If your goal is residency or citizenship, the inburgeringsexamen on the B1 route is the one that matters. If your goal is a job or an MBO programme that asks for proof of Dutch, Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I is the direct fit. If you want a portable certificate you can use outside the Netherlands, CNaVT is the sensible choice. Everything else is preparation, not the exam itself.
Start with the goal, not the level
B1 learners often assume the next step is simply "a harder exam". That is rarely the right question. The three main routes test similar language skills but serve different purposes, and taking the wrong one costs time and money without moving your file forward.
Ask yourself one question: who needs to see this certificate? A municipality, an employer, an MBO admissions office, or a foreign institution. The answer decides the exam.
Inburgering: for residency and citizenship
Under the 2021 Civic Integration Act, the standard route is B1, with exams in reading, listening, writing and speaking plus KNM. A municipality can allow A2 after substantial effort. Older obligations used A2. If you are integrating, this is your exam, and the Inburgeringsexamen (DUO) is the official one.
It fits people with an integration obligation or those heading toward permanent residency and naturalisation. It does not fit someone who needs a work or study certificate, because it is not designed for that purpose.
For naturalisation specifically, the language requirement is A2 in 2026. A move to B1 is planned but has no confirmed start date. That gap matters: passing inburgering at B1 already puts you above the current naturalisation bar, but check the official source before you plan around future changes.
Use inburgeren.nl for test information, booking and study materials, and DUO - Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs for loans and paperwork. Both are government portals, not courses.
Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I: for work and vocational study
Programma I is the B1 exam, aimed at work and vocational study. Programma II is B2, for higher education and many professional roles. If an employer or an MBO programme has asked for NT2, Programma I is the level that matches a solid B1 learner.
The Staatsexamen NT2 (CvTE / DUO) is the official state exam. It suits people with a concrete Dutch work or study requirement. It is a poor fit if nobody has asked for it and you are only integrating, since inburgering covers that ground.
If you are aiming higher later, Tilburg University Language Center runs a rigorous one-year intensive programme preparing for Programma II. That is a serious commitment and not a casual next step. INTT - Universiteit van Amsterdam offers university-quality NT2 with a strong exam preparation focus, which suits highly educated professionals rather than beginners wanting conversation practice. Price and schedule: check with each provider.
CNaVT: the portable certificate
CNaVT Exams award official international Dutch certificates from A2 to C1, recognised worldwide, with May exam sessions. It fits people who need proof of Dutch for a foreign employer, a university abroad, or a CV that travels. It does not fit someone whose municipality or Dutch employer has specified inburgering or NT2, because those bodies set their own rules.
If you are in Belgium, CLL Brussels (Centre de Langues de Louvain) offers group and private lessons plus CNaVT exam preparation. Useful if you want a course alongside the certificate, less so if you only need to book the exam.
Comparison
| Option | Type | Levels | Format | Best for | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staatsexamen NT2 | State exam | B1, B2 | In person | Work and vocational study requirements | 90/100 |
| Inburgeringsexamen | Civic integration exam | A2, B1 | In person | Residency and citizenship routes | 88/100 |
| INTT - UvA | University course | B1, B2 | Online, in person | Exam-focused preparation for professionals | 86/100 |
| CNaVT | International exam | A2 to C1 | Online, in person | A certificate that travels | 82/100 |
| CLL Brussels | Language school | A1 to B2 | Online, in person | Lessons plus CNaVT preparation in Belgium | 80/100 |
Practical notes before you book
Check registration deadlines and fees directly with the exam body. We do not list prices or schedules because they change and vary by location.
If you are still deciding, the path finder narrows options by goal, and the inburgering and NT2 preparation sections cover each route in more depth. For structured practice before any exam, browse Dutch tutors; a tutor marked Verified Pro on this site has 3,000+ lessons and a 4.9+ rating on their platform, which is a useful signal but not a guarantee of exam-specific expertise.
One honest warning: do not take Programma II because it sounds more impressive. It is B2, and a B1 learner who books it unprepared will spend money to confirm that. Match the exam to the requirement, then prepare.
How we know this: the options come from The Dutch Directory listings checked on 2026-10-25, and fit scores are editorial, not user ratings.