Frequently Asked Questions - Membership

The NVA is the largest professional association for acupuncturists in the Netherlands. As an association, we are committed to promoting and maintaining quality in professional practice, recognizing acupuncture as a form of treatment, and supporting our members in their practice management. As a member, you become part of a professional group and can take advantage of information, support, and resources that suit your membership type.

The NVA offers different types of membership. Which membership suits you depends on your education, diplomas, and whether you are currently running a practice. In general, it concerns Practicing Membership, Student Membership, Affiliate Membership, and Senior Membership. Click here for current explanations and membership fees.

The Practicing Membership is intended for acupuncturists who meet the requirements for prior education and the acupuncture training, and who practice according to the professional profile, regulations, and advice of the NVA. Your application will be assessed to determine if you meet the admission requirements.

Yes, this can be done through the Student Membership. This membership is intended for students who are enrolled in an acupuncture program recognized by the NVA and/or are still completing the required Medical Basic Knowledge (MBK) training. After obtaining the necessary diplomas, the membership can be converted to a Practicing Membership upon request.

A student member is still in training or has yet to meet one or more admission requirements. A practicing member meets the admission requirements and conducts acupuncture practice according to the professional profile, regulations, and quality standards of the NVA. Only practicing members are positioned as NVA acupuncturists towards clients and relevant parties.

The Affiliate Membership is intended for acupuncturists who meet the admission and training requirements but are currently not practicing or have temporarily ceased their practice. This may apply, for example, in cases of a career break, living abroad, or a temporary pause in practice. View here for all other types of membership. 

Yes, in many cases your membership can be adjusted if your situation changes. For example, consider the transition from Student Membership to Practicing Membership after obtaining the necessary diplomas, or a temporary conversion to Affiliate Membership when you have not yet started a practice or are temporarily pausing your practice. If in doubt, please contact the secretariat.

You can register via the online membership application on the website. The decision tree helps you determine which membership status fits your situation: Practicing Membership, Student Membership, or membership with additional requirements or assessment. Make sure to have the relevant documents ready when applying.

For a membership application, diplomas from relevant training programs, proof of language proficiency, and any documents from a current professional association may be required. For foreign diplomas, additional conditions may apply, such as certified copies, sworn translations, and diploma evaluations.

This may be possible, but foreign diplomas are assessed separately evaluated. The NVA considers, among other things, the medical background, the acupuncture training, language proficiency, and alignment with Dutch admission requirements. In certain cases, additional assessment or training may be necessary.

Admission with a Medical Basic Knowledge (MBK) diploma may be possible, but additional requirements may apply. Therefore, carefully review the current guidelines  on the website and have it assessed if you're unsure which route applies to you.

The exact duration may vary per application. This depends, among other things, on the completeness of the submitted documents and whether additional assessment is required. Therefore, submit your application as completely as possible and use the decision tree to see what information is needed.

Even if you have been working as an acupuncturist for a long time, you must meet the requirements associated with Practicing Membership as a practicing member of the NVA. The continuing education requirement is part of this. Continuing education keeps your knowledge current and demonstrably up to date. This contributes to the quality, professionalism, and reliability of the profession. Therefore, the continuing education obligation applies to all practicing members, regardless of how long someone has been working as an acupuncturist.

Yes, at admission, you may be asked to demonstrate that you have kept your knowledge up to date. This is especially relevant if you graduated a while ago. The current explanation of the mandatory continuing education for admission can be found on the website.

The NVA stands for quality enhancement and quality assurance of professional practice. This means that members adhere to clear rules regarding practice management, hygiene, safety, ethics, and privacy, among other areas. This contributes to a recognizable professional standard within the profession.

Practice visitation is a way to actively monitor the quality within NVA practices. It examines whether the practice management meets the quality requirements and regulations of the NVA.

The membership fee depends on the type of membership. The website lists the current membership fees for Student Membership, Practicing Membership, Affiliate Membership, and Senior Membership. Always check the current amounts, as they may change each year.

Yes. If you have recently obtained your most recent diploma required for admission and become a practicing member, you may qualify for a starter discount. The current conditions and percentages can be found here.

For practicing acupuncturists, a good professional liability insurance is of great importance. The NVA offers practicing members the opportunity to participate in a collective professional liability insurance through VvAA, possibly supplemented with a legal assistance insurance KTS. Always check which insurance is suitable for your situation and what conditions apply at that time.

As a practicing member, you meet the requirements for Practicing Membership and conduct your practice according to the professional profile, the regulations and advice from the NVA. Practicing members can be visible as NVA acupuncturists to clients and other relevant parties.

Correct practice information ensures that clients, referrers, and other parties can easily find and recognize you as an NVA acupuncturist. It can also be important for health insurance requirements that the correct details and mentions are included on invoices and practice information.

The NVA supports members with information about laws and regulations, among other things through the member portal and Huang Ti. Consider topics such as Wkkgz, WGBO, AVG, practice management, complaint procedures, and sample forms.

Contact the NVA secretariat. They can help you determine which membership type suits your situation and which documents are required for your application.

The official rules are outlined in the statutes and regulations of the NVA. The most recent version can be found on the website under “Statutes and Regulations.” In case of doubt, the statutes and regulations take precedence.