Hiring Engineering Techs
from the Netherlands
The engineering profession in the Netherlands is unregulated.
Licensing, work experience and professional registration are not
needed to practise and workers do not need to meet established
occupational or competency standards. No professional associations or
regulatory bodies issue engineering titles, but Dutch law does protect
certain academic titles.
Formal distinctions between “technologist” and “technician” do not
exist in the Netherlands. Instead, the key distinction between the
different levels relates to academic qualifications. The Royal Institute
of Engineering in the Netherlands (also called KIVI NIRIA) is the primary
advocate for Dutch engineers.
Similiar job titles in Netherlands
„„ Engineering Technologist or Technician
„„ ing./B Eng., Associate degree or MBO training
Who to target
„„ Ideal candidates are those with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
These workers are most likely to meet the academic requirements
for technologist certification with the Association of Science and
Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).
„„ Look for workers holding a B Eng, which refers to a bachelor’s
degree in engineering from a university of applied science. The
legacy title ing. is also worth looking for. It often indicates a four-year
degree, and holders should qualify as technologists in Alberta.
„„ An associate degree is a two-year degree earned at an applied
science university. Workers holding one may qualify for technician
certification with ASET.
„„ MBO is short for middelbaar beroepsonderwijs, or senior secondary
vocational education and training. MBO programs can last one to
four years, beginning at about age 16. These workers may have
technologist or technician competencies, but may find it difficult to
get their academic credentials recognized.
Helpful information for recruiting in the Netherlands
„„ The Dutch educational system is complex and easily misunderstood.
It is a good idea to consult ASET to make sure candidates have the
appropriate qualifications for certification.
www.AlbertaCanada.com/immigration
©2012 Government of Alberta Published: August 2012
ISBN Electronic: 978-1-4601-0203-9
„„ Dutch engineers tend to be fluent in English. Virtually all graduate
courses are taught in English.
Skill and knowledge gaps and other barriers
Internationally trained applicants must meet a minimum national
benchmark for education, experience and professionalism to be
certified by ASET. For more information, see www.aset.ab.ca.
Other resources
KIVI NIRIA is interested in helping Dutch engineering workers get
their credentials recognized in Canada. For more information, see
www.kiviniria.net or email [email protected]. For help understanding
workers’ various educational qualifications, contact the Dutch
organization Nuffic at www.nuffic.nl.
Canadian NOC occupations
and comparable Dutch job titles
Canada
The Netherlands
Civil Engineering Technologists
and Technicians
MTS civiel or MBO civiel
Mechanical Engineering
Technologists and Technicians
MTS werktuigbouwkunde or
MBO werktuigbouwkunde
Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Technologists and
Technicians
MTS eletrotechniek or
MBO eletrotechniek
Industrial Instruments Technicians
and Mechanics
MTS eletrotechniek or
MBO eletrotechniek
NOTE: Qualified workers in these occupations will generally have at least a bachelor’s
degree in engineering, and may use titles such as .ir, MSc, M Eng, ing. or B Eng. Some
may have the European Engineer (EUR ING), a pan-European professional title available
to engineers holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree (three to six years of postsecondary education).