NEN 3140 practice exam: how do you prepare?

A NEN 3140 practice exam is a study tool. It tests whether you know the material in the standard, not whether you are competent in your own company. You gain competence through a designation from your employer. For the study material, look at the parts of the standard that come up in your work. The requirements themselves are in the standard and in the Arbobesluit (Dutch Working Conditions Decree) . For what a course covers, read the page about NEN 3140 courses. The provider decides the form and content of the test.

Practise with the study material, not with questions someone else has shared. Shared exam questions may be out of date, especially after a change to the standard. The version you need to know is the version your test is based on.

Which study material comes up in practice?

This is a breakdown of the study material by the topics on this website. It is not a list of exam questions. Each block has a place in your daily work.

Block	Where it comes up in practice	Read more
Organisation and designations	VP, VOP, installation responsible person and work responsible person	VP and VOP
Inspection of fixed installations	Diagrams, frequency and the report	NEN 3140 inspection
Inspection of tools	Visual check, measurements and the register	Inspection of electrical equipment
Working on installations	De-energised work and the five rules	De-energised work
Installation versus management	The difference between NEN 1010 and NEN 3140	NEN 1010 versus NEN 3140
Documentation and improvement	Registers, review and assurance	NEN 3140 checklist

Start with the blocks that match your tasks. If you only inspect tools, you do not need to learn working on installations first, but you still need to know the standard as a whole.

Four-week study plan

This is an example you can adapt. It assumes about two hours per week.

Week	Focus	Result at the end
1	Organisation and designations	You can explain what a VP and a VOP are each allowed to do
2	Inspection and testing	You can draw up an inspection schedule for a small workshop
3	Working on installations	You can name the five safety rules in order and apply them
4	Installation and management, documentation and review	You have gone through the checklist and repeated your weak points

Adjust the plan if your test covers a specific part of the standard. Then go through that part in more depth.

How do you practise effectively?

Read the standard or a summary of it, and make your own notes per block.
For each block, make one example from your own company, such as a device or an installation you know.
Explain the material to someone else. If you can explain it, you know it.
Check your knowledge against the checklist.

Common mistakes

Practising only old questions without understanding the material.
Studying an older version of the standard while the test follows the newer version.
Skipping practice and learning only the theory.
Forgetting the importance of the designation: a passed test does not give you competence without a designation.

Frequently asked questions

Is a practice exam the same as the exam?

No. A practice exam is for practising. An exam tests. The provider decides the content and form of the exam. Ask in advance so you know what to expect.

Do I have to pass an exam to become a VP?

No, the law does not require an exam. The Arbobesluit requires a competent employee. Your employer gives the designation and decides whether an exam is part of it. Record that in your internal working method.

Which version of the standard do I need to know?

That is the version your test is based on. The current version is NEN 3140:2011+A3:2019. See what NEN 3140 is for context.

How long do I need to study?

That depends on your prior knowledge. The study plan above assumes four weeks. If you come from electrical engineering, you may need less time.

What should you look for in a provider of practice material?

Does the material state which version of NEN 3140 it follows?
Does it explain each topic, or only give the correct answers?
Is there a reference to the source of the study material?
Can you see when the material was last updated?

Practice material that only gives the correct answers teaches you little. You want to understand why an answer is correct.

After the test

A passed test is a step, not an end point. Your employer’s designation determines what you are allowed to do. Keep the proof of the test in your file, and make sure you know which version of the standard you studied. If there is a new version, you need to update your study material.

Can I practise with colleagues?

Yes, and it works well. Have each other explain a block, then ask what was missing. If you practise together, you quickly find the parts nobody knows well. Keep the practice focused on the study material, not on sharing questions that could come up in a test.

How many hours a week should I study?

The study plan above assumes about two hours per week. If you work with electrical equipment every day, you may need less time, as long as you go through the material block by block.