Applying for a PSO certificate and costs

You apply for a PSO certificate via MijnPSO, the online portal of PSO-Nederland, in six steps. After that, an accredited certification body checks your details in an audit, and PSO-Nederland awards your level. The costs have two parts: an annual fee to PSO-Nederland of €550 to €6,560, depending on your number of FTE, and one-off audit costs that you agree with the certification body. Working out your level in the calculation tool is free. You can find this on the cost page of PSO-Nederland .

You can read what the PSO-Prestatieladder (PSO Performance Ladder) is on the hub page. How the calculation tool determines your level is explained on PSO levels and calculation. PSO-Nederland describes the procedure itself on the page applying for the PSO certificate .

How much does a PSO certificate cost?

You pay an annual fee to PSO-Nederland. It depends on the number of FTE in your final application. The certificate is valid for two years, so you pay that fee twice per certificate.

Total number of FTE	Annual fee to PSO-Nederland
2 to 25 FTE	€550
25 to 50 FTE	€1,045
50 to 100 FTE	€1,650
100 to 250 FTE	€2,480
250 to 500 FTE	€3,855
500 to 1,000 FTE	€5,235
More than 1,000 FTE	€6,560

If you also apply for PSO 30+, a one-off €150 administration fee applies for a separate certificate.

PSO audit costs

You pay the audit to the certification body. You request quotes in MijnPSO from DEKRA, DNV, Kiwa or Normec VRO. PSO-Nederland publishes guidance on the minimum number of audit days. This depends on the number of employees in the target group, not on your total staff.

Type of audit	Number	Minimum number of audit days
Aspirant status	Fewer than 50 employees in total	0.75
Aspirant status	50 or more employees in total	1
Basic level, levels 1 to 3	1 up to and including 20 target group employees	1
Basic level, levels 1 to 3	21 up to and including 50 target group employees	1.25
Basic level, levels 1 to 3	51 up to and including 500 target group employees	1.75
Basic level, levels 1 to 3	More than 500 target group employees	2

The day rate differs per certification body. Travel costs, extra locations and a registration and licence fee may also apply. The body lists these separately on its quote. If you switch certification body after your final application, PSO-Nederland charges €100 excluding VAT.

Worked example: total costs for a PSO certificate

A company with 30 FTE and four target group employees applies for level 2.

Cost item	Calculation	Amount
Annual fee, year 1	25 to 50 FTE	€1,045
Annual fee, year 2	25 to 50 FTE	€1,045
Audit	1 audit day × day rate from the quote	According to the quote
Travel costs and registration fee	According to the quote	According to the quote
Fixed PSO-Nederland costs over 2 years		€2,090

Request at least two quotes. That way you also see which extra costs each body charges.

Applying for a PSO certificate in six steps

You go through the steps in MijnPSO. The first five are free and give you a provisional level. Only at step 6 do you choose whether to apply for real.

Create a calculation tool

Create an account in MijnPSO and start a calculation tool. You can make several calculation tools, for example to compare scenarios.

Define the organisation

Indicate which legal entities take part: the main applicant and any subsidiaries. Read how subsidiaries are included on subsidiary entities. If you have any, upload a Chamber of Commerce (KvK) extract or group overview that is no more than six months old.

Fill in the reference year details

Anonymously enter your company size, your target group employees and your purchasing from PSO-certified suppliers.

Check your provisional level

The TNO model, a calculation tool, works out your social contribution and shows which level you reach.

Complete the checklist

For a level, you fill in the checklist with the qualitative requirements. For Aspirant status, you upload a plan of action, as explained on Aspirant status and plan of action.

Request quotes and submit your final application

Request quotes from accredited certification bodies, choose one and submit your final application. After that, you can no longer change your details yourself.

After the final application, plan the audit, preferably within two months. The auditor sends an agenda at least one week before the audit. After the audit, the auditor delivers the report to PSO-Nederland within two working weeks. According to PSO-Nederland, it takes 2 to 4 weeks on average from the audit until your certificate is ready.

Your certificate takes effect on the first day of the month after your final application, not on the audit date. It is therefore often backdated. If you want a certificate that follows on directly, submit your new application in the month before the end date.

Who can apply for a PSO certificate?

For a level, your organisation must have existed for at least one year according to the KvK. In the reference year, you had at least 2 FTE of workers, and on the application date, at least two people work for you. The one-year requirement does not apply to Aspirant status. For what this means in your situation, see who the PSO Performance Ladder is for.

What evidence does the PSO auditor ask for?

The auditor checks a sample of the files of your target group employees. All evidence must be formal documents. If something is missing on the audit day, you have two more weeks to supply it. For how the auditor chooses files and adjusts the score, see PSO audit: how does the audit work?.

What the auditor checks	Evidence
Starting position	Decision from UWV (Dutch employee insurance agency), letter from the municipality or benefits body, registration in the target group register
Contract type and hours	Employment, secondment or work-learning agreement, hours overview
Company size	Personnel and payroll records, invoices from temporary staffing agencies
Indirect contribution	Purchase invoices from the reference year, excluding VAT
Functioning and development	Reports from performance or development conversations
Qualitative requirements	Policy on inclusion, internal communication, conversations with employees

For a recertification, at least 80% of the files examined must show that performance and development conversations took place.

Common mistakes when applying for a PSO certificate

Check the details only after the final application. After step 6, you cannot change anything yourself. Changes through the auditor or PSO-Nederland cost money.

Start looking for evidence only once the audit is planned. Requesting a UWV decision from years ago takes time. Set up a file for each employee in advance.

Letting the end date pass. The certificate ends automatically after two years. If you apply again more than one year after the end date, the qualitative requirements count as a first application again. For how to renew on time, see renewing your PSO certificate.

Using a KvK extract older than six months. KvK documents may not be older than six months at your final application, and changes must be included.

Looking only at the annual fee. Audit costs and any advisory costs come on top. Request quotes before you submit your final application.