Staatsexamen NT2 (CvTE / DUO)
Official Dutch State Exam NT2. Program I (B1) for vocational/MBO, Program II (B2) for HBO/university. Required for many jobs and citizenship paths.
- Type
- Exam
- Where
- Netherlands
- Format
- In person
- Levels
- B1 to B2
Honest fit
Good for
- Learners who need an official certificate or civic path requirement.
- Study and work paths that require Staatsexamen proof.
- People who progress better face to face.
Not for
- Casual learners with no exam date and no certification need.
- Anyone looking for a course: this is an exam body, not a school.
TaggedNT2 Program I · NT2 Program II · Official · Citizenship
Key facts
Researched 2026-06-10- Founded
- 1992
- Based
- Netherlands (national)
- Pricing
- EUR 50 per exam component; EUR 200 for a complete exam (all four components). Some integration candidates may qualify for a free exam or DUO loan financing, shown in their Mijn DUO account.
- Formats
- computer-based exam administered by DUO at official test locations in the Netherlands
- Levels
- Two programmes, each testing reading, listening, writing and speaking: Programma I at CEFR B1 (work or mbo) and Programma II at CEFR B2 (work or hbo/university)
- Accreditation
- Government-administered: developed and overseen by the College voor Toetsen en Examens (CvTE); administered and graded via DUO; questions produced by Cito and Bureau ICE
- Best for
- Non-native Dutch speakers needing to prove B1 or B2 Dutch to work or study in the Netherlands, including for integration and naturalisation
The Staatsexamen NT2 (Nederlands als tweede taal) is the official Dutch state exam for adults learning Dutch as a second language, run since 1992 on behalf of the CvTE and administered by DUO. The diploma demonstrates sufficient Dutch to work or study in the Netherlands and is used for integration and naturalisation. Nearly 250,000 non-native speakers have taken it since its inception.
- Four separate components per programme (reading, listening, writing, speaking), each taken and paid for individually at EUR 50
- Two programmes: Programma I at CEFR B1 and Programma II at CEFR B2
- Results available online roughly five weeks after the exam
- Candidates passing all four components receive the diploma by registered post within about four weeks
- Nearly 250,000 participants since 1992
Articles and updates
- How to Pass the Staatsexamen NT2 in 2026
- NT2 Programma I vs Programma II: Which Staatsexamen Do You Need?
- Staatsexamen NT2 (CvTE / DUO) review: is it worth it for learning Dutch?
- Staatsexamen NT2 explained: Program I (B1) vs Program II (B2), exam dates 2026
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