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 |