Recognition as refrigeration technician

To be recognised as a refrigeration technician, you must fulfil:

• general recognition conditions(opens in new window) that apply to all recognitions relating to the environment
  • in the 3 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, the applicant has not been convicted of a criminal offence in a member state of the European Economic Area, for infringements of the environmental legislation concerning the use of the recognition.
  • in the 2 years that precede the application for the Flemish recognition certificate, no recognition with the same object was revoked due to infringement of the obligations associated with that recognition.
• special recognition conditions:
  • be a natural person
  • hold a European certificate as refrigeration technician (certificate of competence in refrigeration of category I, II, III or IV) issued by a recognised training centre after you have passed the associated examinations.

If you already hold a European certificate as a refrigeration technician

If you already have a European certificate as a refrigeration technician, you can also obtain the Flemish recognition. You must register with the Flemish administration before starting to work in the Flemish Region. This requirement applies to technicians who:

• have obtained a European certificate outside the Flemish Region
• have obtained a European certificate in the Flemish Region, but do not have a Flemish recognition certificate.

Validity period and obligations

The recognition is valid for an indefinite period. As a recognised technician, you must meet a number of obligations to retain your recognition:

• fully and correctly complete the installation-linked logbook
• on request, show the tools that will be used to perform the tasks
• hold insurance for third-party liability, including professional liability, in connection with the use of the recognition
• report every change of identification data (such as address, e-mail address) immediately via erkenningen.omgeving@vlaanderen.be(opens in your email application)
• pay the annual fee (in Dutch) for the supervision of the recognition. The first payment is to be made in the year following the year in which you obtained the Flemish recognition certificate. Failure to pay the annual fee will lead to automatic suspension of the recognition following a formal notice of default. If the fee is not paid within 30 days of the suspension, the recognition will automatically lapse
• every 5 years, follow a refresher exam at a recognised training centre (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window).
• The latest date for following a refresher training can be found:
  • on your certificate of recognition as a refrigeration technician
  • or on the list of recognised technicians (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window)

If you do not yet have a European certificate as a refrigeration technician

Anyone wishing to work as a refrigeration technician in the Flemish Region and who does not yet hold a European certificate, must pass an examination at a recognised training centre. Find a recognised training centre (in Dutch)(PDF file opens in new window).

Those who pass the examination receive a European certificate (certificate of competence in refrigeration, category I, II, III or IV) and a Flemish recognition certificate.

More information on:

• the examination (in Dutch)
• the various categories for the certificate of competence

If you already hold a European certificate as a refrigeration technician

If you have obtained the European certificate but not yet the Flemish recognition, you must register via the online recognition desk (in Dutch) of the Department of Environment and Spatial Development (click on “Ga naar het erkenningenloket”; log in with eID).

If you do not have a Belgian eID, you should submit your application by registered letter to Departement Omgeving, Koning Albert II-laan 20/bus 8, 1000 Brussel, to the attention of Team Erkenningen, Afdeling GOP.

Attach the following data to your notification:

• a copy of the European certificate in Dutch, French, German or English
• the identification details of the technician:
  • first and last name
  • the national register number, or if the technician does not have a national register number: date and place of birth, home address and date from which the technician has resided at that address
  • the telephone number and the e-mail address of the technician
  • the name and the company registration number of the company where the technician works. If the company does not have a registration number, you should submit the address of the head office and the company VAT number.

As a recognised refrigeration technician, you must pay the annual fee (in Dutch) for the supervision of the recognition. You will receive an invoice for this by post at the start of the calendar year in your name at your official address.

• For 2022 the annual fee amounts to EUR 30.
• That amount is index-adjusted every year.

Flemish regulation on environmental recognitions (VLAREL).