The Government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation is launching a reform of nursing training to respond to changes in European rules, transformations of the profession decided at federal level, and the shortage of carers in the field. This long-awaited reform aims to guarantee the quality of care, international recognition of students' qualifications, and greater clarity of pathways for students, employers and patients.
It is accompanied by the creation of a new profile: the nursing assistant.
Why end the nursing certificate?
European Directive (EU) 2024/782 requires nurses responsible for general care (NRGC) to have new skills, such as decision-making autonomy, supervision and the integration of research. Since the nursing certificate, which is focused on practice, can no longer meet these requirements, it will no longer be automatically recognised within the European Union for students enrolling after March 2026.
At the same time, the federal level introduced a new function in 2023: the nursing assistant.
As early as 2023, Flanders brought itself into compliance and created a training programme aligned with European and federal requirements.
The reform is now also urgent in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, particularly to ensure that nursing assistants can practise in our French-speaking hospitals, care homes and nursing and care homes in Brussels.
The nursing certificate as currently organised (within secondary education, a 3.5-year training programme, level 4) is being abolished.
The reform proposes two separate and complementary training programmes, in line with the functional differentiation introduced at federal level in 2023 and with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF):
• Nursing assistant (3-year training, EQF level 5): a vocational training programme within adult education.
• Nurse responsible for general care (NRGC - EQF level 6): the bachelor's degree in nursing, provided within higher education.
On completion of the basic nursing assistant training, candidates will be able to enrol for 120 additional credits in higher education and obtain the bachelor's degree.
When, where and how?
Academic year 2025-2026:
• Last intake for new enrolments in the nursing certificate within secondary education.
• Students already enrolled will of course be able to complete their training, and will benefit from secured European recognition, even if they have to repeat a year.
• A specific solution is planned for students currently in the preparatory year.
From 2026-2027:
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Launch of the nursing assistant/basic nurse training programme (level 5) within Adult Education (AE), which is the most suitable framework, as it welcomes adults who often lack a secondary school certificate, are retraining or already working, and who would not have pursued higher education or do not wish to enrol in a university college.
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Implementation of “bridging” course programmes to obtain the NRGC bachelor's degree (level 6), in order to build on acquired skills and meet needs on the ground.
And what about staff members?
Close consultation is underway with the FPOs and management to:
• Guarantee employment for staff members.
• Ensure a balanced territorial network of training provision.
• Make the most of existing facilities.
• Preserve partnerships with hospitals and care homes.
Valérie Glatigny, Minister for Education and Adult Education:
“This reform responds to a shared observation: the decline in the number of students is not only due to a lack of attractiveness of the profession, but also to a training offer that lacks clarity. The nursing assistant/basic nurse training programme, within adult education, with clear bridging pathways and tailored support, provides a coherent, clear and sustainable response.”