Belgium

Belgium is characterized by its different cultural and linguistic regions. The development of psychomotricity has diverged between Wallonia (French-speaking part), the Flanders (Dutch-speaking part) and the Capital-region (bilingual).

Professional
Framework

Professional Framework
in Belgium

In Belgium, the profession is practiced and recognized differently across the various regions.

In Wallonia and in Brussels-Capital Region, the professional title is

Psychomotricien(ne)

The profession is

recognized

The profession is recognized as such by state health and educational authorities, as well as private institutions and insurance companies.

protected

The title of psychomotrician /psychomotor therapist is protected and reserved for holders of recognized diplomas.

state-regulated

Psychomotricity is recognized as a profession within the educational field and integrated into schools.

However, it has not yet been recognized in the therapeutic field and is currently classified as an “unregulated health profession.”

In Flanders, psychomotor therapy is practiced by

University-level physiotherapists with a specialization in psychomotor therapy

Education
in Belgium

Initial education

In the French-speaking part of Belgium, a “Bachelier en Psychomotricité” delivered by one of the following institutes, grants you the title of “Psychomotricien(ne)”.

Bachelier en Psychomotricité

180 ECTS

French

Bruxelles – Haute école Léonard de Vinci

Bruxelles – Helb Ilya Prigogine

Liège – Ecole de promotion social (CPSE)

Liège – Haute école Libre Mosan (HELMO)

Namur – Haute école de la Province de Namur (HEPN)

Roux – Centre d’Enseignement Supérieur pour Adultes (CESA)

Tournai – Haute école Condorcet

More information about how to become psychomotrician in Belgium is available on the website of the professional association UPBPF.

Postgraduate education

In Belgium, there is currently no postgraduate education in Psychomotricity.

Further education

In the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, a Master degree for physiotherapists offers a major in Psychomotricity.

Master in de revalidatiewetenschappen en de kinesitherapie

120 ECTS

Dutch

Leuven – Katholiek Universiteit, Faculty of kinesiology and rehabilitation sciences (FABER)

Working
in Belgium

Get your diploma recognition

In Belgium, you must go through the diploma recognition commission of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Then, you can join the Union in order to receive reimbursements from the various Belgian health insurance funds.

Get to know the professional association

Union Professionnelle Belge des Psychomotriciens Francophones (UPBPF) is the only professional union in Belgium, in the field of psychomotricity, to be recognized by the Belgian Parliament.

Psychomotricity
in Belgium

Since the early 1960s and 1970s, professionals from the French-speaking part of Belgium have been interested in and have integrated into the psychomotor movement developing in French-speaking countries.

This movement is led by figures such as Gisèle Soubiran, Jean Leboulch, Pierre Vayer, André Lapierre, Bernard Aucouturier… in France, and Jean-Claude Depoter, Paul Sivadon, Marianne Klees, Annie Pecher… in French-speaking Belgium.

The first one-year specialization training programs are established in schools offering education for specialized educators, as well as an option in the training of psychology assistants.

Turning points

Late 1970s

Emergence of Psychomotricity

1977 – The Belgian Association for the Study of Psychomotricity (Aucouturier-Lapierre…) is created.

1979 – Belgium takes part of the creation in the OIPR.

1980

First specialized training

The first specialized training programs in Psychomotricity is established in Belgium.

1989

Creation of the professional association

The Union Professionnelle Belge des Psychomotriciens Francophones (UPBPF) founded.

1996

European Forum of Psychomotricity

The European Forum of Psychomotricity (EFP) is created,
with Belgium as a founding member, represented by Paul Colla.

Since 2002

More and more recognition

2002 – Psychomotricity is included in the schedule of preschool classes.

2012 – The Bachelor’s Program in Psychomotricity is launched, harmonizing all pre-existing education programs into a unified framework.

2017 – Psychomotor therapy jobs are officially recognized in the French Community of Belgium.

2022 – Psychomotricians are included among the health professions (unregulated) and are exempt from VAT for their care services.

2022 – Completion of the MILAC reform: Bachelor’s graduates in Psychomotricity are integrated into psycho-medico-social (PMS) teams within early childhood environments.

2024 – A Bachelor’s degree in Psychomotricity becomes one of the required qualifications for working in youth support services (AMO, SAJ, SPJ, etc.).

FAQ

Here are few answers to frequently asked questions
in order to understand better Psychomotricity in Belgium.

Do I need some special authorisation to practise in Belgium?

At the moment, no special authorization is required to private practices, as the title is not yet protected.

However, you won't be hired as a salaried psychomotrician without a Bachelor's degree in Psychomotricity. The recognition within the field is well established in Brussels and Wallonia.

Moreover, clients or patients can only access insurance reimbursements if the practitioner is affiliated with the UPBPF.

In which fields can I work as a psychomotor therapist in Belgium?

• Childcare center, nurseries, ONE consultation;
• In regular school environment;
• In mental health services and youth assistance or in psychiatric department;
• Day care center, rehabilitation center, residential center, hospital environment, in nursing and care homes;
• Any job that requires a bachelor's degree without any other specificity;
• Others create their own freelance jobs or join multidisciplinary centers.

Is psychomotor therapy financially covered in Belgium?

Yes, psychomotor therapy is covered by most Belgian supplementary insurance providers.

Reimbursements range between €12 and €3.75 per session, with a medical prescription.

For patients to receive reimbursements, the psychomotrician must be affiliated to the UPBPF, which guarantees the quality of professional training.

If they are not affiliated, patients will not have access to reimbursements.

Psychomotricity is also fully covered when patients go through "mental health services (SSM)" or other state services. Some other organizations may cover part of the session costs, depending on the patients' financial situation and individual cases (such as SAJ, SPJ, CPAS, etc.).

Is psychomotor therapy subject to a medical prescription in Belgium?

A medical prescription is not needed to receive psychomotor therapy.

However, without one, patients won’t be eligible for reimbursement from health insurance providers.

Belgium

Professional Framework
in Belgium