Who is HKZ certification for?
HKZ is intended for care and welfare organisations, and for self-employed care workers (zzp’ers) who want to show their quality. The quality mark is managed by NEN and covers more than 30 sector-specific schemes, from nursing, care and home care (VVT) and mental health care (GGZ) to childcare and public pharmacies. HKZ is not legally mandatory. However, when care is procured through care offices, municipalities and health insurers, it often appears as a requirement or a selection criterion. You can read more about that procurement requirement on hkz.nl/zorginkoop .
HKZ is a quality mark, not a law. You are never legally required to hold HKZ. In practice, though, you cannot get around it if you want to take part in certain care procurement rounds.
Who is HKZ intended for?
HKZ covers a large part of the care sector. Below is an overview of the most common target groups. Each group has a suitable scheme.
| Target group | Examples | Relevant scheme |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing, care and home care | Home care organisations, residential care homes | HKZ 144 VVT |
| Mental health care (GGZ) | Outpatient GGZ institutions, RIBW’s (regional supported housing institutions) | HKZ 129 GGZ |
| Care for people with disabilities | Supported living, day activities | HKZ 118 Gehandicaptenzorg |
| Youth care | Youth care providers, family homes | HKZ 142 Jeugdzorg |
| Childcare | Day care, out-of-school care (bso), host family agencies (gastouderbureaus) | HKZ 132/133 Kinderopvang |
| Welfare | Welfare organisations, social work | HKZ 138/139/140 Welzijn |
| First-line practices | Physiotherapy practices, dental practices | HKZ 104 Fysiotherapie, HKZ 170 Mondzorg |
| Pharmacy | Public pharmacies | HKZ 136 Openbare apotheken |
| Small care providers | Small home care or support services, up to 10 fte (full-time equivalents) | HKZ Kleine Organisaties |
| Self-employed care workers | Self-employed nurses, self-employed support workers | HKZ 166/167 Zzp |
You can see which scheme fits you best on the page schemes per sector.
Is HKZ mandatory?
By law, HKZ is not mandatory. No law says you must have HKZ. Yet in practice it sometimes feels as if it is.
Care offices that buy Long-Term Care Act (Wlz) care, health insurers that sign contracts under the Health Insurance Act (Zvw), and municipalities that award assignments under the Social Support Act (Wmo) or the Youth Act (Jeugdwet) include quality requirements in their purchasing policy. HKZ is a frequently named and accepted choice in that policy.
Concrete example: a new home care organisation applies for a care office’s Long-Term Care Act (Wlz) purchasing round. The selection criteria state: “demonstrable certification to a recognised quality system, preferably HKZ or ISO 9001”. Without a certificate, you are excluded straight away. So there is no law requiring it, but in practice it is a hard barrier.
This differs per buying party. Some municipalities also accept ISO 9001 or another recognised quality mark. Others name HKZ specifically. Check your client’s purchasing terms before you make a choice. What you can ask and how to check it is set out on is HKZ mandatory?.
More information on how HKZ is used in care procurement is on hkz.nl/zorginkoop .
HKZ for self-employed freelancers (zzp’ers)
For self-employed care workers, HKZ is increasingly a practical necessity. The HKZ 166 and 167 schemes were developed specifically for self-employed people. They are lighter than the schemes for larger organisations.
Why a self-employed care worker may need HKZ:
- Some care organisations require their self-employed workers to hold a quality certificate before they hire them.
- When applying for an AGB code (the Dutch care provider number needed to bill care to health insurers), some health insurers ask for a quality mark.
- Contracting directly with care institutions or municipalities is easier when you can show your quality.
More information for self-employed care workers is on hkz.nl/zzp .
When should you choose something else?
HKZ is not the best choice for everyone. In a few situations, another standard fits better.
ISO 9001 is worth considering if you work internationally, if part of your organisation is active outside care, or if you want to combine it with other ISO standards later. Read more on ISO 9001 for care organisations.
NEN-EN 15224 is the European variant of ISO 9001 for healthcare. It is internationally recognised and less sector-specific than HKZ. It is useful if you have European clients.
HKZ Kleine Organisaties is for small organisations with up to 10 fte. Read more on HKZ Kleine Organisaties.
Unsure which route fits best? Discuss it with a certification body. They can help you make the choice.