Take a deep breath! How nice is it that Covid measures have become more flexible? We don’t have to wear a mouth mask in The Netherlands anymore if you can keep a distance of 1.5 meter, we can have a glass of wine on the terrace on Friday afternoon and hopefully our international exams will be soon on the same level as before.
In any case at Ascend examengroep B.V. we are is a great mood! We have prepared a summer newsletter especially for you.
Enjoy reading,
Team Ascend exam group B.V.
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Special target groups continued
In our previous newsletter we indicated that VCA-infra is looking at solutions in an oriented way at problems related to ‘Special Target Groups’.
16 Trainers discussed 3 themes during a digital program: the intake, the training and the exam.
In the first theme, the focus was on the statement: “the intake of special target groups is the same as the intake of regular candidates”. This interactive approach resulted in a lively discussion and gave not only trainers, but also VCA infra more insight into the problem.
Some of the results from this discussion group were: these special target candidates need context; they have mastered working with the mouse and digital question forms relatively quickly; language is the biggest stumbling block; why is there not a glossary with explanations for these candidates.
Adjustment of final and test terms
We previously informed you about the adjustments in the final and test objectives as determined by the Examination Board VCA for 2021.
VCA-infra indicates in their newsletter that they have been made aware that there is an error in one of the adjustments. It concerns the amended regulations regarding the use of work baskets (‘werkbakken’). Contrary to previous reports, a report must be submitted to the Inspectorate SZW not at the latest one but two days in advance. This change has been made and is effective immediately.
The amended ‘VCA-ETT 2021’ & ‘Overview of changes to ETT 2021’ can be found on the website of VCA-infra.
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English details on our website!
We are proud to say that our international customer base is growing. We went this weekend to a new location in Milan to have exams.
Last weekend we had in The Netherlands an exam room full of French, Italians and Spaniards. We are incredibly happy with all the international candidates who are fortunately increasingly allowed to travel to the Netherlands again to take the exams here.
The website of Ascend examengroep B.V. however, despite the many international customers, was only available in Dutch. Only the English information availilbe on our website were our newsletters.
As of this month, our (new) international customers can find information about SOG, VCA and E-learning in English via the home page of our website: https://www.ascend-examengroep.nl/
Expired driver’s license is again valid for longer for identification at exam
The validity period of expired driving licenses has been extended again. Expired driving licenses are longer valid as means of identification for VCA and SOG exams.
The validity periods are shown in the overview below. This is based on the terms stated here on the website of the central government.
- Your driving license expired in the period between 1 February and 1 June 2020: your driving license is still valid until 1 July 2021 and is therefore also valid as proof of identity until 1 July 2021 for the VCA/SOG exam
- Your driving license expired in the period from 1 June to 1 September 2020: your driving license is still valid for 13 months after the expiry date and is therefore also valid as proof of identity until 13 months after the expiry date for the VCA/SOG exam
- Your driving license expired or expires in the period from September 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021: your driving license is still valid for 10 months after the expiration date and is therefore also valid as proof of identity until 10 months after the expiration date for the VCA/SOG exam.
It remains a fact that broken European identity cards, Dutch driving licenses and passports are NOT valid. We still see every month that candidates show up for an exam with a torn Dutch driver’s license or a hole in their European identity card. Every now and then a person comes along with a copy, which is NOT VALID identification.
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Success rate VOL-VCA first quarter higher than last year
The success rates and numbers of candidates can be found on the VCA-infra website. The number of candidates is a lot lower than last year in the first quarter. At the VCA basis, there are even 9,490 fewer candidates than last year. We all know that Corona is a major cause of this.
Last year, 89% of exam candidates passed in the first quarter, while that is 92% this year. Who knows, people may have been able to concentrate better while learning, as there were few distractions with the curfew and strict social rules due to Covid.
Are you curious about all the figures? Then look at: https://www.vcainfra.nl/b-vca-vol-vca-vil-vcu/
News from the VVL waarborg guarantee committee
Text taken directly from VCA-infra newsletter.
Pilot refresher training ABvL/VVL-H
The SOG qualifications VVL-H, BVL and ABvL were introduced in October 2016 and October 2018 respectively. The validity of the diploma is 5 years. This means that the first batch will start for the repeat certificate in October 2021.
In order to make the recertification more responsive to the wishes of the participants and more practice-oriented, a slightly different set-up has been chosen, with more time for practical exercises.
A successful pilot was run at TCC on 21 May. The content of the pilot will be evaluated with the relevant guarantee committee on 22 June. After approval by the committee, the documents will be published on the website in the same week. The intended introduction is still October 2021.
Equivalent W4-08 to VVL-H
The guarantee committee has agreed to equate ‘lifting supervisor’ W4-08 with VVL-H. This will be adjusted immediately in the Overview-with-exemptions-SOG on the website.
The certificate of W4-08 is now sufficient to act as an examiner for VVL-H. ABvL already had a full exemption.
Dynamic lifting gear textual adjustment in exam documents
In the examination documents, the guarantee committee has replaced the term ‘dynamic lifting equipment’ with the definition from the Machinery Commodities Act Decree. A distinction is made between where the term is used to indicate the target group and where it is used as an indication of the machine that must be used for the exam.
The amended documents will be published before September 1.
We got the summer vibes!
At the office we dreamed of white beaches, blue oceans, French wines, Spanish markets and other cozy European countries to go on holiday. Unfortunately, the reality is that we remain on Dutch soil.
It is still a bit early, but the first holiday changes have started at our office. Tanja kicks off this year by being the first to go on holiday.
However, this means that we will be working with one less person at the office in the coming weeks. Do you not immediately receive a response to the email or do we miss a phone call? We ask you to be a little more patient than usual, but also assure you that we will arrange everything as you are used to from us.
Until the next newsletter.