Required by the collective agreement
In the garage, bodyshop and metal trade sector (JC 112, 149.02 and 149.04), HEV certification is laid down in the sectoral collective agreement. Every employee who may come into contact with a hybrid or electric vehicle must hold a sectoral certificate that at least matches their tasks.
As an employer, you decide who does which work. That employee's certificate must match it. If someone works on the high-voltage system with a certificate that does not cover it, your workshop does not comply with the collective agreement.
You obtain every sectoral certificate through a training and a test. It is valid for six years.
Four sectoral certificates
| Sectoral certificate | What you may do | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitised employee (HEV1) | Work on or around a hybrid or electric vehicle, but never on the high-voltage system. No risky work near it either, such as welding. | None |
| Qualified employee (HEV2) | Work on the high-voltage system or its components, after the vehicle has been de-energised and secured. | Electricity: quantities, how they relate, AC and DC |
| Specialised employee (HEV3) | Work on a live high-voltage circuit, or on parts such as the inside of a battery pack. | Valid Qualified employee certificate and a valid Electrocompetent attestation |
| Risk expert (HEV4) | Carry out your own risk analysis when the manufacturer has no procedure: after a serious accident, fire or submersion, or with a damaged battery pack. | To be confirmed |
How to choose the right certificate
- Do they work while voltage is present, or inside a battery pack?YesSpecialised employeeSectoral certificate · HEV3No
- Do they de-energise the vehicle to work on the high-voltage system?YesQualified employeeSectoral certificate · HEV2No
- Sensitised employeeSectoral certificate · HEV1
What this looks like in a workshop
- The mechanic who does servicing and changes tyres on an electric vehicle: Sensitised employee.
- The technician who replaces a high-voltage component after de-energising the vehicle: Qualified employee.
- The diagnostic technician who looks for a fault in a live circuit: Specialised employee.
A certificate is not diagnostic training
A sectoral HEV certificate is about working safely. It does not teach your technicians how to find a fault in a hybrid or electric drivetrain. That requires technical training on the system or the brand.
After six years: recertification
Every sectoral HEV certificate is valid for six years. To keep complying with the collective agreement, your employee must then recertify. There are two ways:
- A one-day HEV Reloaded training, finished with a test. For those who could not keep their knowledge up to date or who work with new vehicle types.
- An online test, for those who did keep their knowledge up to date. Anyone who fails still follows the one-day training.
In both cases the employee receives a new certificate, again valid for six years.
Qualified employee at IAS
From December you can register individually at IAS for the Qualified employee training. You do not need to put together a full group.
HEV2 training in Aartselaar
- Two days of theory and hands-on practice on the vehicle
- Final theory and practical test on day 2
- Sectoral HEV certificate Level 2, valid for six years
- €550 per participant, excl. VAT
- The training is given in Dutch; a French session is planned via the waiting list
IAS is a recognised EDUCAM operator.
Join the waiting list for the HEV2 training. A group, another certificate or a session in your own workshop? Ask for a proposal.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sectoral HEV certificate mandatory?
Yes. Under the sectoral collective agreement, every employee in JC 112, 149.02 and 149.04 who may come into contact with a hybrid or electric vehicle must hold a certificate that at least matches their tasks.
What is the difference between Sensitised and Qualified employee?
As a Sensitised employee you work on or around hybrid and electric vehicles, but never on the high-voltage system. As a Qualified employee you may also work on the high-voltage system, after the vehicle has been de-energised and made safe.
Does the Qualified employee certificate also count as Sensitised employee?
Yes. A higher certificate covers the lower ones.
Who decides which certificate an employee needs?
The employer, based on the tasks the employee carries out. The certificate must at least match those tasks.
How long is a sectoral HEV certificate valid?
Six years. After that, recertification is needed to keep complying with the collective agreement.
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