Certification and registration for asbestos removers

Do you want to remove high risk asbestos? Or do you want to survey whether asbestos is present? If so, your business and your employees must have a valid certificate.

Register for asbestos surveying and removal

If you carry out asbestos surveys or remove asbestos in risk class 2 or 2a, you must be listed in the register for asbestos surveyal and removal of the Foundation for Asbestos Certification, Ascert (Stichting Ascert, in Dutch). To be listed, you need a valid certificate.

Certificates for working with asbestos

A certificate shows that you know how to work with asbestos professionally and safely. There are various certificates for companies (process certificates) and individuals (personal certificates) (in Dutch), for example:

• The process certificate for asbestos surveyal (Procescertificaat voor asbestinventarisatie): for companies that carry out asbestos surveys.
• The process certificate for asbestos removal (Procescertificaat voor asbestverwijdering): for companies that remove asbestos in risk classes 2 or 2a.
• Personal certificates (Persoonscertificaten):

  • expert asbestos remover in training (Deskundig Asbestverwijderaar, DAV-1)
  • expert asbestos remover (Deskundig Asbestverwijderaar, DAV-2)
  • expert asbestos removal supervisor (Deskundig Toezichthouder Asbest, DTA)

How to apply for certification

You can apply for a certificate through a certifying body (in Dutch). These organisations are appointed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid, SZW).

Organisations that supply process certificates are:

• TüV (in Dutch)
• Normec 
• dNAA

Organisations that supply personal certificates are:

• DNV (in Dutch)
• IBEX (in Dutch)

The certifying body assesses whether you meet the requirements for a certificate. They also check whether you are entitled to retain a certificate you have previously obtained. They supply Ascert’s register with data on certified persons and companies. The register also lists revoked certificates, and suspensions of certified persons or companies.

You can read more about the requirements to get a certificate for asbestos surveying or removal in Ascert's certification schemes (in Dutch). To obtain a process certificate, you must complete the assessment programme set out in the certification scheme. To obtain a personal certificate, you must complete a training course and sit exams (in Dutch).

Foreign asbestos removers

Are you an asbestos remover from abroad and have you received your professional qualifications in another EEA country, or Switzerland? Asbestos remover is a regulated profession in the Netherlands. You need to register with a certifying body before you start working in the Netherlands.

All asbestos removing and surveying companies and individuals must have Dutch certificates. The certifying bodies can determine if your foreign certificate is equivalent to the Dutch certificate. You must meet the same requirements as a Dutch asbestos remover. You must also have sufficient command of the Dutch language to be able to do the work safely and to prevent serious accidents. If you meet the requirements, you get a Dutch certificate. In some cases, you may have to take an additional test or examination first.