VCA levels: which level suits your company?

VCA* (one star) is for subcontractors and operational companies that work under the direction of others. VCA** (two stars) is for main contractors and companies with a coordinating role, because this level also sets requirements for safety management. VCA Petrochemie is the highest level, specifically for work in the petrochemical industry.

VCA therefore has three certification levels for companies: VCA* (one star), VCA** (two stars) and VCA Petrochemie. The SSVV manages the scheme and sets the requirements for each level. Certification takes place through an accredited body . Each level has its own requirements and areas of application. The right level depends on what your clients ask for, the nature of your work and your role in projects.

It is tempting to think that “more stars is better”, but that is not necessarily the case. VCA* is not an inferior certificate. It is a full certificate for companies for which the more extensive VCA** requirements are not relevant. At the same time, VCA** is genuinely necessary in some situations.

This article helps you make the right choice.

The three VCA levels at a glance

VCA*

VCA* (one star)

VCA* focuses on direct safety on the work floor. The focus is on operational aspects: do employees hold the right diplomas, are toolbox meetings held, are incidents reported, have work equipment been inspected?

Suitable for:

Smaller companies (up to about 35 employees)
Companies that carry out operational work
Companies that work under the direction of others
Subcontractors with no coordinating role

Not suitable for:

Companies that direct other subcontractors
Companies with coordinating responsibilities
Work in petrochemicals

Lead time: 1-3 months Indicative costs: €2,000 - €10,000 first year

What is the difference between VCA* and VCA**?

The difference between VCA* (one star) and VCA** (two stars, often written as “VCA 2 stars”) lies in the management layer. VCA* is about safe working on the work floor: diplomas, toolbox meetings, inspections. VCA** includes everything in VCA* plus requirements for policy, objectives and management involvement. In short, VCA* is operational, and VCA** is operational and managerial.

The practical dividing line is often your role and your size. If you direct other subcontractors or you are a main contractor, you need VCA**. If you work operationally under someone else’s direction, VCA* is usually sufficient.

Feature	VCA* (one star)	VCA** (two stars)
Focus	Safety on the work floor	Work floor plus safety management
VGM policy (management)	Not required	Required
Measurable objectives	Not required	Required
Demonstrating management involvement	Not required	Required
Requirements for subcontractors	Not required	Required
Suitable for	Subcontractors, operational work	Main contractors, coordinating role
Guideline company size	Up to about 35 employees	35+ employees
Lead time (indicative)	1-3 months	2-4 months

Still unsure? Start with VCA* and upgrade to VCA** later. You can read how that works further on under upgrading from VCA* to VCA**. For what each level costs, see the page on costs and timeline.

VCA* in detail

VCA* is the most common level and is sufficient for a large part of the market. The certificate shows that your company has the basics of safe working in order.

What is assessed under VCA*

The audit for VCA* focuses on the following aspects:

Safety diplomas All operational employees must hold a valid B-VCA diploma. Operational supervisors must hold VOL-VCA. The auditor checks the diploma register and the validity of the diplomas.

Toolbox meetings Toolbox meetings must be held regularly and recorded. The auditor reviews the records and asks about the frequency and topics.

Incident registration Incidents and near-misses must be reported and recorded. The auditor asks for examples and how incidents are handled.

Workplace inspections Workplace inspections must be carried out and recorded. The auditor reviews the records and may ask about findings and measures taken.

Inspection of work equipment Work equipment such as ladders, scaffolding and electrical tools must have been inspected. The auditor asks about the inspection system and reviews inspection records.

PBM’s Personal protective equipment must be available and used correctly. The auditor checks this during the visit to the work location.

When is VCA* enough?

VCA* is enough if you:

Carry out operational work under the direction of others
Have no responsibility for coordinating safety at locations
Do not direct other subcontractors
Work for clients who accept VCA*

Many clients in construction and technical services accept VCA*. Check in advance what your clients require. If VCA* is enough, there is no reason to go for VCA**.

Limits of VCA*

VCA* has a guideline for company size: roughly 35 employees. Larger companies are expected to have VCA**, because the organisation then requires more safety management. The limit is not strict, but auditors and clients may ask questions if a larger company holds only VCA*.

VCA** in detail

VCA** is the level for companies that must also have safety management in order, alongside operational safety. It shows that safety is not only alive on the work floor but is also embedded in the organisation.

What is additionally assessed under VCA**

On top of the requirements of VCA*, the following aspects are assessed under VCA**:

VGM policy You must have a written VGM policy (safety, health and environment) signed by management. The policy describes the principles and commitment of the organisation.

Objectives and monitoring You must have measurable VGM objectives and monitor them. Think of objectives for incidents, diplomas, toolbox meetings and inspections.

Management involvement Management must be demonstrably involved in VGM. This can be shown through management meetings, management reviews or participation in VGM consultations.

Risk management You must systematically identify and control risks. This covers not only the statutory RI&E (risk inventory and evaluation), but also task risk analyses for specific work.

VGM project plans For projects, you must prepare VGM project plans that describe the risks and measures.

Requirements for subcontractors If you engage subcontractors, you must set requirements for their safety and check that they meet them.

When is VCA** needed?

VCA** is needed, or advisable, if you:

Have a larger company (more than about 35 employees)
Direct other subcontractors
Have coordinating responsibilities on projects
Are a main contractor
Have clients who require VCA**

Many industrial clients require VCA** as standard, regardless of the size of your company. If you work in industry, check what the usual requirement is with your clients.

Advantages of VCA** over VCA*

VCA** asks more, but it also delivers more. You become eligible for contracts that stay out of reach with VCA*, and the management requirements push you to tackle safety systematically. If your company grows, you will need VCA** sooner or later anyway. Moving to it directly saves a later upgrade. The management requirements also align well with ISO standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 45001, which helps if you want an ISO certification later.

VCA Petrochemie in detail

VCA Petrochemie is the level for companies that work in the petrochemical industry. Petrochemicals carry specific risks that call for specific measures. For the exact additional must-have requirements, read VCA Petrochemie: difference from VCA**.

Why a separate level for petrochemicals?

The petrochemical industry is a high-risk environment. Work involves flammable, explosive and toxic substances. A mistake can lead to fire, explosion or toxic releases with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Major names in petrochemicals, such as Shell , ExxonMobil , BP , BASF and Tata Steel , therefore apply strict safety requirements to their contractors. VCA Petrochemie was developed to meet these requirements.

Companies that fall under the BRZO regulations (Besluit risico’s zware ongevallen, Dutch Major Accident Risks Decree) are legally required to set high safety requirements for everyone who works on their premises.

Additional requirements for VCA Petrochemie

VCA Petrochemie includes all requirements of VCA** plus specific additions:

Knowledge of petrochemical risks Employees must know the specific risks of petrochemicals: working with hazardous substances, explosion risk, working in confined spaces and emergency procedures.

Permit systems Petrochemicals use work permits for high-risk activities. You must show that you can work with this system and that employees understand how permits work.

Emergency procedures You must be trained in the emergency procedures of petrochemical sites and know how to act when an alarm sounds.

Alignment with site requirements Each petrochemical site has its own additional requirements. You must be able to show that you know these requirements and comply with them.

Who needs VCA Petrochemie?

VCA Petrochemie is needed if you carry out work at:

Refineries
Chemical plants
Storage terminals for oil, gas or chemicals
Other BRZO or Seveso companies

If you do not work in petrochemicals but do work in other industrial environments, VCA** is often sufficient. Check with your clients what they require.

Choosing the right VCA level

Choosing the right level is a trade-off between necessity, costs and ambition. Work through these four questions:

What do your clients ask for? If all your clients accept VCA*, there is no reason for VCA**. If clients require VCA** or Petrochemie, you have no choice. Also check tenders in your sector.
What is your role? If you work operationally under the direction of others, VCA* is sufficient. If you direct projects or subcontractors yourself, VCA** makes more sense.
What about growth? If you expect to need VCA** within a few years, go for it straight away. Upgrading takes time and money.
What is the cost-benefit trade-off? VCA** costs more to set up and maintain, but it gives access to more contracts. For what each level costs, see costs and timeline.

A common mistake is choosing the lowest level that is “just enough”. If you regularly hit the limit and have to ask for exceptions, it is often more efficient to go one level higher.

Upgrading from VCA* to VCA**

If you already hold VCA* and want to upgrade to VCA**, you do not need to start again from scratch. You already have the operational basis. You build the management layer on top of it.

The steps are:

Write the VGM policy
Define objectives and set up monitoring
Extend risk management with TRAs
Set up management involvement
Create templates for VGM project plans
Set requirements for subcontractors
Plan the upgrade audit

The lead time for an upgrade is shorter than for initial VCA** certification, because you already have a lot in place. Plan on 1-3 months extra after VCA*.

The costs are also lower, because you do not need to arrange all the diplomas again and need fewer advisory hours.

More information

VCA requirements: the full checklist explained
Step-by-step plan: from start to certificate
Costs and timeline: what does each level cost?
VCU certification: VCA for temporary employment agencies
Latest changes: VCA 2026/6.1
VCA abroad: working abroad
VCA vs. ISO 45001: the comparison
Frequently asked questions: answers to practical questions