If you've been told you need "the NT2" for a job, an MBO or HBO place, or your inburgering requirement, this is the exam people mean. Here's what it actually involves, what it costs, and how the process works, straight from DUO (the agency that runs it) and the College voor Toetsen en Examens (CvTE, which owns the content).
The Staatsexamen NT2 is the official Dutch state exam for adults learning Dutch as a second language. There are two versions: Programma I (B1) for MBO study and MBO-level work, and Programma II (B2) for HBO or university study and higher-level jobs. Both consist of four parts: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, all taken on a computer.
What Is the Staatsexamen NT2 and Who Needs It?
The Staatsexamen Nt2 is a national exam for adults who are learning Dutch as a second language. DUO describes it as proof that you speak Dutch well enough to work or study in the Netherlands: with the diploma, you can show that your Dutch is sufficient to work or study here.
CvTE is responsible for the content and organisation of the exam; Cito and Bureau ICE develop the test materials; DUO runs registration, administration, and results. Since it started, close to a quarter of a million adults have taken it.
You typically need it if you:
- Want to start an MBO (level 3/4) or HBO/university programme taught in Dutch and don't have a Dutch-recognized equivalent
- Have a job that requires proof of Dutch proficiency
- Are inburgeringsplichtig (subject to the civic integration requirement) under the Wet inburgering 2021, where Nt2 is one of the accepted routes to prove your B1 or B2 level
If you're not sure which programme applies to you, check the requirements of the school or employer asking for it, or see our Dutch language levels guide for how A1–C1 maps to Nt2.
Programma I vs Programma II: Which One Do You Need?
There are two exam programmes, matched to two different CEFR levels:
- Programma I (level B1). DUO's guidance: choose Programma I if you want to do an MBO course, or want to work at MBO-3 or MBO-4 level.
- Programma II (level B2). DUO's guidance: choose Programma II if you want to study or work at HBO or university level.
Both programmes cover the same four skills and cost the same. The difference is the level of Dutch that is tested and, correspondingly, what the diploma is accepted for.
The Four Exam Parts
Both programmes consist of four exam components: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. All exams are taken on the computer. You don't have to take all four on the same day; you can register for one, several, or all four components at once, and retake individual components you don't pass without redoing the ones you already passed.
Cost and How to Register
Cost: each exam component costs €50. A complete exam (all four components) costs €200. This is the same fee for Programma I and Programma II.
You can pay directly with iDEAL when you register, or by invoice (received by email, or email and post) up to three weeks before the exam. Paying from abroad often costs more and can take several weeks to arrive, so DUO recommends allowing plenty of time if you're transferring internationally.
If you're inburgeringsplichtig, you don't necessarily pay out of pocket: according to Staatsexamens Nt2, you can pay the exam from your DUO loan, or use a free exam attempt, and you choose which during registration. For everything else about DUO-funded courses, including which schools hold the required keurmerk, see our DUO loan guide; loan amounts and conditions themselves are set by DUO, so confirm your personal situation on duo.nl.
Registration: you can register roughly 8 weeks before the exam date, through Mijn DUO with your own DigiD. If you can't get a DigiD, you can register without one. You'll get an email confirmation after registering, and you can't register again for a component you're already enrolled in or awaiting a result for. If your plans change, cancel at least 4 weeks before the exam to get a refund.
Where and when: the exam is offered in six cities: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Zwolle. DUO doesn't publish specific dates on its own site; for the full, current exam schedule (examenrooster) for both programmes, DUO points you to the official Staatsexamens Nt2 schedule. Always check that page directly rather than relying on a third-party date list, since exam moments are added and change through the year.
When Do Results Arrive?
You can view your result in Mijn DUO after about 5 weeks. Results also go out by email and by post; the specific date and time for your exam session is on the schedule at staatsexamensnt2.nl.
If you pass all four components and completed the last one after 1 January 2021, you get the diploma automatically, sent by registered post within 4 weeks. (If you passed all four components before that date under the old certificate system, you need to email DUO at nt2@duo.nl to exchange your certificates for a diploma.)
Pass Rates: The Official Numbers
CvTE publishes pass rates (slagingspercentages) per exam component in its annual report. These are the most recent figures, from the CvTE Jaarverslag 2025 (Tables 9 and 10), showing the share of candidates who passed each component in 2025:
| Component | Programma I (B1) | Programma II (B2) |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 53% | 59% |
| Listening | 43% | 60% |
| Writing | 62% | 68% |
| Reading | 44% | 53% |
| Average | 51% | 60% |
Some context the report itself gives:
- Programma II is stable; Programma I is falling. Programma II's 60% average is in line with recent years. Programma I's average dropped from 61% in 2021 to 51% in 2025, across every skill. CvTE says it has no explanation yet, notes that the share of candidates retaking components has grown, and has commissioned research into the decline.
- Far more people are taking it. 2025 had about 35,456 more exam sittings than 2024, a 59% increase, because the Wet inburgering 2021 made the Staatsexamen Nt2 the B1/B2 exam for inburgering. The growth is largest in Programma I.
- Speaking slots are temporarily scarcer. In August 2025, exam questions for a Speaking exam were leaked in a WhatsApp group; CvTE invalidated that day's Speaking results and is temporarily running fewer Speaking sessions while it reworks the setup. Plan your Speaking registration early.
Two things to keep in mind when reading these numbers: they are per-component rates that include retakers (not first-attempt rates), and failing one part only ever means retaking that one part.
How to Prepare: Self-Study vs a Course
Staatsexamens Nt2 itself publishes official preparation materials and practice exams for both programmes on its site, and that's the right starting point regardless of how you're studying, since it's the actual test format and the actual examining body.
From there, it comes down to your level and your timeline:
- Self-study can work if you're already close to the target level (B1 for Programma I, B2 for Programma II) and mainly need exam-format practice: timed writing, the computer-based test interface, and speaking under exam conditions.
- A prep course helps more if you're building the underlying language skill, not just exam technique, or if you've failed a component and can't diagnose why. Many schools run dedicated Nt2 exam-training courses aimed specifically at Programma I or Programma II.
To compare schools that offer Nt2 exam prep, see our NT2 course directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Staatsexamen NT2 the same as inburgering?
No. Inburgering (civic integration) is a legal requirement with its own exams. The Staatsexamen NT2 is a language-proficiency exam, but under the Wet inburgering 2021 it's one of the accepted ways to prove the Dutch level (B1 or B2) that some inburgeringsplichtigen need. Whether it applies to you depends on your specific inburgering track; check with your municipality or DUO.
Can I take just one part of the exam?
Yes. You can register for one, several, or all four components (Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing) at a time, and you only need to retake the parts you didn't pass.
How much does the Staatsexamen NT2 cost?
€50 per component, or €200 for the full exam (all four components), for both Programma I and Programma II, per DUO's published fee page. If you're inburgeringsplichtig, you may be able to pay from your DUO loan or use a free exam attempt instead.
Where can I find the exam dates?
DUO does not list dates on its own site. The current schedule for both programmes is published and kept up to date at staatsexamensnt2.nl.
How long after the exam do I get my result?
About 5 weeks, visible in Mijn DUO and also sent by email and post. If you pass all four components, the diploma follows automatically by registered post within about 4 weeks of your result.
Ready to start preparing? Compare schools offering NT2 exam prep, or check the DUO loan guide if you're paying through DUO.