Registering with the Order of Pharmacists

The criteria for lawfully practising as a pharmacist in Belgium are as follows:

• To have a degree in pharmacy;
• To have a visa from the SPF Santé Publique [Public Health Service];
• To be registered in the official register of the Order of Pharmacists.

The visa number is sent directly by the Public Health Service, electronically, to the Order of Pharmacists (for all questions concerning the visa: visa@health.fgov.be).

Registration on the Order’s official register is the last formality to be completed. An unregistered pharmacist is not authorised to practise as a pharmacist. Registration is free of charge and is the responsibility of the Provincial Councils of the Order (see their page on the website for their contact details).

The application

Registration can be done online (the relevant Provincial Council is assigned automatically according to the data entered) or at the secretariat of the Provincial Council to which the pharmacist belongs:

• As the holder: the Council in the province in which the pharmacy is located.
• As a non-holder: the Council in the province of residence.

A paper or electronic form, available in French, Dutch and English, must be completed and signed. This must be accompanied by various documents corresponding to the pharmacist’s particular situation:

A. EEA national (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland
A.1. With a degree from Belgium
A.2. With a degree from the EEA (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland
A.3. With a degree from outside the EEA (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland

B. Non-EEA national (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or from Switzerland
B.1. With a degree from Belgium
B.2. With a degree from the EEA (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or from Switzerland
B.3. With a degree from outside the EEA (EU, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or from Switzerland

If registering online, it is possible to temporarily save the registration at any time and complete the data or add documents at a later stage. Documents must be downloaded in Word or PDF format. The application can be sent only when the registration is complete.

Processing of applications

The Provincial Council's executive board verifies whether the conditions for registration are met and submits the file to the Provincial Council.

The Provincial Council decides on the application within one month from receiving it (if not, the pharmacist concerned may send a registered letter to the president of the Appeals Board asking the Board for a decision on the application). For new graduates, registrations are approved at an extraordinary meeting of the Council (the dates of Provincial Council meetings are published on their page on the website).

Until the Provincial Council gives a decision on the registration application, the applicant is not authorised to practise as a pharmacist. It follows from the foregoing that neither the date of the degree nor the date of submission of the registration application determines the date on which the applicant may begin to practise as a pharmacist. The only relevant date is the date of the Provincial Council’s decision to authorise registration with the Order of Pharmacists.

If registration on the official register is refused or postponed, an appeal may be lodged with the Appeals Board within 30 days of notification of the decision. The appeal should be sent by registered letter to the President of the Provincial Council that issued the decision.

Do you have any questions? We are at your disposal to assist you. Click here to ask a question or contact the relevant Provincial Council (their contact details are listed on their page on the website).

Useful references:

• Royal Decree No 80 of 10 November 1967 relating to the Order of Pharmacists.
• Royal Decree of 29 May 1970 regulating the organisation and operation of the Councils of the Order of Pharmacists.