Working in Belgium An application guide for Non-EU

Nurses and Doctors

Table of Content

Introduction: Why Belgium? How to apply Recognition of your tertiary qualification - NARIC Documents to submit for NARIC recognition Obtaining the right job Work Permit Learn the Lingo The time is now Obtaining and Managing accommodation Arriving in Belgium More specifics about Nursing positions in Belgium Belgium Map and pictures

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Addendum
Application form NARIC (complete and tear out)

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Introduction: Why Belgium?

Ask google, and you get approximately 56.900.000 results. Which means this is a question often asked, and it has a multitude of answers. We trust that this brochure and the other brochures and webpages we send you will convince you that you have made the right decision in applying for a job in Belgium. The enclosed document 11x Best of Belgium gives you a few additional valid reasons. It is clear that Belgium has a lot going for it as a destination to live and work, whether you are just planning to stay for a few years or intending to emigrate there long-term. We can add a few more: Belgium offers among the best healthcare systems in Europe. As in most countries, the system divides itself into state and private healthcare. The healthcare job market is buoyant, particularly for nurses and medical doctors. The work culture is relaxed, and employees enjoy excellent legal protection and social benefits such as healthcare insurance, pension, vacation allowance. Belgium has one of the highest standards of living in Europe. Overall, Belgium does not have much crime and it is a civil and mostly middle class society. It is easy to fit into this country. People are friendly and welcoming, and extremely helpful. Official departments are, like in each country world-wide, busy but the officials are generally helpful. The media in Belgium is very international, in particular Television, and there are some 40 channels available most of them non-Belgian. The country is small which makes it easy to find your way around, and get from A to Z. With Brussels as capital of the EU, Belgium has become the centre of trouble-free travel throughout Europe. Belgians are not only known for their chocolates, waffles, French fries (contrary to the name), and beer, but they also value hard work, good entertainment and those who have a zest for life.
Visit these websites for more info: Everything you need to know about moving to Belgium Popular and useful expat website www.expatica.be Another Expat site casual and community-focused http://www.xpats.com/en/features Belgium, A food lovers dream. A beer lovers heaven. http://www.visitbelgium.com/ Portalbelgium.be Official Information and Services - http://www.belgium.be/en/
Convinced youve made the right choice? Now start the application process.

http://belgium.angloinfo.com/

How to apply?
1. Recognition of your tertiary qualification - NARIC The procedure to apply for equivalence of a foreign qualification is free. However you may need to have your documents translated, which will entail some costs. As a non-EU citizen, you will need to submit your application to NARIC, who will compare your foreign studies of tertiary education with the Belgian studies. Once your qualification is declared equivalent, it then has officially the same value as the final qualification of tertiary education in Belgium. As a result, you will receive the same rights as anyone who has a Belgian diploma/degree of tertiary education.
Criteria used by NARIC: What is the structure of the education system in your country of origin? The level of the Institution The level of the training programme Essential components of the training programme, namely: Traineeships Thesis/Final paper Student workload Relevant Professional Experience

Who decides whether or not your degree is equivalent? NARIC-Vlaanderen asks the advice of at least 2 Flemish higher education institutions. They assess the value of your foreign qualification. If only one single Flemish Institution provides the training programme, one advisory opinion suffices. The application file is usually sent for advice to 3 universities or colleges which provide a corresponding Flemish training programme. The law stipulates that they have 40 days to give their advice to NARIC-Vlaanderen. What if the eauivalence of a particular degree has already been examined? Will the same diploma be subject to an assessment each time? The authorities indeed often receive applications for the same qualifications. If the same foreign diploma from the same country has been declared equivalent to a particular Flemish degree twice already, there is a precedent. If there is a precedent, NARIC-Vlaanderen does not have to ask the Flemish Higher education institutions for advice anymore. It can simply process the application in the same way as previous applications.

There is a link to the NARIC website http://www.naric.be where you can download the form Application for academic recognition of a foreign higher education diploma in Dutch and in English. Unofficial translations in 12 languages are also available on the website. DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT FOR NARIC RECOGNITION
Before submitting your application, your agent will sort the documents in 4 identical sets. If you apply for academic recognition of a foreign degree of doctor of medicine, you must sort the documents in 6 identical sets. If your foreign diploma is recorded in the precedents database of NARIC, 1 set will suffice. Documents Number of copies Completed application form which you find at the 4 copies back of this brochure (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) Your diploma/degree in the original language 4 ordinary copies (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 1 original + 3 ordinary copies English or German, you must also submit: the (1 original + 5 ordinary copies for doctors of original certified translation of the diploma medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) Your passport in the original language 4 copies (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) The diploma/degree supplement (overview of 4 ordinary copies subjects and traineeships, evaluations and student (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) workload) in the original language (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 1 original + 3 ordinary copies English or German, you must also submit: the (1 original + 5 ordinary copies for doctors of original certified translation of the medicine) diploma/degree supplement (1 copy if there are precedents) The official programme of study (description of the 4 ordinary copies content of the subjects) in the original language (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 4 copies English or German, you must also submit: your (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) own summary of the official programme of study in (1 copy if there are precedents) Dutch, English, French or German Your dissertation/thesis/Final paper in the original 4 ordinary copies language (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents) If your documents are NOT in Dutch, French, 4 ordinary copies English or German, you must also submit: your (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) own summary of the dissertation/thesis/final paper (1 copy if there are precedents) in Dutch, English, French or German Curriculum Vitae 4 ordinary copies (6 copies for Doctors of medicine) (1 copy if there are precedents)

2. Obtaining the right job

Help with drawing up your CV 5

The resume is generally two pages in length (unless you are a recent graduate or have worked only a short time), and includes the following: Contact information Educationlist schools (locations, dates attended, study emphases, and degrees) in reverse-chronological order. Include special training and internships. Professional Experiencealso in reverse-chronological order, with dates of employment, responsibilities and accomplishments Language and computer competencies, and any other skills Personal Interestshobbies and other significant pastimes Personal informationage, marital status and children, citizenship a picture

You will be screened based on the information in your CV: personal and professional skills (training and experience) and communication skills (including the ability and willingness to learn the language). This screening process will be conducted in person by your agent, and through a skype interview with a Belgian assessor (Nic Nicasy, certified psychologist with 15 years healthcare recruitment experience and certified assessor). During the NARIC PROCESS Interviewing Advice Be prepared: Information is the Key You have to start to learn to be proficient in either French or Dutch/Flemish. We therefore strongly urge you to start a basic language course straight away. Employment in Belgium typically requires excellent language skills. All candidates will be tested for language accuracy, whether it is Dutch/Flemish or French. Following successful NARIC verification Following successful verification of your qualification through NARIC, a second Skype interview with your prospective employer will be conducted. Your prospective employer may also wish to conduct a personal interview in the country of origin.

3. Work permit
Following your verification with NARIC and successful appointment you will require a work permit. Surprisingly, this is an easy procedure and will be organized by the UNIXUS office. You can read more about the application procedure on: http://www.werk.be/wg/werknemers_buitenlandse_nationaliteit/bijzondere_categorieen_arbeidskaart -b/hooggeschoold_personeel.htm Forms can also be downloaded on this site: http://www.werk.be/wg/werknemers_buitenlandse_nationaliteit/formulieren.htm

Learn the Lingo The time is now!

Enroll in a language course now! Once you arrive in Belgium Unixus Integration Office will find the right language courses for you. Prior to arrival in Belgium you will be provided with a study guide and CD-roms De Taal van De Verpleging (The Language of Nursing), a study guide for foreign nurses moving to Belgium/The Netherlands. A good translation site is the EU language site http://users.ugent.be/~rvdstich/eugloss/welcome.html Some other useful sites for a crash course in Flemish/Dutch Learn Flemish http://mylanguages.org/learn_flemish.php Learning Dutch? http://www.heardutchhere.net/LearningDutch.html Learn Dutch http://www.learndutch.org/ or http://www.elanguageschool.net/dutch Learn Dutch, Watch Video With Subtitles http://www.2bdutch.nl/

YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ChofQnY3PE

Obtaining and managing accommodation

The Unixus Office will find accommodation for the first 3 months in the area where you will be employed Options In hospital where you will be employed Furnished bedsit/flat/rooms Brussel www.brik.be Gent www.opkotingent.be All areas www.easykot.be www.allekoten.be Property sites www. Kapaza.be immo.vlan.be hebbes.be www.immoweb.be WoningDelen matchingsite people wanting to share accommodation temporarily www.woningdelen.be (350 Euro/month possible) Budget: 400-450 Euro/month The Unixus Integration Office will assist the candidate with finding his/her own accommodation and offer alternative options as above.

Arriving in Belgium
The Unixus integration office will take care of you from arrival in Brussels to entry in hospital. They will assist you with all your queries about housing, registration, banking etc.. . in order to provide each one of you with an unique service. The integration office will ensure candidates follow up on the work floor, they will organize intermediate evaluation moments with the employer, and they will assign a Personal Integration Coach (PIC) to assist you 24/7 in your own language. Please read UNIXUS separate Integration brochure which contains all the information on what the Unixus Integration Office will help you with.

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More specifics about Nursing positions

Belgium has long been a prosperous region in Europe, and salaries are generally above average. Posts Offered: A nurse can work in Hospitals or Old Age Homes - Critical Care - General nursing - Clinical assistants - Clinical nurse - Nurse consultant - Pediatric nurse - Care of the Elderly - Intensive care - Emergency care - Operation theatre Qualifications: A BA or BSc degree in nursing Work Experience: Mostly 2-5 years of nursing. Experience is required for entry level. Working Hours: On shift basis. 38 hours per week. Possibility to go for hours extra, according to the needs of a situation. Pay Scale: Unspecified. Dependent on the profile of the nurse and position. Starting salary is approximately Euro 2000/month. Additional pay for night shifts, Weekends, public holidays, etc. Language Required: Either Dutch/Flemish or French Other skillsGood communication skills Solid work ethics Nursing skills Supportive Focused

Annual salary increases are often controlled by an industry collective agreement and pegged to local cost of living increases. In Belgium, your salary may depend on your age and, while salary levels rarely appear in job advertisements, the desired age range will give you an idea of what an employer is willing to pay. Some health institutions provide benefits such as a private school fees, interest-free home or other loans, and membership of local clubs or sporting organisations. These additional benefits are usually taxable, however, and this should be taken into account when calculating your net take-home pay or comparing competing job offers. 11

13th Months Salary & Bonuses Many employers pay a 13th month bonus to their employees, usually payable at the end of the year. This year-end or Christmas bonus (jaarpremie) should be incorporated into your contract if youve been quoted an annual salary. In your first and last year of employment, the 13th month bonus (and any holiday bonus related to vacation time) is paid pro rata if you dont work a full calendar year. Some employers offer a variable profit sharing or productivity bonus (aandeel in de winst or produktiviteitspremie), depending on the performance of the company, branch or department. In Belgium, youre entitled to a holiday (vacation) bonus of 85 per cent of a months salary, normally paid during the summer or whenever you take your main annual holiday. This should be included in your employment contract and the amount of the bonus included in the annual salary figure youve been quoted. (You may need to divide your annual salary by 13.85 to find your gross monthly salary.) Some employers operate a separate profit-sharing or performance-related bonus system, whereby they pay an annual sum (usually at the end of the year or the end of the fiscal year if the company doesnt operate on a calendar year system). The amount of the bonus depends on the companys overall performance, the attainment of specific goals during the year, and may be calculated as a percentage of each employees annual or monthly salary over the period. Your eligibility for this type of bonus may or may not be part of your employment contract. (It certainly makes a nice surprise at the end of the year if you get one!) Working Hours & Overtime Working hours in Belgium vary according to your employer and your position, as well as the regional or industry collective agreements that apply to your employer. The standard working week (i.e. the hours youre expected to work on a regular basis) can be no longer than 39 hours in Belgium. After that, workers must be paid overtime, at rates that vary according to the requirements and conditions of the extra hours worked.

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Belgium map and pictures

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