External language test and VOV: what changes for your training courses in 2026

From 1 September 2026, the rules of the Vlaams Opleidingsverlof (VOV, the Flemish training leave) become stricter: to remain eligible, language courses must include an official external language test at the start and at the end of the programme, carried out by an external provider. If you are a training provider or an employer with staff in Flanders, this article explains what this obligation means in practice and how to comply in time.

The regulatory context: the VOV reform on 1 September 2026

The Vlaams Opleidingsverlof allows employees who work for a company located in Flanders to attend approved training courses while keeping their salary, with the employer recovering part of the cost from the Flemish authorities. An important clarification for multi-site companies: the VOV only applies to employees working in Flanders. For your staff in Brussels or Wallonia, the paid educational leave of the Brussels Region and the Walloon congé-éducation payé apply respectively.

The reform entering into force on 1 September 2026 tightens the approval criteria for training courses. Language courses remain eligible, but only for Dutch, French, German and English, up to and including CEFR level B1, and provided they are subject to external quality control. This is the framework for the requirement of an external language test at the start and at the end of the programme: an objective measurement, carried out by a provider independent from the organisation delivering the course.

The timeline is tight. The new rules for registering courses in the Flemish training incentives database apply from 1 July 2026, so that the database is up to date for the new school year. Training providers who want to keep their VOV approval should therefore set up their external testing solution this summer.

Why an external test at the start and at the end of the programme

The Flemish legislator wants to guarantee that the funded training leave hours produce a measurable result. An external language test meets this expectation on three levels.

• Independent proof of quality: the participants’ level is established by a third party, which removes any suspicion of leniency in the assessment.
• An objective measure of progress: by comparing the CEFR level at the start and at the end of the programme, you document the effectiveness of the training in black and white.
• A solid VOV file: the test results provide concrete evidence that your course meets the expected quality criteria.

For a training provider, this is not just an administrative constraint. A placement test at the start of the programme also helps you build homogeneous groups, and the final test showcases your offering to employers, who can see exactly what the training has brought their teams.

How ELAO meets this requirement

ELAO is a language placement test designed by linguists, used by companies, training providers, universities and public institutions. It can serve as the external test at the start and at the end of the programme for your language courses.

A test aligned with the CEFR, from level A0 to B1 and beyond

ELAO is built on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), with an added “true beginner” level (A0). It therefore covers precisely the segment targeted by the VOV, from complete beginner up to level B1, while also allowing higher levels to be assessed. The test is available in six languages: Dutch, French, German, English, Spanish and Italian, which includes the four languages eligible for the VOV.

Quarter-level CEFR scoring that makes progress visible

ELAO measures the level to a quarter of a CEFR level: a participant is not simply classified as “B1”, but as B1.00, B1.25, B1.50 or B1.75. This granularity is particularly valuable in the VOV context, because it makes progress visible even over a short programme or at higher levels such as B1, where a learner can make real progress without crossing a full level. The difference in quarter levels between the initial and the final test objectively documents the ground covered. This precision has been validated on a large scale: in 86.7% of cases, the deviation is less than a quarter of a CEFR level, according to a study conducted with the Forem, the public employment and vocational training service of the Walloon Region in Belgium. To understand how this score is calculated, read our article on ELAO’s quarter-level score.

Instant results you can use for your file

Results are available immediately by e-mail and on the platform, with clear, detailed reports per skill. The Excel export lets you document each participant’s progress between the initial and the final test, exactly the kind of supporting evidence useful for your VOV file.

An adaptive format: about 30 minutes online

The ELAO test is adaptive: the questions adjust to the candidate’s level as the test progresses. As a result, the test is taken entirely online and lasts about 30 minutes, making it easy to organise at the start as well as at the end of the programme, without disrupting the training schedule. The random selection of questions strengthens the reliability of the results and limits opportunities for cheating between two sessions.

Speaking skills assessed with ELAO+

The ELAO+ test includes an assessment of speaking skills, carried out automatically by AI. You can consult the transcript of each participant’s answers and listen back to the audio recordings at any time, which guarantees the transparency of the assessment. To objectively establish a participant’s speaking level at the start and at the end of the programme, without mobilising an assessor for every session, this is a decisive asset.

Proctoring to guarantee the integrity of remote results

If your participants take the test remotely, the proctoring option guarantees that it is indeed the registered person taking the test, that they do not switch screens, that they do not use their smartphone during the assessment and that they are not helped by a third party. A point that matters when the results serve as evidence in a regulatory context. You will find more details in our proctoring FAQ.

Would you like to see how this works in practice? You can contact us for a no-obligation demonstration.

FAQ: external language test and VOV

Which language courses remain eligible for the VOV in 2026-2027?

Courses in Dutch, French, German and English, up to and including CEFR level B1, subject to external quality control. Other languages no longer qualify for the VOV.

Does the ELAO test guarantee the VOV approval of my course?

No, no test can guarantee approval on its own. ELAO helps you demonstrate that your course meets the external quality control criterion. For the definitive approval of your course, please consult the competent Flemish authority (Vlaamse overheid, via the WSE portal).

When should the external test be in place?

The new course registration rules apply from 1 July 2026 and the reform enters into force on 1 September 2026. It is therefore wise to take the necessary steps now.

Can the test be taken remotely?

Yes. ELAO is taken entirely online, and the proctoring option guarantees the integrity of the results when the test is taken remotely.

Are my Brussels-based staff covered by the VOV?

No. The VOV only applies to employees who work for a company located in Flanders. Employees in Brussels fall under the paid educational leave of the Brussels Region.

Conclusion: get ahead of the September 2026 deadline

The VOV reform makes the external language test at the start and at the end of the programme a condition of access to the scheme for language courses. For training providers and employers in Flanders, the question is no longer whether to get equipped, but with which solution and how quickly. ELAO, a placement test designed by linguists, aligned with the CEFR and available in the four eligible languages, lets you objectively document your participants’ level and progress. Find out how ELAO fits into your training programmes by requesting a personalised demonstration.