In Belgium, practising certain professional activities is subject to specific access conditions: diplomas, competence certificates, traineeships or registration with a professional body. Since the sixth state reform (2014), the power to regulate access to the profession has been devolved to the regions, creating significant differences between Wallonia, Flanders and the Brussels-Capital Region. This article details the legal framework for regulated professions, the regional differences and the concrete steps for each type of profession.
Access to the profession in Belgium: the principle
Regulated professions exist in every region of the country, though the rules differ sharply depending on where you set up.
Why regulate access?
Regulating access to certain professions aims to:
- Protect consumers from unqualified practitioners
- Guarantee the quality of services provided
- Ensure public safety (construction, food, health)
- Maintain professional standards in sensitive sectors
- Combat undeclared work and unfair competition
Devolution: a major turning point
Since the sixth state reform, the power to set the conditions for access to professions (outside federally regulated liberal professions) has been transferred to the regions. Each region has adopted its own policy:
| Region | Basic management skills | Sector-specific professional competence |
|---|---|---|
| Flanders (since 1 January 2018) | Abolished | Abolished (with a few exceptions) |
| Brussels-Capital (since 1 January 2019) | Abolished | Partly retained |
| Wallonia | Retained | Retained |
Basic management skills (Wallonia only)
What is it?
In Wallonia, anyone wishing to work as a self-employed person (as an individual or as a company representative) must prove they have basic management skills (connaissance de gestion de base), a requirement that applies to most regulated professions in the region. This requirement no longer applies in Flanders or Brussels.
Content of the basic management skills requirement
The training covers the following subjects:
- Law: contractual obligations, company forms, liability
- Accounting: balance sheet, profit-and-loss account, VAT
- Financial management: financial plan, cash-flow budget
- Taxation: personal income tax, corporate tax, social security contributions
- Business management: basic marketing, market research
- Employment law: employer obligations, NSSO (ONSS), insurance
How to obtain it
| Route | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Diploma | Any higher education diploma (bachelor's, master's) OR a secondary education certificate with an economics focus |
| Specific training | A basic management skills certificate issued by an approved training centre (IFAPME, EFP, adult education) |
| Professional experience | 3 years of professional practice as a business manager, OR 5 years as an employee in a management role |
| Assisting spouse | A spouse or legal cohabitant with the required skills can satisfy this condition on behalf of the self-employed person |
| Central jury | An exam organised by FPS Economy |
Cost and duration of the training
| Training | Duration | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| IFAPME (Wallonia) | 128 hours (evening/weekend classes) | EUR 200 – 500 |
| Adult education (promotion sociale) | 160 hours | EUR 50 – 200 (subsidised) |
| Private training centres | 40 – 80 hours (accelerated) | EUR 500 – 1,500 |
| Central jury (exam only) | N/A | Free (exam at FPS Economy) |
Sector-specific professional competences
In Wallonia: still mandatory
In Wallonia, many regulated professions require, in addition to basic management skills, a sector-specific professional competence certificate.
Construction
| Trade | Competence required | How to obtain it |
|---|---|---|
| General contractor | Professional competence in construction | Diploma, IFAPME training or experience (5 years) |
| Electrician | Competence in electrical installations | Technical diploma or training plus experience |
| Plumber-sanitary installer | Competence in sanitary installations | Technical diploma or IFAPME training |
| Tiler | Competence in floor/wall coverings | Training or experience |
| Roofer-waterproofer | Competence in roofing | Training or experience |
| Heating engineer | Competence in heating installations | Technical training plus certification |
| Plasterer | Competence in plastering | Training or experience |
Food sector
| Trade | Competence required |
|---|---|
| Restaurateur/caterer | Management skills plus food safety |
| Baker-pastry chef | Sector-specific professional competence |
| Butcher-delicatessen owner | Sector-specific professional competence |
| Mobile food trading | Mobile trading licence plus food hygiene |
Beauty and personal care
| Trade | Competence required |
|---|---|
| Hairdresser | Professional competence (training or diploma) |
| Beautician | Specific professional competence |
| Chiropodist | Professional competence |
Vehicles
| Trade | Competence required |
|---|---|
| Garage owner-repairer | Professional competence in car mechanics |
| Bodywork repairer | Professional competence in bodywork |
| Vehicle dealer | Professional competence |
In Flanders: sweeping liberalisation
Since 1 January 2018, Flanders has abolished almost all conditions for access to the profession (decree of 7 July 2017), leaving very few regulated professions in the region. Only requirements linked to safety and public health imposed by federal or European law remain.
In practice, to work in a trade in Flanders, you simply need to:
- Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE) via an enterprise counter
- Obtain a VAT number (if applicable)
- Comply with federal sector regulations (food hygiene, safety, environment)
In Brussels: an intermediate regime
Since 1 January 2019, Brussels has abolished basic management skills but has retained certain professional competences, so a shorter list of regulated professions remains for reasons of safety and consumer protection.
The following remain regulated in Brussels (ordinance of 8 June 2017):
- Construction sector activities (electrician, plumber, etc.)
- Vehicle-related activities (repair, bodywork)
- Certain personal care activities (hairdresser, beautician)
Regulated liberal professions (federal level)
Liberal professions remain a federal competence, regardless of where they are practised:
| Profession | Access condition | Supervisory body |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | Master's in law + 3-year traineeship + CAPA (aptitude certificate) | Ordre des barreaux francophones et germanophone / Orde van Vlaamse Balies |
| Notary | Master's in law + additional master's in notarial studies + appointment competition | Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries |
| Doctor | Master's in medicine + INAMI visa + INAMI number | FPS Public Health, INAMI |
| Dentist | Master's in dental sciences + INAMI visa | FPS Public Health |
| Pharmacist | Master's in pharmaceutical sciences + visa | FPS Public Health, AFMPS |
| Architect | Master's in architecture + 2-year traineeship + registration with the Order | Order of Architects |
| Chartered accountant | Master's + 3-year traineeship + ITAA registration | ITAA (Institute for Tax Advisors and Accountants) |
| Company auditor | Master's + 3-year traineeship + exam + IRE registration | IRE (Institute of Company Auditors) |
| Physiotherapist | Master's in physiotherapy + INAMI visa | FPS Public Health |
| Psychologist | Master's in psychology + visa | Psychologists' Commission |
| Estate agent | Training + exam + IPI registration | IPI (Professional Institute of Real Estate Agents) |
| Chartered surveyor | Diploma + registration with the Federal Council of Chartered Surveyors | FPS Economy |
Food safety: a cross-sector obligation
AFSCA authorisation
Food-related trades are among the most consistently regulated professions across all three regions. Any business handling, processing or selling foodstuffs must:
- Register with the AFSCA (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain)
- Obtain an authorisation or registration depending on the activity
- Set up a self-checking system based on HACCP principles
- Submit to AFSCA inspections
Cost of AFSCA registration: EUR 0 (free for basic registration)
Cost of authorisation (for processing activities): variable, from EUR 0 to several hundred euros
The situation for foreign nationals
EU/EEA citizens
Under European Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications:
- Mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications
- A prior declaration procedure for temporary service providers
- No discrimination on grounds of nationality
- The competent authority in Belgium: FPS Economy (for commercial professions) or the professional bodies (for liberal professions)
Non-EU citizens
- A single permit or a residence card with work authorisation
- A diploma equivalence is required from the French Community (enseignement.be), the Flemish Community (naricvlaanderen.be) or the German-speaking Community
- The same professional competence conditions as Belgian residents
- Processing time: 4 to 12 months depending on complexity
Practical steps: a step-by-step guide
To start a business in one of the regulated professions in Wallonia
- Check the access conditions: consult the FPS Economy website (economie.fgov.be) or 1890 (1890.be)
- Obtain basic management skills: IFAPME training, a diploma or experience
- Obtain the professional competence if required: sector training or experience
- Register with an enterprise counter: UCM, Liantis, Acerta, Securex, Partena, Xerius
- The counter checks your access conditions and registers you with the BCE
- Obtain your VAT number from the relevant VAT office
- Join a social insurance fund and a health insurance fund
- Obtain the sector authorisations: AFSCA, environment, planning, etc.
Registration costs
| Step | Cost |
|---|---|
| BCE registration (enterprise counter) | EUR 101.00 |
| VAT number activation | Free |
| Joining a social insurance fund | Free (quarterly contributions start from the following quarter) |
| Basic management skills training (IFAPME) | EUR 200 – 500 |
| Professional competence training (IFAPME) | EUR 300 – 1,000 (depending on sector and duration) |
| Central jury exam | Free |
Useful resources by region
Wallonia
- 1890 (1890.be): free information line for entrepreneurs
- IFAPME (ifapme.be): apprenticeship and continuing training
- SPW Economie: the Walloon Region's economic service
Brussels-Capital
- hub.brussels (hub.brussels): the single window for Brussels entrepreneurs
- EFP (efp.be): Brussels SME training centre
- Bruxelles Economie et Emploi: the relevant regional service
Flanders
- VLAIO (vlaio.be): the Flemish agency for innovation and entrepreneurship
- Syntra (syntra.be): a training network for entrepreneurs
- VDAB (vdab.be): vocational training
Federal level
- FPS Economy (economie.fgov.be): federal regulations, central jury
- Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE) (kbo.fgov.be): checking registrations
- AFSCA (afsca.be): food safety
Conclusion
Access to the profession in Belgium is a complex subject because of the devolution of powers to the regions. Flanders has largely liberalised access, Brussels has adopted a middle path, and Wallonia maintains a full regulatory framework with basic management skills and sector-specific professional competences. Liberal professions remain regulated at federal level, with strict access conditions (diplomas, traineeships, registration with a professional body). Before you start, check with your enterprise counter or your region's information service (1890 in Wallonia, hub.brussels in Brussels, VLAIO in Flanders) to find out the exact conditions that apply to your activity and where you plan to set up.
