est ). Brussels is Capital of Belgium

Belgium has one of the most developed health care system in the world. Life expectancy is 79.69. Health care is financed through social security contribution and taxation while Health Insurance is mandatory in the country.

Undergraduate Medical Education

Undergraduate medical education in Belgium starts after 15.5 years of school education and the language of instruction differs according to the region.

Belgium accounts for dozens of universities and medical schools. Medical studies in Belgium are available either in French or in Dutch. Some of the popular universities are:

1. Universities and medical schools in Belgium in French:-

1. Université Libre de Bruxelles – Faculté de médecine
2. Université Catholique de Louvain – Faculté de médecine et de médecine dentaires
3. Université de Liège – Faculté de médecine
4. Université de Mons – Faculté de médecine
5. Facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix – Faculté de médecine

Entry into these french medical faculties for local and foreign students requires passing a competitive exam called “le test d’orientation du secteurs de la santé”.

2. Universities and medical schools in Flemish Belgium (Dutch):-

1. Universiteit Antwerpen – Faculté de médecine
2. Vrije Universiteit Brussel – Faculté de médecine et de pharmacie
3. Universiteit Gent – Faculté de médecine et de sciences de la vie
4. Universiteit Hasselt – Faculté de médecine
5. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven – Faculté de médecine

Medical studies in Belgium are organized in three cycles:

1. 1st cycle: bachelor: 3 year
2. 2nd cycle: master: 3 year

These 2 cycles lead to the the State Diploma of Doctor of Medicine (MD)

3. 3rd cycle: Complementary master of specialization: (generalist or specialist doctor) 3- 6 years

Residency/Complementary master of specialization

Belgium medical residency training is mostly master degree training/3rd cycle training. Faculty Of Medicine of liege offers many complementary master of specialization

1. Graduate candidates of Belgium
At the end of the 6 years , students receive the title of “Doctor”. However, they must complete their studies with a complementary master of specialization in order to practice. Specializations in medicine (general medicine or other specialties) are subject to restrictions by federal quotas imposed by the Federal Government.

The graduate medical student should apply for a selection test which different in each specialty and is established by the ministry of French community high education

2. Graduate candidates from other EU Countries
These graduate medical student can apply for complementary masters of specialization.

3. Graduate candidates from Non EU Countries
These candidates can’t apply for complete specialization in Belgium. However they can either submit an application for diploma equivalence (which make them register in the first year in second cycle: master) or continue their education through the university certificate in partial specialized training.

For the partial specialized training , they should apply for selection test.

Licence/Registration

At the end of “ master complémentaire “ the specialist candidate” should apply the ministerial commission for licence application “demande d’agrément” then register to “ ordre des médécins” to practice medicine in Belgium

Foreign doctor can practice medicine in Belgium if they register in “ordre des médécins“. This National Council provides the possibility of submitting the foreign doctor to an aptitude test and/or to a Training period.

Eligibility

1. For medical student wishing to enroll in basic medical education in Belgium

For local students:

• Passing the competitive exam “le test d’orientation du secteurs de la santé”

For foreign students:

• Equivalency diploma of the end of secondary education which is given by the Ministry of Education (Wallonie-Bruxelles federation)
• French language competency certificate (B1)
• Passing the competitive exam “le test d’orientation du secteurs de la santé”

2. For Belgium medical residency / complementary master of specialization

For Local Students:

• Basic medical graduate certificate
• Passing the selection exam according to each specialty

For EU students:

• Basic medical graduate certificate
• Be authorized to practice medicine in Belgium
• Passing the selection test

For Non EU students:

• Basic medical graduate certificate
• French language competitive exam or B2 Certificate

Procedure

1. Procedure for foreign student non EU to study medicine in Belgium:

1. Application for admission to an educational institution (faculties of medicine)
2. Application for temporary residence permit for study
3. Application of equivalence of diploma of higher secondary school education to Ministry of Education (Wallonie-Bruxelles federation)
4. French Language Competence Certificate (B2)

2. Procedure for local student to access Belgium medical residency / medical specialization:
Any local medical student at the end of second cycle can apply for selection test.

3. Procedure for foreign Non EU doctors to access to partial medical specialization:

1. Student should contact directly the chief of the specialty department of interest
2. If he/she selects you, you should contact Admissions Center, Fill the application form which must be accompanied by the authorization of the chief of that department
3. Then file is sent to the jury for approval
4. The official registration authorization is sent to the doctors accompanied by a acceptance certificate in the program which allows him to apply for a student visa and a document specifying the dates and registration details.
5. To obtain exemption of training or for recognition of specialists qualification, doctors should contact Ministry of Health to know more about process of equivalence and exemption.

4. Procedure for foreign EU doctors to access to Belgian medical residency/specialization:
check eligibility criteria and know if his basic medical qualification allows him access to a master of specialization then check for an online application form and submit required documents. Also he needs to send cv and cover letter to dean of Faculty Of Medicine he can apply for selection test

5. Procedure for foreign doctor to work in Belgium:
For EEA, Swiss and Non EU doctors

1. Submit application for equivalence of diploma to Ministry of Education (Wallonie-Bruxelles federation)
2. Submit an individual application for approval of training supervisor to Public Health care (FPS Public Health). (For training supervisor for medicine,training supervisor for dentists, For specialists supervisors)

For Non EEA doctor should apply to Ministry of Health for equivalence of his specialization to to give him authorization to practice in Belgium.

Documentation
1. For Non EU doctors to apply for Belgium medical residency/master de specialization in Université de Liège – Faculté de médecine

1. Fill an application form
2. Cover letter
3. Copy of passport
4. Certified copy Higher Secondary School certificate (translated in French)
5. Certified copy of basic medical qualification
6. Certified copy of detailed transcript of record for basic medical qualification
7. Detailed curriculum of basic medical qualification
8. The higher education pattern/plan from country of graduation.
9. A summary of your graduation project/thesis in French or English with copy of the table of contents.
10. Copy of French language proficiency certificate (minimum B2 level)
11. Proof of proficiency in English: Proof of completion of a standardized test (IELTS, TOEFL etc) proving the required level (B1)
12. Scholarship and Student Loan: Certification of stock agency or lender stating the amount, duration, destination funding.
13. Commitment of care.
14. Bank account with balances greater than € 10,000: proof that money can be transferred to an account in Belgium.

Additional optional documents:

• Certificate(s) of original work(s) specifying the dates of beginning and end of activities
• Certification contribution to a social insurance fund for self-employed
• Unemployment Certification
• Certificate of military service

2. For EU doctors to apply for Belgium medical residency /”master de specialization” in Université de Liège – Faculté de médecine

1. Fill Application form for EU students
2. Cover letter
3. Copy of passport
4. Certified copy Higher Secondary School certificate (translated in French)
5. Certified copy of basic medical qualification
6. Certified copy of detailed transcript of record for basic medical qualification
7. Detailed curriculum of basic medical qualification
8. The higher education pattern/plan from country of graduation.
9. A summary of your graduation project/these in French or English and a copy of the table of contents
10. Copy of French language proficiency certificate B2 level at least
11. Proof of proficiency in English: Proof of completion of a standardized test proving the required level (B1)

Additional optional documents

• Certificate (s) of original work (s) specifying the dates of beginning and end of activities;
• Certification contribution to a social insurance fund for self-employed;
• Unemployment Certification;
• Certificate of military service;

3. For Registration to practice medicine in Belgium :
To register to ordre des médécins of Belgium submit these documents.

1. Equivalence diploma certificate from Ministry of Education (Wallonie-Bruxelles federation) (after submitting application for equivalence of diplomato Ministry of Education (Wallonie-Bruxelles federation)).
2. The medical degree recognized equivalence certificate issued by the Federal Public Health;
3. A statement by the applicant indicating the place where it has or will have its main activities.
4. A certificate of good life and morals
5. Registration certificate/License from home country or country of latest job.
6. Good standing certificate (not older than 3 months)

Examination
1. Undergraduate medical education entry test “ test d’orientation “.
The test is MCQs based and consists of 2 parts and evaluates the student’s competence (knowledge and understanding) in six subjects i.e. mathematics (25 questions) English (20 issues) biology (25 questions) French (15 questions) Physics (25 questions) Chemistry (25 questions)

2. The selection test for local student into Belgium medical residency program
The selection test is marked out of a maximum of 100 points, divided as follows:

• Results obtained during the second round: 50 point
• Particular result in teaching second cycle directly related to the specialization
• Theoretical examinations, training: 25 points
• Test of Jury/viva exam: 25 points (Evaluation of specific skills and motivation of the student)

3. The selection test for foreign student into Belgium medical residency program
There is oral and written test to evaluate the student ‘s competence.

Fee
For” test d’orientation” is 30 euro

Salary
General Practitioner: 2500 – 4500 euro/month, Specialist doctor : 2500- 5500 euro/month

Postgraduate Medical Education
Every specialist candidate can apply to register in “ l’école docorale en médécine Clinique “ and carry out part of his training in research and reach to MD /PhD degree.

Some universities e.g. Université Catholique de Louvain offers continuous medical education (CME) programs and courses which are good for doctors to update their professional knowledge.

Training courses by Université Libre de Bruxelles allow doctors to update their knowledge and enhance their professional skills.

Source

 

Hi! As a 4th year medical student from Belgium, I would like to correct something in the article. The duration of the 2nd cycle (master) is also 3 years, just like the first cycle (bachelor). It used to be 4 years, but my year (class of 2018) is the first to have a 6 year education instead of 7.

 

That is awesome. In my country Egypt, Bachelor degree is received after 7 years of education

 

Thanks for the recent update in Belgium of (class 2018), will ammend this in the article. And It must be a great feeling to be the pioneer lead Med Students finishing Medical Education in Belgium, in 6 years instead of 7