B-VCA or VOL-VCA: which VCA diploma do you need?
VCA stands for Veiligheid, Gezondheid en Milieu (VGM) Checklist Aannemers, Dutch for a safety, health and environment checklist for contractors. According to SSVV, you usually need the diploma when you start working for a contractor.
This page covers three diplomas: B-VCA (basic safety), VOL-VCA (for operational supervisors) and VIL-VCU (for intermediaries and supervisors). Each is valid for ten years. SSVV also has other qualifications, such as SOG-P.
This page summarises what SSVV writes on ssvv.nl (in Dutch) about the VCA exams and diplomas. SSVV develops and manages certification schemes for safe and healthy work; VCA is a trademark of SSVV registered in the Benelux. Examenzaal is not a training provider or exam centre and is not part of SSVV; our practice material is not SSVV's. You take your exam at an exam centre recognised by SSVV.
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What do B-VCA, VOL-VCA and VIL-VCU mean?
Employees, supervisors and intermediaries can each get a recognised diploma. The names are Dutch; the table gives the Dutch name and what it means in English.
VCA is registered in the Benelux trademark register as a trademark of Stichting Samenwerken voor Veiligheid (SSVV).
| Diploma | Dutch name | In English |
|---|---|---|
| B-VCA | Basisveiligheid VCA | Basic Safety VCA |
| VOL-VCA | Veiligheid voor Operationeel Leidinggevenden VCA | Safety for Operational Supervisors VCA |
| VIL-VCU | Veiligheid voor Intercedenten en Leidinggevenden VCU | Safety for Intermediaries and Supervisors VCU |
Which one do you need?
According to SSVV, B-VCA is meant for everyone who does risky work or works in a risky environment. If you start working at a VCA-certified company, B-VCA is required: for permanent and temporary employees, self-employed workers (zzp'ers) and interns.
VOL-VCA is meant for operational supervisors and for self-employed workers who work as a subcontractor at a VCA-certified company. If you are self-employed and hire yourself out as a temporary worker (on a best-efforts basis), B-VCA is in principle enough, according to SSVV.
If you are an intermediary or supervisor at an employment agency, you don't need VOL-VCA but VIL-VCU. That diploma is meant for intermediaries and supervisors of VCU-certified employment agencies and of agencies that supply temporary workers to VCA-certified companies.
Not sure about your situation? Ask your employer or client.
| Your situation | Diploma |
|---|---|
| You start working at a VCA-certified company (permanent, temporary, self-employed or intern) | B-VCA (required) |
| You are an operational supervisor | VOL-VCA |
| You are self-employed and work as a subcontractor at a VCA-certified company | VOL-VCA |
| You are self-employed and hire yourself out as a temporary worker (best-efforts basis) | B-VCA is in principle enough |
| You are an intermediary or supervisor at an employment agency | VIL-VCU, not VOL-VCA |
B-VCA is a starting qualification
SSVV calls B-VCA a starting qualification and warns that you shouldn't simply assume you can do risky work on your own. Ask an experienced colleague or supervisor to help and guide you, especially at the start.
How do the exams differ?
B-VCA has 40 questions. VOL-VCA and VIL-VCU have 60 questions. All three take 60 minutes. According to SSVV's 2026 test matrices, the pass mark is 64.5% for each of them (for B-VCA, this is the exam with 40 questions).
SSVV gives a language level for the exams: A2 (1F) for B-VCA and B1 (2F) for VOL-VCA and VIL-VCU. The sources we read don't say whether these levels also apply to the exams in other languages.
How long is your diploma valid?
A VCA diploma is valid for ten years. It is recorded in the Centraal Diploma Register (CDR), the central diploma register, where you can also check whether a diploma is valid.
Frequently asked questions
What does VOL stand for in VOL-VCA?
VOL-VCA stands for Veiligheid voor Operationeel Leidinggevenden VCA: safety for operational supervisors.
Is VCA mandatory?
If you start working at a VCA-certified company, B-VCA is required according to SSVV, also for temporary employees, self-employed workers and interns. SSVV also says you usually need the diploma when you start working for a contractor.
I'm self-employed. Do I need VOL-VCA?
If you work as a subcontractor at a VCA-certified company, VOL-VCA is meant for you, according to SSVV. If you hire yourself out as a temporary worker (on a best-efforts basis), B-VCA is in principle enough.
Which VCA do I need at an employment agency?
If you are an intermediary or supervisor at an employment agency, you need VIL-VCU according to SSVV, not VOL-VCA.
My VCA diploma is almost ten years old. Is it still valid?
A VCA diploma is valid for ten years. You can check in the Centraal Diploma Register (CDR) whether your diploma is still valid.
This explanation was written by Examenzaal. We checked SSVV's information (in Dutch) on 22 October 2026. Examenzaal is an independent provider of practice material. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
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