ECQA GmbH
ECQA GmbH is an Austrian certification body operating an online examination platform that issues job-role certifications across 24+ European countries, primarily serving EU-funded projects, certified training organizations, and individual professionals seeking internationally recognized credentials.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersKrems, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ECQA GmbH does
ECQA GmbH is an Austrian private limited liability company (GmbH) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Krems, Austria, operating as a certification examination body for job roles and prior learning across Europe. The company operates an online examination platform (powered by Bizexaminer) that supports multiple-choice exams, certificate issuance, and both online and on-premise group examinations, complemented by an alternative EuroSPI/ISCN exam portal. Since 2001, the underlying examination service has served 10,000+ participants and issued 7,800 certificates across 24+ countries, spanning individual professionals, SMEs, large multinationals, universities, and non-profits.
ECQA generates revenue through standardized per-examination fees (€75 plus 20% VAT, payable by bank transfer or PayPal), certificate review services at the same rate, replacement certificate fees, and multi-year contracts for certifying training organizations. Its go-to-market combines self-serve individual exam registration via jobcertification.eu with distribution through a network of certified training organizations (AVL, TU Graz, BICERO, Hochschule Düsseldorf, Termnet Business GmbH) and EU-funded project consortia (CHAISE, GreenSCENT, VI-Train, VirtualEdu, Ecoprise, SMARTSEA, and others). The company is a core certification partner in EU projects developing role-specific competency frameworks in blockchain, sustainability, cultural heritage, logistics, remote education, and climate literacy, which both validate and amplify demand for its certification services.
The organization operates with a 7-person team and no disclosed external investment. Its competitive position rests on EU-wide recognition of its certificates, ISO/IEC 17024-aligned certification frameworks, and embedded relationships with European industry and academic experts convened through annual focus groups at the EuroSPI conference series. Revenue is structurally dependent on EU project cycles and a small set of anchor training partners, creating concentration risk alongside the broad geographic footprint.
ECQA GmbH firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ECQA GmbH
- Legal name
- ECQA GmbH
- Website
- https://ecqa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ECQA GmbH is an Austrian certification body operating an online examination platform that issues job-role certifications across 24+ European countries, primarily serving EU-funded projects, certified training organizations, and individual professionals seeking internationally recognized credentials.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ECQA GmbH industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Certification Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Computer Training (611420)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA), Awarding Organizations & Credentialing Bodies (Certificates/Diplomas) (EDADAFAC)
Keywords
Where ECQA GmbH is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Krems
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ECQA GmbH business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Examination and Certification Fees: ECQA charges examination fees for certification programs. Standard EU project examinations are priced at €75 plus 20% VAT per examination. Certificate review services are available for €75 per review. Additional fees apply for replacement certificates (printing and shipping).
- Training Organization Certification: ECQA certifies training organizations that deliver ECQA-aligned programs, creating a network of certified training providers across Europe.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Examination Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exam Review Service |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Training Organization Certification |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
ECQA GmbH product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ECQA GmbH provides online and on-premise certification examination services for job roles worldwide, issuing internationally recognized certificates across European countries. The company certifies prior knowledge acquired through formal, non-formal, and informal learning, and certifies training organizations that deliver ECQA-aligned programs. Certifications are aligned with ISO/IEC 17024:2012-07 standards and span domains such as blockchain, sustainability, automotive quality, functional safety, cultural heritage, smart cities, and remote education, often developed through EU-funded project consortia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ECQA Online Examination Service Online and on-premise multiple-choice certification examination platform used by professionals from SMEs, multinationals, non-profits, universities, and education institutions to obtain internationally recognized job-role certificates.
- CHAISE Blockchain Skills Certification Program Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies certification program aligned with ISO/IEC 17024:2012-07, offering three job-role certifications (Developer, Architect, Manager) with theory and practical badges across 12 modules.
- VirtualEdu Certification Scheme Certification scheme and MOOC for upskilling virtual educators, remote managers, and remote support staff in distance education and teleworking skills.
- ECCEL - European Climate and Environmental Literacy Certification European climate and environmental literacy certification under development within the GreenSCENT project, intended as a Europe-wide standard similar to ICDL.
- SMARTSEA Maritime Certification Certified MSc-level course and certification program related to maritime and surveyor Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
- Ecoprise Designer Certification Certification for sustainable social entrepreneurship under the Ecoprise professional figure, providing a European micro-credential equivalent to 20 ECTS credits.
- Training Organization Certification Program ECQA certifies training organizations that deliver ECQA-aligned programs (e.g., Functional Safety Manager, Business Process Manager, LSSA, AQUA, Certified Terminology Manager, Sustainability and CSR Professional), creating a certified network of training providers across Europe.
- VI-Train Cultural Heritage Crafts Certification Certification program for traditional and endangered craftspeople, combining virtual digital training with recognized certification for cultural heritage preservation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10,000+ participants have used the examination portal for online multiple choice exams since 2001
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use ECQA GmbH
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ECQA GmbH technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
ECQA GmbH partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BizexaminercoreBizexaminer provides the online examination platform used by ECQA for delivering certification exams. ECQA uses Bizexaminer as the primary examination portal for exam delivery.
- EuroSPI (ISCN) Exam PortalcoreEuroSPI exam portal hosted by ISCN is used for specific certifications. ECQA co-organizes and co-sponsors the EuroSPI conference series.
- AVLcoreAVL is a certified training provider offering ECQA Functional Safety Manager (SafEUr) certification training in Austria.
- BICERO Ltd.coreBICERO delivers multiple ECQA certified programs including Business Process Manager (Basic & Advanced), EU Project Manager, Sustainability Manager, and Social Responsibility Manager in Slovenia.
- Hochschule DüsseldorfcoreHochschule Düsseldorf offers LSSA certification training in Germany as an ECQA partner.
- TU GrazcoreTU Graz provides ECQA Certified Automotive Quality Manager (AQUA) and ECQA Functional Safety Manager (SafEUr) training in Austria.
- Termnet Business GmbHcoreTermnet Business GmbH offers Certified Terminology Manager and Certified Applied Sustainability and CSR Professional training in Austria.
- Burghauptmannschaft AustriacoreLead partner in VI-TRAIN project focused on virtual training for cultural heritage crafts. ECQA provides certification services for the project outputs.
- IMC Fachhochschule Krems GmbHminorVI-TRAIN consortium partner contributing to virtual training development for cultural heritage.
- Polytechnic University of TimisoaraminorVirtualEdu consortium partner focusing on remote education certification.
- University of RijekaminorVirtualEdu consortium partner for distance education and certification development.
- CHAISE Consortium PartnerscoreOver 20 European partners in the CHAISE Blockchain Skills Alliance. ECQA serves as the certification body for blockchain professional certifications (Developer, Architect, Manager). Partners include University Claude Bernard Lyon 1, IOTA Foundation, INATBA, Netcompany-Intrasoft, Italia4Blockchain, ESRI, BerChain, and others.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ECQA GmbH competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- iSQI (International Software Quality Institute): iSQI issues standardized software quality and testing certifications (e.g., ISTQB-aligned) through accredited training partners across Europe. Its partner-driven exam distribution and standards-based credentialing closely mirror ECQA's certified training organization model.
- Blockchain Council: Blockchain Council provides blockchain- and DLT-focused professional certifications (developer, architect, etc.) via online exams. It competes head-on with ECQA's CHAISE Blockchain Developer/Architect/Manager certifications for the same blockchain upskilling market.
- PeopleCert: PeopleCert is a global certification body best known for owning ITIL, PRINCE2 and other professional credentials. Like ECQA, it operates standardized exam delivery and issues internationally recognized certifications to professionals, and competes for the same enterprise and government training budgets across Europe.
- CertNexus: CertNexus offers certifications in emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, IoT, AI, and blockchain, delivered through authorized training providers. It is a direct emerging-tech credentialing peer to ECQA's CHAISE blockchain certifications.
- Scrum.org: Scrum.org issues globally recognized Scrum and agile certifications through online assessments. Like ECQA, it relies on standardized online multiple-choice exams and certified trainer channels to deliver credentials.
- EXIN: EXIN is an independent ICT certification body issuing credentials in IT service management, security, agile, and emerging tech. It competes directly with ECQA in standardized, exam-based professional certification across European markets.
- ICDL (International Certification of Digital Literacy): ICDL operates a globally recognized standardized digital literacy certification delivered through accredited test centers, very similar to ECQA's planned ECCEL climate literacy standard. Both target broad workforce upskilling with portable, standards-based credentials.
- CertiProf: CertiProf issues ISO/IEC 17024-aligned professional certifications in agile, cybersecurity, and digital transformation via online exams and authorized training partners. It overlaps directly with ECQA's ISO 17024-aligned certification and partner-driven model.
- APMG International: APMG accredits and administers professional certifications such as PRINCE2, AgilePM and ITIL. It is a direct competitor in the European certification body space, offering exam delivery and credentialing infrastructure similar to ECQA's model.
Broad incumbents
- TÜV Rheinland Akademie / TÜV SÜD Academy: TÜV Rheinland and TÜV SÜD operate large certification and training academies covering functional safety, quality management, sustainability, and automotive — the same job-role verticals ECQA serves. They are broader incumbents with deeper enterprise reach, but compete for the same regulatory and standards-based certification spend.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ECQA GmbH social profiles
Digital presenceECQA GmbH financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ECQA GmbH leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ECQA GmbH funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ECQA GmbH M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ECQA GmbH
What does ECQA GmbH do?
ECQA GmbH provides online and on-premise certification examination services for job roles worldwide, issuing internationally recognized certificates across European countries. The company certifies prior knowledge acquired through formal, non-formal, and informal learning, and certifies training organizations that deliver ECQA-aligned programs. Certifications are aligned with ISO/IEC 17024:2012-07 standards and span domains such as blockchain, sustainability, automotive quality, functional safety, cultural heritage, smart cities, and remote education, often developed through EU-funded project consortia.
Is ECQA GmbH a public or private company?
ECQA GmbH is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ECQA GmbH founded?
ECQA GmbH was founded in 2015. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ECQA GmbH based?
ECQA GmbH is headquartered in Krems, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does ECQA GmbH make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Examination and Certification Fees are the primary driver. The others are training Organization Certification.
Who are ECQA GmbH's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are iSQI (International Software Quality Institute), Blockchain Council, PeopleCert, CertNexus, Scrum.org, EXIN, ICDL (International Certification of Digital Literacy), CertiProf and APMG International. TÜV Rheinland Akademie / TÜV SÜD Academy is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does ECQA GmbH have an API?
No public API is recorded for ECQA GmbH.
What industry is ECQA GmbH in?
ECQA GmbH's product category is Professional Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFADAG, Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms, with a secondary code of EDAAANAA, Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.