What civas Opledingen does

Civas Opleidingen (legally Civas B.V.) is a Dutch private distance-education provider founded in 1999 and headquartered in Haarlem. The company sells more than 130 accredited home-study and classroom courses across seven subject areas — coaching, nutrition and diet, psychology and pedagogy, complementary healthcare, massage, social-work continuing education, and primary-teacher continuing education — primarily to individual adult learners in the Netherlands and Belgium who want to start a coaching or therapy practice, upskill into adjacent professions, or pursue personal development. Courses are priced between roughly €295 and €1,320+, with installment plans, a €27.50 one-time registration fee, and separate exam fees (€125 supervised / €30 open-book).

The core technical platform is a proprietary digital student portal (studerenbij.civas.nl) that handles homework submission, teacher communication, downloadable study materials, and exam registration, paired with a self-developed online examination system that supports both proctored (surveillance software) and open-book formats. Civas holds an extensive multi-body accreditation stack — CRKBO (which grants VAT exemption on courses), NRTO membership (with access to the independent Geschillencommissie disputes body), and course-level accreditations from BGN, KTNO, BATC, VBAG, ABvC, NOBCO, NVST, CAT, and VIV — and is claimed to be the largest and most professional institute in its niche in the Netherlands, with students rating it 9.1/10 on Feedback Company.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer, with self-service online and phone enrollment, organic acquisition through SEO and a content-marketing blog, optional free trial lessons (proefles), and a dedicated B2B corporate sales motion (led by Herman Doek) offering custom workshops and group enrollments with volume discounts for 5+ employees. The company is independently owned with no disclosed external funding, and its recent strategic activity is concentrated in product-line expansion (four new courses launched in 2025) and selective moves into employer-funded verticals such as HR and sustainable employability.

Name

civas Opledingen

Legal name

Civas B.V.

Website

https://civas.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Civas Opleidingen is a Dutch distance-education provider (founded 1999, Haarlem) offering 130+ accredited home-study courses in coaching, nutrition, psychology, complementary healthcare, and massage to individual adult learners and, increasingly, organizations in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adult Continuing Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD), Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Distance learning courses
• Coaching education programs
• Vocational training courses
• Continuing professional education
• Complementary healthcare training

Headquarters

HQ city

Haarlem

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from course fees charged to students. Fees range widely by program (e.g., €295 to €915+) and can be paid in a single lump sum or in monthly installments. Payment methods include iDEAL/Wero, credit card, PayPal, ApplePay, automatic debit, and KBC.
2. Examination Fees: Revenue from online exams — €125 per supervised exam (with up to two resits at €115 each) and €30 for open-book exams (including resits).
3. Registration/Enrollment Fees: One-time registration fee of €27.50 charged upon enrollment for each course.
4. Corporate Training: Customized training programs and group enrollments (5+ employees) sold to organizations, often at volume-discounted rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Civas Opleidingen is a Dutch distance education institute offering more than 130 accredited home-study (thuisstudie) and classroom courses across seven subject areas: coaching, nutrition and diet, psychology and pedagogy, complementary healthcare, massage, social work continuing education, and primary teacher continuing education. The company delivers self-paced programs via a proprietary digital student portal for homework submission, teacher feedback, and online examinations, supported by optional in-person practice days and accredited diplomas recognized by Dutch professional associations including NRTO, CRKBO, BGN, KTNO, BATC, and VBAG.

Product overview

Civas Opleidingen is a Dutch education provider offering over 130 home study (thuisstudies) and classroom (klassikale opleidingen) courses across seven main categories: Coaching, Nutrition & Diet, Psychology & Pedagogy, Complementary Healthcare, Massage, Social Work Continuing Education, and Primary Teacher Continuing Education. The core product is the Student Portal (Studentenportaal), a digital platform for homework submission, study materials, teacher communication, and certificate downloads. Optional add-ons include Practice Days (Praktijkdagen) for hands-on training at various locations including online Zoom sessions, and Custom Training for Organizations (Opleidingen op maat voor organisaties). Students can also purchase individual courses or study packages. Courses range from MBO to HBO levels, with accreditation from bodies including BGN, KTNO, ABvC, VBAG, BATC, and NOBCO. Exam options include surveillance-software-proctored exams (€125) or open-book exams (€30).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coaching Courses (Coaching opleidingen) Home study and classroom courses in coaching specialties including life coaching, youth coaching, family constellation, and executive coaching, targeted at adults pursuing a career in coaching or seeking professional development.
• Nutrition and Diet Courses (Voeding en dieet opleidingen) Courses in nutrition, orthomolecular nutrition, sports nutrition, and dietary consulting for health professionals, including BGN-recognized weight consultant training.
• Psychology and Pedagogy Courses (Psychologie en pedagogiek opleidingen) Courses in clinical psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, positive psychology, and educational psychology, targeted at professionals and individuals seeking foundational and advanced psychology training.
• Complementary Healthcare Courses (Complementaire zorg opleidingen) Courses in holistic therapy, herbal medicine, reiki, hypnotherapy, and natural healing practices, targeted at aspiring and practicing complementary therapists.
• Massage Courses (Massage opleidingen) Courses in holistic massage, foot reflexology, kinesiology, and massage therapy for practitioners seeking massage therapy qualifications.
• Social Work Continuing Education (Nascholing maatschappelijk werk) Accredited continuing education courses for social workers and community professionals to maintain professional registration and accumulate PE points.
• Primary Teacher Continuing Education (Nascholing leerkrachten basisonderwijs) Professional development courses for primary school teachers covering topics such as child coaching, mindfulness, and educational pedagogy.
• Custom Training for Organizations (Opleidingen op maat voor organisaties) Tailored training programs developed for organizations, including accredited courses or practical workshops on coaching, communication, stress management, and personal development topics, with group discounts for 5+ participants.
• Online Examinations (Supervised and Open-Book) Online examination services available to enrolled students, offering both surveillance-software-proctored exams (€125) and open-book exams (€30) with up to two resits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students rate Civas 9.1/10 on average (Feedback Company)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CRKBO (Centraal Register Kort Beroepsonderwijs)coreOthersCivas is registered with the CRKBO, the Central Register for Short Vocational Education. Registration is based on an independent quality assessment conducted by CPION. CRKBO registration confirms that Civas meets quality standards and qualifies as an recognized institution under the European VAT Directive, meaning courses are exempt from BTW (VAT).
• NRTO (Nederlandse Raad voor Training en Opleiding)coreOthersCivas is a member of the NRTO, the umbrella branch organization for private training and education institutes in the Netherlands. As a member, Civas conforms to the NRTO's General Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct. Through the NRTO, Civas is also affiliated with the Stichting Geschillencommissie Consumentenzaken, allowing students to escalate complaints to an independent disputes committee.
• BGN (Beroepsvereniging Gewichtsconsulenten Nederland)coreOthersThe Gewichtsconsulent (Weight Consultant) program is BGN-recognized. Graduates with a BGN-recognized diploma can register with BGN, and consultations may be reimbursed by health insurers under supplementary insurance plans.
• KTNO (Kwaliteit en Toetsing Natuurgerichte Opleidingen)coreOthersMultiple Civas courses carry KTNO accreditation and award ECKCE/ECTS points, contributing to professional development requirements for practitioners in the complementary health sector.
• BATC (Belangen Associatie Therapeut en Consument)minorOthersBATC is a professional association for complementary therapy practitioners. Civas courses carry BATC accreditation, contributing to the professional recognition of graduates.
• VBAG (Vereniging ter Bevordering van Alternatieve Geneeswijze)minorOthersVBAG is a professional association for alternative medicine practitioners. Civas courses are VBAG-accredited.
• Gemeente Den Haag (Municipality of The Hague)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivas organized a custom workshop on coaching for anxiety for the internal coaches of the Municipality of The Hague.
• Voorzet ArbeidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoorzet Arbeid, a specialist in supporting people with autism spectrum disorders in finding and retaining employment, requires all new employees to complete the Civas 'Coaching bij autisme' (Coaching for Autism) training.
• NOBCO (Nederlandse Orde van Beroepscoaches)minorOthersThe Provocatief Coachen (Provocative Coaching) course is accredited by NOBCO and awards 3 PE (Permanent Education) points for professional coach certification and re-registration purposes.
• AvBC (Algemene Beroepsvereniging voor Counselling)minorOthersThe Opvoedcoach (Parenting Coach) course awards 70 PE points through AvBC accreditation.
• Feedback CompanyminorOthersExternal review platform that independently collects and verifies customer reviews for Civas. Reviews are displayed on the Civas website and on the Feedback Company portal, contributing to transparency and trust.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thuiscursus.nl: Thuiscursus.nl is a Dutch online course marketplace and home-study provider with a broad catalog in coaching, wellness, and personal development. Competes head-on with Civas for the same Dutch-speaking adult learner and shares the same B2C, self-paced delivery model.
• NTI (Nederlands Talen Instituut): NTI is a major Dutch distance-learning provider covering MBO, HBO, and short professional programs delivered online. Comparable to Civas on the home-study / professional-education axis and on the use of digital student portals and flexible exam scheduling.
• LOI (Leidse Onderwijsinstellingen): LOI is one of the largest Dutch distance-learning institutions, offering home-study courses across MBO, HBO and professional development — the same broad adult-education model Civas pursues. Strong direct competitor in the Dutch thuisstudie market with overlapping subject matter and accreditation-driven go-to-market.
• Soofos: Soofos is a Dutch online learning platform focused on holistic health, coaching, and personal development courses. Directly comparable to Civas' complementary-care and coaching verticals, with similar accreditation-driven positioning toward Dutch practitioners.
• NHA Opleidingen: NHA is a long-established Dutch home-study school offering hundreds of accredited courses in coaching, wellness, nutrition, and complementary care. Directly comparable to Civas on subject mix, accreditation strategy, and self-paced distance-learning delivery to Dutch/Belgian consumers.

Broad incumbents

• Udemy: Udemy is a global marketplace for online courses covering coaching, wellness, and personal development at low price points. It competes with Civas on the consumer side for self-development learners, though it lacks Dutch-specific professional accreditations and CE-point recognition.
• Coursera: Coursera is a global online learning platform with a broad catalog of professional and personal-development courses from accredited institutions. Comparable to Civas as a competing channel for adult learners seeking flexible, accredited development, though it does not focus on the Dutch CE-point ecosystem or complementary-care accreditations.

Others

• Springest: Springest is a Dutch comparison and review platform for training and education courses. It is not a direct competitor but functions as an ecosystem participant where Civas' courses can be listed, reviewed, and discovered by Dutch learners seeking continuing education.

Regional players

• Markus Verbeek Praehep: Markus Verbeek Praehep is a Dutch private vocational/HBO institution offering accredited distance and blended courses across HR, coaching, and management. Comparable to Civas at the higher (HBO) end of the catalog and on CRKBO-style accreditation, though its primary focus is management/HR rather than wellness and complementary care.
• Schoevers: Schoevers is a Dutch private training brand focused on secretarial, management, and personal-skills education. Adjacent to Civas on the Dutch professional-education axis, though its historical focus on office/administrative skills differs from Civas' coaching, nutrition, and complementary-care verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Civas

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about civas Opledingen