Getting an F-gas certificate: step by step for BRL 200 and BRL 100
You get an F-gas certificate along two tracks. The technician obtains a personal certificate (BRL 200) by passing the exam at a recognised examination body. The company also applies for a company certificate (BRL 100) from a certification body. The Ondernemersplein (Dutch government business portal) describes these two tracks, and IPLO (Dutch environmental information point) explains that a passed exam is registered in the Centraal Register Techniek by the examination body. This step-by-step guide follows that order.
If you want to know which category belongs to which work, read the personal certificate first. If you want to know what it costs, see costs.
In short: first the technician’s exam, then registration in the CRT, and then the company certificate. At assessment, the company must show that it has technicians with a valid personal certificate. Without a valid personal certificate, a technician may not work on the refrigerant circuit on their own.
Six-step plan
Determine which category you need
Look at the work you do and at the amount and type of refrigerant. According to IPLO, A2 applies to F-gases and hydrocarbons up to 3 kg (up to 6 kg for hermetically sealed systems). A technician who installs split air conditioners with R32 usually manages with that. A1 applies to all quantities, B to CO2 and C to ammonia. The categories are set out on the personal certificate page.
Choose a recognised exam body
IPLO lists the recognised exam bodies: CIBV, Bepect, IBKI, STE Examenbureau, PBNA and STEK. Each has its own scope. Choose the body that fits your category, and check that the body actually offers the category you want to take.
Prepare for the exam
IPLO’s requirements page for natural persons notes that no course is mandatory for the personal certificate. It does mention that preparation can be done through training providers and training centres. Read more in following a course or training.
Take the exam
The exam consists of theory and practice, and its content and structure are set out in the BRL 200 standard. At PBNA, theory and practice are taken separately. The exam regulations of the body determine what you must bring yourself, such as personal protective equipment. Read the body’s regulations before you register.
Have the certificate registered in the CRT
After a passed exam, the exam body registers the certificate in the Centraal Register Techniek (CRT) (Central Technical Register) . That registration is legally required and makes the certificate checkable for clients and inspectors. See checking the certificate for how that works.
Apply for the company certificate
The company that works for clients applies for the BRL 100 company certificate from a certification body. Ondernemersplein lists, among others, SGS, DEKRA, CIBV, KIWA and Bureau Veritas. The company must meet the conditions, such as good equipment, work instructions and qualified staff. See BRL 100 for the requirements and the audit.
What does the route cost, and how long does it take?
Exam costs differ per body and per category. The PBNA prices are on the costs page, but amounts can change. Check them with the body itself. The company certificate also has costs for the application, the assessment and the periodic inspections. A worked example is on costs.
The official sources do not give a fixed lead time for the exam or the company assessment. So plan with a margin, especially if you have several technicians certified at the same time.
Example: one technician and one company in one route
Suppose an installation company has two technicians. Technician A installs and maintains split air conditioners with R32. Technician B works on larger refrigeration installations. The company wants to get started in spring.
| Step | Technician A | Technician B | Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | A2 | A1 | n/a |
| Exam body | Recognised body for A2 | Recognised body for A1 | n/a |
| Exam | Theory and practice | Theory and practice | n/a |
| Registration | In the CRT | In the CRT | Application to certification body |
| Result | Personal certificate valid | Personal certificate valid | BRL 100 after assessment |
The company may only work for clients once it has BRL 100, even if both technicians have already passed. As long as the company certificate is missing, the technicians are qualified, but the company may not take on the work.
What do you need to provide? (indication)
This list does not come from an official source. The exact documents differ per body. You probably need the following to hand:
- a valid identity document for registering for the exam
- the category you want to take, with a short description of your work
- for the company: the details of the business and of the responsible person
Always check the list that the body or certification body uses itself. This page gives an overview, not an official checklist.
Common mistakes when getting the certificate
- Arranging the company certificate first and only then the exam. At the BRL 100 audit, the company must be able to show technicians with a valid personal certificate.
- Choosing the wrong category. If you choose too low, you may not do certain work. If you choose too high, you pay more than necessary.
- Forgetting to have it registered. A passed exam without registration in the CRT is not recognised during an inspection.
- Not reading the exam regulations. Then you arrive unprepared on exam day.
- Buying a certificate instead of earning it. A personal certificate comes from an exam at a recognised body. Read why you cannot buy an F-gas certificate.
After getting it: validity and next steps
A new personal certificate is valid for seven years, after which recertification is needed. Certificates from the old system remain valid until 12 March 2029 at the latest, provided they were obtained within the transitional period and registered. By that date at the latest, everyone must be (re)certified under the new system. Since 29 March 2026, the regular route only issues new BRL 200 certificates, with ammonia and CO2 excluded until 1 July 2026 at the latest.
If you have lost your certificate, read requesting a duplicate. If you work on vehicle air conditioning, a different route applies: see training certificate for mobile air conditioning.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the exam without a course? Yes. For the personal certificate, a course is not mandatory. Only the exam at a recognised body is. Read course or training for when a course is compulsory.
How long does my new certificate stay valid? A new personal certificate is valid for seven years. After that, you must recertify.
Does my company also have to take an exam? No. The company applies for a BRL 100 company certificate from a certification body. That is an assessment of the company, not an exam for one person.
Sources
- Ondernemersplein - Certificate for working with F-gases
- IPLO - Requirements for natural persons (technicians)
- Centraal Register Techniek