Application to become an appointed seafarer examining doctor
If you want to conduct medical examinations in the Netherlands for seafarers as an appointed examining doctor – also known internationally as an approved doctor (AD) – you need a permit from the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). Your application will be assessed by an ILT maritime medical adviser.
Contact the ILT to schedule an initial meeting. During this meeting, a maritime medical adviser will inform you about the application process and the requirements you must meet. Dial +31 (0)88 489 00 00 and ask for the scheepvaart medisch or 'Medical Adviser Shipping' department.
An ILT medical adviser assesses, amongst others, if you have a relevant medical profession, such as huisarts (General Practitioner, GP) or bedrijfsarts (Occupational Physician, OP). The ILT medical adviser also checks if there aren’t too many appointed examining doctors in your area already.
If this is the first time you have submitted an application, you need a Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct). Find out how to apply for a VOG on the Justis website.
As part of the application process, the ILT medical adviser may review your medical assessments. If you’re already an appointed examining doctor, the ILT may still visit you to review the quality of your assessments.
If the medical adviser approves your application, you are appointed as an approved seafarer examining doctor by the Minister of the Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, IenW (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management). This means you are now certified to conduct seafarer medical examinations. The permit is valid for up to 5 years.
If you wish to continue conducting seafarer medical examinations after that, you can submit a follow-up application. Otherwise, your medical certifications will be unlawful and invalid. You can submit a follow-up application using the Application for appointment or reappointment as examining doctor for seafarers online form.
