STE examenbureau BV

What STE examenbureau BV does

STE Examenbureau BV is an independent, officially accredited Dutch examination bureau headquartered in Hengelo, Overijssel, that administers legally recognised safety and cold-technology certification exams on behalf of regulatory scheme owners. Founded in 2001 as Stichting Tutorial Examenbureau (spun off from Tutorial Opleidingen en Advies BV to satisfy SSVV's separation-of-functions rule) and converted to a Besloten Vennootschap in 2015, the company has administered more than 100,000 examinations and served over 1,000 organisations. Its core product portfolio covers three certification regimes: VCA safety certifications (BVCA, VOL VCA, VIL VCU, plus a read-aloud accessibility variant) under the SSVV/Kiwa scheme; A1 and A2 examinations for working with F-gassen and hydrocarbon refrigerants under RWS/Hobeon SKO recognition; and MTMA certification for mobile air-conditioning refrigerant recovery under the BRL 200 standard.

Exams are delivered digitally on STE-supplied tablets via an in-house Computer Based Testing (CBT) platform that generates immediate provisional results and registers final diplomas in the SSVV Centraal Diploma Register the next business day. The platform supports multilingual exams, accessibility accommodations (audio reading, extended time), and flexible scheduling up to 48 hours before exam delivery. Complementary offerings include VCA study materials (Compact textbook, Examenvoorbereiding practice book), an e-learning environment bundled with exam registration (€156 incl. BTW), and administrative services (duplicate diplomas and ID cards).

STE operates a hybrid go-to-market: self-serve direct-to-consumer open enrollment via iDEAL payments on its website for individual candidates, combined with a sales-led incompany channel that travels to client premises across all 12 Dutch provinces for group bookings by companies, schools (praktijkonderwijs, mbo, hbo), and training providers. Exams are also delivered at approved third-party venues (ROVC Ede, Frans op den Bult Deurningen, STE De Hunnekamp Loenen). Revenue is generated entirely from per-exam fees, bundled e-learning, and ancillary study materials; no institutional funding, M&A activity, or public financial disclosures are present.

Name

STE examenbureau BV

Legal name

STE Examenbureau BV

Website

https://st-examenbureau.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STE Examenbureau BV is an independent Dutch examination bureau that delivers accredited VCA safety and A1/A2 F-gassen certification exams via a digital tablet-based CBT platform, serving individual candidates, training providers, schools, and employers across the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Test Administration, Proctoring & Security Authorities (EDADAFAH)

Keywords

• Occupational safety certification
• Refrigeration certification exams
• VCA examination services
• F-gas certification training
• Workplace safety examinations

Headquarters

HQ city

Hengelo

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. VCA Exam fees: STE generates revenue primarily from administering official VCA certification exams (BVCA, VOL VCA, VIL VCU). Individual candidates and organisations pay per exam registration. Exams are offered through open enrollment and incompany arrangements.
2. A1/A2 (F-gassen) Exam fees: Revenue from administering official A1 and A2 certification exams for F-gassen and koolwaterstoffen, including full exams and exams with exemptions for existing F-gas certificate holders. Includes theory and practical components.
3. MTMA Exam fees: Revenue from F-gassen Deel II (MTMA) certification exams for recovering refrigerants from mobile air conditioning systems. Consists of a theory exam (21 multiple-choice questions, 30 min) and a practical exam (2 tasks, up to 90 min).
4. E-learning course bundle with exam: Bundled offering combining access to the STE electronic learning environment for B-VCA or VOL-VCA plus one VCA exam registration, sold as a single package at €156.00 incl. BTW.
5. Study materials and duplicates: STE sells VCA study materials including the VCA Compact textbook (€31.10), VCA Exam Preparation book (€9.27), duplicate diplomas (€36.00), and ID cards (€29.00). These serve as supplementary revenue streams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

STE Examenbureau BV is an independent Dutch examination bureau administering VCA occupational safety certification exams (BVCA, VOL VCA, VIL VCU) and F-gassen/refrigeration certification exams (A1, A2, MTMA), along with related study materials and e-learning courses. Examinations are delivered via open enrollment at approved locations and on-site incompany testing for employers, training providers, and educational institutions across the Netherlands.

Product overview

STE Examenbureau BV operates as an independent examination organization offering a portfolio of safety and refrigeration certification exams. The core offerings include VCA (VGM Checklist Aannemers) certification exams across four variants: BVCA for operational workers, VOL VCA for supervisors, VIL VCU for staffing agents, plus a read-aloud accessibility variant for BVCA. The company also administers F-gas and hydrocarbon certifications through the newer A1 and A2 examination tracks, as well as MTMA (mobile air conditioning) certifications. Complementary products include VCA study materials (Compact textbook, Exam Preparation workbook) and e-learning courses that integrate with scheduled examinations. Administrative services cover diploma and ID card replacement. Exams are delivered digitally via tablet with immediate provisional results, available in multiple languages, and can be conducted at open enrollment locations or incompany at client sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BVCA Examination (Basisveiligheid VCA)

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% MTMA exam pass rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ROVC (Ede)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ROVC in Ede serves as the primary practical exam venue for STE's A1 and A2 (F-gassen and koolwaterstoffen) examinations. ROVC's facilities were used during the Hobeon SKO practical audit where STE's examiner team conducted pilot A1 exams. ROVC is an approved exam location for STE's official A1/A2 certification exams.
• Kiwa Nederland BVcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Kiwa Nederland BV conducts independent audits of STE Examenbureau to certify and renew the 'Gecertificeerd Exameninstelling Transport & Logistiek' status every 3 years. This certification is required for organisations to qualify for SOOB subsidies when administering VCA exams in the transport and logistics sector.
• Hobeon SKOcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Hobeon SKO conducted the official certification audit for STE Examenbureau's A1 and A2 exam bureau recognition. The audit consisted of a successful office audit (4 June) followed by a practical audit at ROVC in Ede, assessing STE's examiner team during pilot A1 examinations. STE received official recognition following a positive evaluation.
• SSVV (Stichting Samenwerken Voor Veiligheid)coreOthersSSVV is the independent organisation that manages the VCA system and end/test terms (ETT). STE Examenbureau is an accredited examination bureau under SSVV's VCA certification scheme. SSVV sets the standards, ETT, and exam formats for B-VCA, VOL-VCA, and VIL-VCU exams. STE maintains alignment with SSVV's latest ETT revisions (effective January 2026).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stichting Examenkamer: Stichting Examenkamer is a Dutch examination body that administers VCA and related certification exams. STE Examenbureau explicitly references Stichting Examenkamer on its website. Both operate as accredited VCA examination institutions under SSVV.
• VCApers (VCA-examens.nl): VCApers is a Dutch VCA examination organization offering B-VCA, VOL-VCA, and VIL-VCU exams. They operate with similar SSVV accreditation and compete directly with STE for individual candidates and corporate contracts across the Netherlands.
• NVE Examens: NVE Examens is a Dutch examination bureau offering VCA and similar safety certification exams in the Netherlands. STE Examenbureau explicitly links to NVE on its website. Both compete directly for the same candidate pool across VCA examinations.
• PBNA Examenbureau: PBNA is a Dutch exam bureau that administers VCA certifications and other safety examinations. They operate under the same SSVV framework as STE and serve similar employer and training provider segments in the Netherlands.

Broad incumbents

• DEKRA Nederland: DEKRA is a German-origin global testing and certification organization with operations in the Netherlands. They provide occupational safety, VCA, and various certification services that overlap with STE's portfolio, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Kiwa Nederland: Kiwa is a major Dutch testing, inspection, and certification body. Kiwa actually audits and certifies STE as a Gecertificeerd Exameninstelling. While Kiwa itself does not compete as a direct VCA exam administrator, they operate broadly in adjacent certification markets and could expand into STE's space.
• DNV Netherlands: DNV is a global assurance and certification body with Dutch operations. While primarily known for maritime and energy sector certifications, DNV also offers management system and occupational safety certifications that could compete with STE's offerings.
• TÜV Nederland: TÜV Nederland is the Dutch arm of TÜV, a global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) giant. While TÜV operates broadly across many certification categories, they also offer VCA and industrial safety certification services that overlap with STE's portfolio.

Others

• Questionmark: Questionmark is the digital assessment platform that STE uses for practice exams (proefexamens). While Questionmark does not directly compete as a VCA examination bureau, they are a technology enabler in the assessment space and could be a potential partner or alternative platform.
• ROVC: ROVC is a major Dutch training provider for technical and safety courses, including VCA and F-gassen training. ROVC's Ede facility serves as STE's primary practical exam venue for A1/A2 exams. While ROVC trains candidates, they partner with STE for independent examination administration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ste-examenbureau

Compliance3 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 STE examenbureau BV