
Podiatry is recognised as a health care profession in Belgium since 2016. Podiatrists are mostly active as private practitioners or group practices and they are recognised as part of the multidisciplinary diabetic foot teams.
Education
Title of degree: | Education process: | Number of years/hours/ECTS: | Degree: | Continuous education mandatory: | Name of regulated profession: |
Bachelor in de podologie | BAC + 3 No master level available | 3 years full time (180 ECTS 5400 hours | Bachelor | Yes | Podologue (French) Podoloog (Dutch) |
Recognition
Is podiatry recognised: | Governmental recognition: | Is there a board that regulates the profession (cfr HCPC – AHPRA – Ordre des Podologues): | Is there automatic recognition of degree (with or without exam)? With competences based on your training?: | Hours of mandatory CPD/CME yearly?: | Link to local applicable legislation: | |
Yes, since April 1, 2016 | There is a recognition since April 1, 2016 Belgium counts approx. 679 podiatrists (dd 31/12/2017) | 15 hours per year | podologie.be |
Foreign Podiatrists
If you want to settle permanently in Belgium and exercise a healthcare profession, you must first apply for recognition or have your diploma put on an equal footing.
Important: if you wish to practise podiatry in Belgium for a limited time or occasionally, you must apply for authorization to the Federal Public Service of Public Health. The request is made using a form available on the website of the Federal Public Service of Public Health and must be sent via visa@health.fgov.be.
DUTCH PART OF BELGIUM:
What you need to do depends on whether your diploma comes from within or outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Your diploma | Your nationality | What to do? |
of the European Economic Area (EEA)** | EEA* __ Not EEA | Apply for recognition at Zorg en Gezondheid |
outside the European Economic Area (EEA) **, but assimilated in an EEA country | EEA* | Apply for recognition at Zorg en Gezondheid |
outside the European Economic Area (EEA)** | EEA __ Not EEA | Ask for the equivalence of your diploma to NARIC and your visa with the Federal Public Health Service. |
Anyone who has the nationality of one of the 28 member states of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
You are also counted as a national with a long-term residence permit for one of these countries or with a residence permit as a family member of a European national.
**The European Economic Area consists of the 28 Member States of the European Union and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
FRENCH PART OF BELGIUM
• You are a citizen of a Member state of the European Economic Area (member state of the European Union and Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland), you have a qualification delivered in one of those countries and you are professionally fully qualified in one of those countries: Contacts for regulated professions
• You hold a qualification authorising you to practise a medical or paramedical profession issued in a member state of the European Economic Area, but you are not an EEE nationals and you wish to practise your profession in Belgium:
Ministère de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
DGENORS – Direction de l’agrément des prestataires de soins de santé
rue Adolphe Lavallée, 1 – 5ème étage
1080 Bruxelles
E-mail: agrementsante(at)cfwb.be
Q&A – What to know about podiatry in this country
Is there free access for patients? | Only non risk patients |
Does the podiatrist have prescription rights? | No |
Is the podiatrist allowed to perform surgery? | Microsurgery under the supervision of a doctor |
Can the podiatrist make and prescribe orthotics? | Prescribes orthotics and Manufactures orthotics |
Can the podiatrist use anaesthetics? | Only anesthetic cream |
Is the podiatry profession regulated? Is there a law protecting the title of podiatrist and describing the competences? | Yes, Royal decree from March 2016 |
How many podiatrists are active in your country? | Recognised 679 (dd. 31/12/2017) |
Is the FIP-IFP member association recognized by the government as a professional association? | Yes |
Is there a code of conduct/deontology? | No |