VCU register: how to check whether a temporary employment agency is VCU certified
You check a VCU certificate in the Central Certificates Register (CCR) of the SSVV (Stichting Samenwerken Voor Veiligheid, the foundation that manages VCA) . The SSVV manages the VCU scheme, and the certification body registers each certificate automatically in that register. Search by the town of a branch and at least three letters of the company name, and you can see whether the certificate is valid. For the rules themselves, read the page on VCU certification. How the audit behind the certificate works is set out on VCU audit.
The CCR is the same register used for VCA companies. So you search in the same place for a VCA, VCO or VCU certificate. If you hire a company for work with risks, you can check in a few minutes whether the agency meets the requirements.
What exactly do you search for?
The CCR is intended for companies, not individuals. So you check whether a staffing organisation has a valid certificate, not whether an individual temporary worker holds a diploma. There is a separate register for that.
| What you want to know | Where you check it |
|---|---|
| Does the temporary employment agency have a valid VCU certificate? | Central Certificates Register (CCR) |
| Does the agency have a valid VCA or VCO certificate? | Central Certificates Register (CCR) |
| Does a person hold a valid VCA diploma? | Central Diploma Register (CDR), at cdr.ssvv.nl |
A VCU certificate is valid for three years, as long as the agency continues to meet the requirements. A register search shows the validity, so always check that, and not only whether a certificate exists.
How to search the CCR
Go to the CCR
Open ccr.ssvv.nl and choose Certificaat zoeken (Search certificate). The register contains VCA, VCO and VCU certificates.
Enter the town of a branch
The register requires at least the town of one of the company’s branches. Choose a branch you know, for example the office you are hiring from.
Enter at least three letters of the company name
Type three consecutive letters from the company name. Then select the correct company from the list, because several companies may have similar names.
Check the validity and certificate type
Check that the certificate is VCU and that it is still valid. Compare the name and branch address with the details on the quote or contract.
Example: a check in practice
The example below is fictional and shows how to record the result.
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| Hiring party | Bouwbedrijf Voorbeeld B.V. |
| Temporary employment agency | Uitzendbureau Voorbeeld Personeel B.V. |
| Searched by | Town “Utrecht” and “Voorb” |
| Result found | VCU certificate, valid |
| Valid until | Note the date from the register or from the certificate |
| Checked by | Name and date of the person who checked |
Save the outcome in your purchasing file, together with a copy of the certificate the agency gave you. In an audit, you want to show that you carried out this check.
A certificate you receive on paper is not proof that it is still valid. Expired or withdrawn certificates can still exist on paper. The register is the only reliable source.
What the register does not show
The CCR does not show everything. A few points are important to know before you rely on it.
- Belgian, German or Austrian certificates are not included. Belgian VCA certificates are on a separate website, and German or Austrian SCC certificates are not in the CCR.
- You cannot see the content of the audit. The register shows whether a certificate exists and is valid, not which shortfalls there were at the audit.
- Personal diplomas are checked elsewhere. Personal diplomas, including VIL-VCU, are not in the CCR. Ask the SSVV whether VIL-VCU is in the diploma register (CDR).
Common mistakes
- Checking only the name. A company name can appear at several branches. Check the town as well.
- Treating a copy of the certificate as proof. Always ask for a current certificate and check it yourself in the register.
- Waiting until the assignment is running. Check before you deploy staff, not only after an incident.
Frequently asked questions
Is a VCU agency always in the register? A certification body registers the certificate automatically in the CCR. If an agency is not listed, there is no valid certificate to be found at that moment. Then ask the agency for its status.
Can I see on the register how long the certificate is still valid? Check the validity date in the results or on the certificate itself. For a certificate of three years, the agency must be certified again after that period.
What if I find an agency that is not in the register? Then you have no proof of certification. Ask the agency for an explanation and for its certificate number. If it still does not appear in the register, you cannot establish that the agency is certified. Record that and discuss with your client what they will accept.
More information
- VCU certification: costs and requirements: what VCU is and who it is for
- VCU audit: what does the certification body check?: the audit process behind the certificate
- VCU costs and budget: how to make a budget for certification
- Personal certificates: B-VCA, VOL-VCA and VIL-VCU