What does VCA certification cost for a company?

If you want to know what VCA costs, first separate two things. The company certificate (VCA*, VCA** or Petrochemie) is the certificate your company obtains as a whole. The personal certificate is the diploma for each employee (B-VCA or VOL-VCA). Many people search for “VCA company certificate costs” but mean one or the other. Below you will find a separate cost table for each.

VCA  certification is an investment, but relatively accessible compared with other certifications. The SSVV  manages the scheme and sets the requirements. Certification runs through an accredited body . The total cost of the company certificate depends on three things: the VCA level you aim for, the size of your company, and your starting situation. A small company that already does a lot on safety pays less than a larger company that starts from zero.

Are you budgeting specifically for the company certificate of a temporary employment agency? Then use calculate VCU costs for the separate items, request quotes, and see a fictional worked example.

What does the VCA company certificate cost?

The VCA company certificate (VCA* or VCA**) has one-off costs to obtain it and ongoing costs to maintain it. Below you will find indications by company size and level. These amounts include the diplomas, support and the audit. If you only want to know what the individual diplomas cost, see personal certificates.

VCA* costs

VCA** costs

What does a VCA personal certificate (diplomas) cost?

A personal certificate is the VCA diploma for each employee. If one person needs a diploma rather than a whole company, these are the costs that matter to you. The exam can be taken on its own or with a course. Below are the indications per diploma. More detail on each diploma is on the personal certificates page.

These diplomas are valid for ten years. After that, you take the full exam again. There is no shortened refresher exam. For a company with many operational employees, diploma costs add up quickly, which is why they are also included in the company tables above.

What does VCU certification cost?

VCU is the VCA variant for temporary employment agencies and staffing companies (Veiligheid en Gezondheid Checklist Uitzendorganisaties, Safety and Health Checklist for Temporary Employment Agencies). The cost structure is similar to VCA* for a company: diplomas, possibly support, and the certification audit. For a temporary employment agency, expect costs in a similar range to the VCA* table above, depending on the number of employees and your starting situation.

The personal diploma that goes with this is VIL-VCU (see the diploma table above). To read exactly what VCU involves and who it is intended for, see the page on VCU certification.

VCA cost items explained

To understand where your money goes, here is a walk-through of the main cost items.

Safety diplomas

The B-VCA and VOL-VCA diplomas are a requirement for VCA certification. Without valid diplomas, there is no certificate. Diploma costs often form a substantial part of the total investment, especially at larger companies.

A B-VCA exam costs around €80 to €120 per person, excluding course material and any training. With a course, you reach €150 to €250 per person. VOL-VCA is more expensive because of its broader content: expect €200 to €350 per person including a course.

Costs rise quickly with more employees. A company with 20 operational employees who need B-VCA can easily pay €3,000 to €5,000 for diplomas alone. Add the VOL-VCA diplomas for supervisors and you are looking at €4,000 to €7,000.

The diplomas are valid for ten years. After that, employees must sit the exam again. Take these costs into account in your multi-year plan.

Exam institutes that administer VCA exams include PBNA , Dirksen , SHE Academy  and Bureau Veritas Training . Prices vary, so compare quotes.

Support and advice

Most companies can achieve VCA* with limited external help. The requirements are concrete and the documentation is manageable. With the information from SSVV  and sample documents, you can get a long way.

For VCA**, external support is more often advisable, especially if you have no experience with management systems. The requirements are broader and the documentation more complex. An adviser can help you set up the right structure and avoid common pitfalls.

Rates for VCA advisers range from €75 to €150 per hour. Some advisers offer fixed project prices, which gives more certainty. For VCA* support, plan on €500 to €3,000 depending on the intensity. For VCA**, the figure is higher: €1,000 to €6,000 or more.

If you already have ISO 9001 or another management system, you probably need less support. Many elements, such as document control and corrective actions, are similar.

The certification audit

The cost of the certification audit is set by the certification body and depends on the level and size of your company. Recognised certification bodies for VCA include Kiwa , TÜV , DNV , Bureau Veritas  and LRQA .

The length of the audit depends on the level and size of your company. For a small company with VCA*, half a day to a full day is often enough. For VCA** at a larger company, it can run to two days or more.

Daily rates for auditors range from €800 to €1,200 per day. Add preparation time and reporting, and you arrive at the amounts in the tables above.

Compare quotes from several bodies. Prices can differ significantly, as can the approach and experience in your sector.

Annual interim audits

After certification, the auditor returns every year for an interim audit. This audit is shorter than the initial audit and checks whether you still meet the requirements.

Costs for interim audits are typically 50 to 70 percent of the initial audit costs. Plan on €600 to €1,500 per year for a small company and €1,500 to €3,500 for a larger company.

After three years, a recertification audit follows, comparable to the initial audit. Include this cost in your multi-year budget.

Internal costs

Alongside the external costs, there are internal costs in the form of time. Implementing VCA requires people in the organisation.

Someone needs to arrange the diplomas, draft the documentation, keep the records and prepare for the audit. In a small company, the director or an employee can do this alongside their regular work. Larger companies often have a KAM coordinator (coordinator for quality, working conditions and environment) or a prevention officer who takes this on.

The internal time needed for VCA* is limited: plan on 40 to 80 hours for the initial implementation. For VCA**, it is more: 80 to 160 hours or more, depending on your starting position.

After certification, maintaining VCA takes less time, but not zero. Keeping records, organising toolbox meetings and monitoring diplomas takes a few hours per month.

VCA lead time: how long does it take?

The lead time for VCA certification is shorter than for most ISO certifications. The requirements are more concrete and less documentation is needed.

The diplomas are often the critical path. If employees still need to sit their exams and there are waiting times, everything shifts back. Therefore, start with the diplomas. VCA** requires more documentation and a longer build-up period for records. VCA Petrochemie has the most extensive requirements.

Reducing costs: practical tips

Start with VCA*

If you are torn between VCA* and VCA**, start with VCA* and upgrade later. VCA* is faster and cheaper to obtain, and many clients accept it. If it turns out you need VCA**, you can always upgrade.

Combine exams

If several employees need to take exams, ask the exam institute about group discounts. Some institutes also offer in-company exams, which can be more efficient logistically.

Use existing documentation

If you already have ISO 9001 or another management system, reuse what you can. The RI&E (risk inventory and evaluation) you already have can serve as the basis for the VCA risk inventory. Your document management system can hold your VCA documents.

Do what you can yourself

Many companies can implement VCA* largely on their own. The SSVV website  offers a lot of information, and sample documents are available. Only bring in external help where you get stuck.

Compare certification bodies

Request quotes from several bodies. Prices can differ significantly, as can availability. Some bodies have long waiting lists, while others can move faster.

Combine with ISO audits

If you also have, or plan to obtain, ISO 9001 or another ISO certification, it can be efficient to combine the audits. Discuss this with your certification body.

Is it worth the investment?

For many companies, VCA is not a luxury but a necessity. Without VCA, you simply cannot get through the door at many clients. The investment pays for itself through access to contracts that would otherwise be out of reach.

But the value goes beyond access to the market. A company that takes VCA seriously has fewer accidents. Fewer accidents mean less absence, less damage and lower costs. The Inspectie SZW  (Inspectorate SZW, now the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie, Netherlands Labour Authority) regularly publishes figures showing that companies with an active safety policy have significantly fewer accidents.

VCA also contributes to professionalism. It forces you to think about safety, record procedures and train employees. This raises the quality of your work and your attractiveness as an employer.

More information

• VCA for self-employed: what are the costs for a sole trader?
• VCA step-by-step plan: from start to certificate
• VCA requirements: the checklist explained
• VCA levels: VCA*, VCA** or Petrochemie?
• Personal certificates: B-VCA, VOL-VCA and VIL-VCU diplomas
• The audit process: what can you expect?