You are applying for the certificate of competence in the Flemish Region

To obtain a certificate of competence, you must meet the following four conditions:

1. You have completed the course at a training centre recognised by the Flemish Region.
2. You pass an examination recognised by the Flemish Region and submit your certificate application to RESCert within 12 months of the exam date. You do not need to provide proof of passing the exam; each examination board regularly sends RESCert a list of students who have passed.
   • Note: before taking the exam on ‘Solar thermal installation for combined systems’, you must first pass the exam on ‘Solar thermal installations for domestic hot water’.
3. You must demonstrate that you have at least one month of relevant professional practical experience with the technology concerned. If you are unable to demonstrate directly that you have practical experience with the technology, you can also demonstrate that you have practical experience in related activities, this is recorded by technology:
   • For photovoltaic installations: experience in electrotechnical work or in covering and sealing activities.
   • For solar thermal installations – domestic hot water: experience in installation work relating to central heating, air conditioning, gas and plumbing, or roofing.
   • For solar thermal installations for combined systems (domestic hot water and heating): experience in installation work in central heating, air conditioning, gas and plumbing.
   • For biomass boilers: experience in installation work in central heating, air conditioning, gas and plumbing.
   • For biomass stoves: experience in installation work in central heating, air conditioning, gas and plumbing.
   • For heat pumps: experience in electrical or installation work in central heating, air conditioning, gas and plumbing, or as refrigeration installer.
   • For superficial geothermal installations: experience as a driller or geologist.

You can demonstrate your experience in the following ways:

• Reference to one of these activities on the CBE [Crossroads Bank for Enterprises], and has been there for more than a month by the time you submit your application. It does not necessarily have to be listed exclusively under the heading ‘professional competence’. This may therefore include a reference also to one of the above activities under ‘VAT activities’ or ‘ONSS activities’, for example.
• A certificate of one month’s practical experience from another party, such as a signed declaration from your employer, or from someone you work for as a subcontractor, etc.
• Another official document proving that you have effectively carried out any of the above activities for at least one month.
• Proof of membership of a social insurance scheme for self-employed workers and proof that you have installed at least two systems, either in one of the eligible sectors or two systems using the relevant technology (including addresses, photographs, invoices and a declaration of honour).

4. Additional requirement for the heat pump certificate: you must also demonstrate that you work in one of the following core professions (this is not a requirement to enter the profession):

• Electric engineering activities.
• Installation activities in central heating, air-conditioning, gas and plumbing.
• Refrigeration installer.

You can prove this by:

• Reference to one of these professions on the BCE. It does not necessarily have to be listed exclusively under the heading ‘Professional competence’. This may include reference to one of the above-mentioned basic professions under ‘VAT activities’ or ‘ONSS activities’, for example.
• An employment contract recruiting you for one of the core professions mentioned above: a signed declaration from your employer confirming that you do relevant work is sufficient.
• Another official document proving that you work in one of the basic professions mentioned above.
• Proof of membership of a social insurance scheme for self-employed workers and proof that you have carried out at least two installations, either in a qualifying core profession or two heat pump installations (including addresses, photographs, invoices and a declaration of honour).

In order to prove one month of practical experience, experience in the technology of the certificate or related activities (as described in point 3) is taken into account. The following tasks count as practical experience:

• Facility siting
• Regulating / commissioning of installations
• Repair of installations
• Carrying out maintenance of installations
• Project manager / site manager / site foreman / monitoring of installation work in the relevant field

The following tasks do not count as practical experience:

• Tasks relating to preparatory works
• Administrative tasks (e.g. purchasing or sales)
• Drafting of offers

Last change: 02/10/2026