EP advisor exam under BRL 9500
The EP advisor exam is the test that makes you professionally competent to prepare energy labels. You take it at a recognised exam body: Cito (a Dutch testing organisation), ‘t Examenpark or Stichting Nederlands Examen Instituut (SNEI, the Dutch Examination Institute Foundation). RVO (the Netherlands Enterprise Agency) sets this requirement, and it is part of the personal certificate that BRL 9500 requires. The exam comes after the training, as described in the step-by-step plan.
The exam tests whether you master the NTA 8800 calculation method. You take it per category: dwelling or non-residential building, and basic or detailed assessment.
On this page
Below you can read how the exam is structured, which categories exist and how you register. You will also see what to check before you sign up, such as the pass mark and the resit rules. These rules differ per exam body and sometimes change, so always read them in the exam regulations of that body.
What does the exam test?
The exam tests whether you can determine an energy label correctly using the NTA 8800 calculation method. You must be able to survey a building, process the data and justify the result. It is therefore not theory detached from practice. InstallQ’s learning outcomes describe what you must know and be able to do for each category.
Example: Sanne de Vries (fictional) is preparing for EP-W/D. Her trainer has her calculate a new-build dwelling using the detailed method. That is the kind of assignment that comes back in the exam: a building, a set of data and a result that is correct.
The categories and the modules
There are four categories. Each category has its own modules. Higher categories include the lower ones, so with the higher level you may also carry out the lower-level work.
| Category | What you may do | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| EP-W/B | Dwellings, basic method, existing buildings | Advisors who survey existing dwellings |
| EP-W/D | Dwellings, detailed method, including new builds | Advisors who also work on new builds |
| EP-U/B | Non-residential buildings, basic method, existing buildings | Advisors who survey offices and schools |
| EP-U/D | Non-residential buildings, detailed method, including new builds | Advisors who also work on complex non-residential buildings |
The modules that belong to your category are listed in InstallQ’s learning outcomes. Ask the exam body which modules you must take before you register.
There is also a separate competence for bespoke advisors. You need it if you want to give bespoke advice. See the frequently asked questions for the difference.
How do you register?
You register with the exam body that holds the module. The exam body sets the procedure, such as the registration date, the payment and the confirmation. Go to the exam body’s website for this.
Choose your category and modules
Decide what you want to do: dwellings or non-residential buildings, and basic or detailed assessment. Check InstallQ’s learning outcomes to see which modules belong to it.
Follow an accredited training course
A course of four to six days on average prepares you for the exam. The training provider must be accredited by InstallQ. See costs and lead time for what this costs.
Register with the exam body
Choose Cito, ‘t Examenpark or SNEI. Ask the body about the registration date, the costs and the conditions. Also ask which aids you may bring, such as NTA 8800 and the related publications.
Take the modules
You take the modules at the exam body. You only become professionally competent once you have passed all the modules for your category.
Apply for your certificate
With the passed exam, you can apply for the personal certificate. This goes through the certification body or umbrella organisation you want to work with. See company certification for how to join.
Pass mark and resits
The pass mark and the rules for resits are set out in the exam regulations of the exam body. We do not list them here, because they can differ per body and change over time. Ask the exam body for the current regulations before you register. That way you know in advance what you need to pass and what a resit costs.
A resit can cost extra money and time. Include that in your planning, and ask the body for its rates.
What does the exam cost?
The exam body sets the rate, not the training provider. That also applies to the modules. Ask the exam body you choose for a quote or a rate schedule. Also compare the costs of the training, which you request from the training provider.
What can you bring?
Which aids you may use during the exam depend on the exam body. Ask about the rules and about what you may bring when you register. Check this with the body before the day of the exam.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the exam without training?
Ask the exam body whether you can register without training, and which conditions it sets.
Do I need to retake the exam if I have not worked for a long time?
That depends on your professional competence and your further training. Every EP advisor must complete further training every year, and that keeps your knowledge up to date. Read more on the frequently asked questions.
Can I switch from one exam body to another?
Ask the exam body you want to choose. Each body has its own rules for registration and any exemptions.
Further reading
- Step-by-step plan: how to become an EP advisor under BRL 9500: the whole process in steps
- Costs and lead time: what the exam and the training cost
- Who is BRL 9500 for?: who needs the exam
- Company certification: what the company must arrange