LOGO Statement Guideline for International Applicants
Disclaimer
This document has been prepared using publicly available information from the official website of vLOGO (https://www.vlogo.nl/). It is intended as a simplified guide to help international applicants better understand the LOGO statement application process.
This document does not replace the official information provided on the vLOGO website, and in case of any discrepancies, the information on the official website should always be considered leading.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, PsyGlobal does not guarantee that the information presented here is complete or up to date and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or interpretations.
The purpose of this material is solely to support international professionals in navigating the process and advancing their careers in the Netherlands.
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1. What LOGO is and is not
What LOGO is:
The LOGO statement is an official assessment by the vLOGO that confirms whether a candidate meets the formal educational requirements to enter the GZ-psychologist training in the Netherlands. It’s valid for 5 years after obtaining it.
Its original purpose was:
→ To determine eligibility for applying to a GZ training position at a recognised institution. Then, why do GGZ institutions often ask for a LOGO statement (even for basic psychologists)?
- From January 2024, it is mandatory to have a LOGO declaration in order to work as a basic psychologist in insured Dutch mental health care (GGZ) or forensic care.
- Basic psychologists can be hired in a GGZ organisation, but their hours can not be insured. This could be the reason for organisations to see the LOGO as a requirement.
What LOGO is NOT:
- It is not a professional license
- It is not a BIG registration
- It is not proof that you can work as a psychologist in the Netherlands
- It is not an evaluation of your skills or experience
→ LOGO strictly evaluates whether your education matches required academic criteria.
2. Who needs a LOGO statement
You need a LOGO statement if your goal is:
- To apply for the GZ-psychologist training (GZ-opleiding),
- To work as a basic psychologist in insured GGZ or forensic care.
→ Who may not need a LOGO statement? A LOGO statement is generally not needed if someone is working outside insured Dutch mental healthcare, for example in coaching, HR, research, education, private non-insured counselling, or other psychology-related roles where the employer does not require it. However, the final requirement always depends on the employer and the role.
→ Is there an alternative to the LOGO statement? There is an alternative to the LOGO statement called Bestuursverklaring Inzetbaarheid Zorgprestatiemodel (BIZ). In short, it’s an employer-signed Deployability Declaration (BIZ) based on education and experience. It is used in the Dutch Zorgprestatiemodel to show that a WO-level psychologist or orthopedagogue meets the requirements to register billable consultations. It is not something you can do independently. The employer checks your background (based on what you provide) and then signs the declaration.
Your employer needs the following to assess and issue a BIZ:
- Your WO/master’s diploma in psychology or orthopedagogy.
- If you have a foreign diploma: the employer must evaluate your diploma themselves and compare it with the standards in the BIZ form. You can also apply to Nuffic to get credential evaluation.
- Your transcript or course overview, so they can compare your education with the required Dutch standards.
- Proof of psychodiagnostic competence, for example:
- NIP BAPD registration, or
- a signed diagnostic declaration from a qualified supervisor.
- Proof of relevant clinical internship / practical experience in Dutch GGZ and/or forensic care. Foreign work experience does not count for this route.
The employer keeps the required documents on file and makes them available upon request from a health insurer or regulator. BIZ is employer-specific and cannot simply be transferred to a new employer. You should keep the supporting documents for future employers.
In short: your employer needs enough proof to say, “We checked this person’s education and/or Dutch GGZ experience, and we declare that they can be deployed under the Zorgprestatiemodel.” For more information visit this link.
Important note: BIZ is not a long-term solution. It is a temporary route within the Zorgprestatiemodel, mainly created as an alternative for a certain timeframe. It also depends on employer willingness as the employer is responsible for confirming that the psychologist is qualified and competent to work under their organisation. The official wording says BIZ can be issued until 31 December 2026. It does not necessarily mean that every already-issued BIZ automatically expires on that date, but it does show that this route is temporary and uncertain after 2026.
3. Main eligibility conditions
To receive a LOGO statement, you must meet all core criteria below:
a) Educational requirement
You must have completed a university-level Master’s degree in one of the following:
-
- Psychology
- Educational Sciences / Orthopedagogy
- Health Sciences (with a mental health focus)
- A bachelor’s degree alone is not sufficient.
b) Required academic coursework (ECTS-based)
You must have completed a university-level Master’s degree in one of the following:
- Clinical Psychology / Special Education
- Personality Theory
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychopathology
- Neuropsychology
- Diagnostics & assessment methods
- Treatment/intervention methods
- Research skills
- Interviewing, observation, reporting
- Basics of healthcare systems and legal aspects
→ These are evaluated in ECTS (credits) and must meet minimum thresholds.
c) Clinical internship (or equivalent)
You must demonstrate at least:
- 520 hours of clinical experience
- Covering diagnostics and treatment
- Minimum 60% active participation
- Balanced exposure to diagnostics and treatment
d) Psychodiagnostic cases
You must have completed:
- At least 2 supervised psychodiagnostic cases
- These must:
- Follow a structured diagnostic reasoning process
- Include testing, interpretation, and reporting
- Be recent (max. 2 years old)
- These must:
Accepted proof includes:
e) Work experience (if applicable)
Required if:
- You graduated more than 5 years ago, OR
- You lack sufficient internship experience
You must show recent clinical work experience in:
- Diagnostics
- Treatment
4. Required documents (checklist)
Before starting your application, you must fully gather all documents. Submitting an incomplete file will delay the process.
- Diplomas:
- Bachelor’s and Master’s degree (or proof of completion from Examination Board)
- If studies abroad (partially or totally), Nuffic/IDW credential evaluation (showing WO-level degree)
- Transcripts / grade lists (Must include all courses + ECTS / workload, required for each degree program)
- Psychodiagnostics proof (BAPD or vLOGO Diagnostic Cases Statement)
- Work experience statement (if applicable) (vLOGO Work Experience Statement)
- Additional training certificates (if applicable) (courses, trainings, or education)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) (Up-to-date & includes education, work experience, and training)
Important rule:
- All documents must be in Dutch or English
- Translations are required if your documents are in another language
5. Special attention for international applicants
Degree recognition:
- Your degrees must be equivalent to a Dutch WO (university) level
- You may need:
- Credential evaluation (e.g., via Nuffic/IDW)
- Not all foreign degrees automatically qualify
If you want to pursue GZ training after obtaining your LOGO statement:
- Dutch level B2 is recommended, in reality C1-C2 required to be able to follow the training
6. Psychodiagnostics requirement
This is one of the commonly misunderstood requirements.
You must prove that you have:
Theoretical knowledge AND practical skills in psychodiagnostics
- Completed at least 2 supervised psychodiagnostic cases
- Meaning: Your supervisor needs to sign a statement (supervisor who’s a GZ psychologist in the Netherlands; equivalent if the supervisor is from another country, meaning, they have a credential code like BIG code).
- BAPD certification can be also submitted as proof if that’s obtained prior to this application
- Cases you do with your supervisor → needs to be no older than 2 years
7. Work experience requirement
Work experience is not always required, but becomes essential in specific situations. When is work experience required? You must submit a work experience statement if:
- You graduated more than 5 years ago,
- You are applying for renewal of your LOGO statement
Reality: If you haven’t just graduated → this is usually a requirement
- Needs to be signed by a GZ psychologist (or equivalent if the supervisor is from another country, meaning, they have a credential code like BIG code).
- You can submit multiple signed statements if worked in multiple places.
- Doesn’t need to be an internship, it can be work experience as well
8. Application procedure (step by step)
Step 1: Preparation
- Read regulations and requirements carefully
- Gather all required documents
- Do NOT start if your file is incomplete
Step 2: Create account & start application
- Create an account via the portal
- Pay the application fee: €90 (non-refundable)
- Payment is required before processing starts
Step 3: Upload documents
- Upload all required documents
- Ensure:
- Correct format
- Complete transcripts (with ECTS)
- Proper translations
Step 4: Submit your application
- Once complete → submit your file
- Important:
- Until submission, your file is not reviewed
- You usually have ~2 weeks to finalize submission
Step 5: Completeness check
- Central Registration checks if your file is complete
- If incomplete → you will be asked to add missing documents (feedback is given, regularly check your portal)
Step 6: Substantive assessment
- Your file is evaluated against all requirements
- You may be asked for:
- Clarifications
- Additional documents
Step 7: Lead trainer assessment
- Once complete → sent to Head Trainer
- Final evaluation takes place
Step 8: Decision
- You will receive one of the following:
- Approved → LOGO statement issued
- Deficiencies → you must fix missing components
- Request for additional information
Step 9: If deficiencies are found
- You have 6 months to fix them
- Possible one-time extension (6 months)
- Maximum total: 12 months
Step 10: Issuance
- If approved → LOGO statement is sent via:
- Portal
9. Timeline
Standard processing timeline
- Central Registration response time: ~3 weeks
- Lead trainer assessment: up to 8 weeks after file is complete
- From submission to decision:
- → Typically 4 to 10 weeks, depending on completeness
Important delays to consider
Processing may take longer if:
- Your file is incomplete
- Additional documents are requested
- Verification with universities is needed
- Holiday periods (especially July–August)
File retention rules
- Incomplete/rejected files → kept for 1 year
- Approved LOGO statements → valid for 5 years
- Renewal possible between 5–7 years
10. Common mistakes
a) Incomplete transcripts
- Missing ECTS / workload information
- Not all courses included
- Uploading only diploma without detailed grade list
→ LOGO cannot assess your education without full detail
b) Missing credential evaluation (international applicants)
Many international candidates skip or delay credential evaluation, which leads to major delays or incorrect assumptions about eligibility. What goes wrong?
- Assuming your foreign degree is automatically equivalent to a Dutch WO Master’s
- Not obtaining an official evaluation (e.g., via Nuffic / IDW)
→ LOGO requires: → A recognized university-level (WO) Master’s degree
c) Applying too early
- Starting application without all documents ready
- Submitting incomplete file
d) Language and translation issues
- Uploading documents not in Dutch or English
- Poor or incomplete translations
e) Not reading deficiency reports properly
- Misunderstanding what is missing
- Uploading incorrect or irrelevant documents
Appendix: Abbreviations
| vLOGO | The national association of postgraduate psychology training institutes in the Netherlands. Responsible for issuing the LOGO statement, which assesses eligibility for GZ training. |
| BAPD | Basic Certification in Psychodiagnostics. Confirms that you have theoretical and practical competence in psychological assessment. Often used to meet the psychodiagnostics requirement for LOGO. Issued by NIP. |
| NIP | The Dutch Institute of Psychologists (professional association). |
| GGZ | Dutch mental healthcare system. Includes institutions providing psychological and psychiatric care. |
| GZ-training (opleiding) | Postgraduate training to become a Healthcare Psychologist. Combination of work + supervised training. Required step to become BIG-registered. |
| BIG registration | Official Dutch register for healthcare professionals. Required for legally protected titles (like GZ-psychologist). Ensures quality and accountability in healthcare. Necessary for working independently and within insured care systems. |
| GZ-psychologist | A licensed Healthcare Psychologist in the Netherlands. Completed GZ training. Registered in the BIG register. Can provide reimbursable care under Dutch healthcare system |
| Basic psychologist (Master psychologist / Basispsycholoog) | A psychologist with a Master’s degree (WO), but without postgraduate clinical registration. Can work in GGZ settings under supervision. Cannot practice independently at the same level as a GZ-psychologist. Often the first step before entering GZ training. |
| WO | University-level education in the Netherlands. Required level for LOGO eligibility. Distinction: WO (research university) vs HBO (applied sciences). |
| HBO | Higher professional education (applied sciences). Not sufficient alone for LOGO. Often a source of confusion for international applicants. |
| ECTS | European system for measuring study workload. 1 ECTS = ~28 hours. Used to assess whether you meet course requirements. |
| Nuffic / IDW | Organization that evaluates foreign diplomas. Used to determine if your degree is WO-equivalent for instance. |
| ZPM | Zorgprestatiemodel. Current system for reimbursing mental healthcare in the Netherlands. Important for understanding how care is billed and structured. |
| AGB code | Unique registration number for healthcare providers. Required for billing (insurance) and working within the healthcare system. |
Last update: May 2026
