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Frequently asked questions

  • Does my result affect my Flemish training leave?

    Yes. At the end of the module, we record one of the following three results:

    • Passed
    • Not passed
    • Did not participate

    If your result is recorded as "Not passed" or “Did not participate”, you will lose your entitlement to Flemish training leave for the entire module. You do not necessarily have to pass, but you must actively participate in the course and the assessment.

  • How many hours of Flemish training leave am I entitled to?

    From 1 September 2026, only the class hours during which you are actually present will count towards your Flemish training leave. Hours during which you are absent will not count.

    For distance learning, only synchronous class hours will count. Asynchronous hours during which you work independently do not entitle you to Flemish training leave.

  • Can I obtain a student card at Crescendo CVO?

    As a student of Crescendo CVO, you can visit one of our administrative offices in order to obtain a student card.

  • What forms of study are there?

    At Crescendo CVO we strive for the best possible balance between studying, family and work. You decide for yourself what pace you study at. 
    Modular study 
    The courses are divided into modules. You decide when you will take which module (also in function of the sequencing as can be found in the official programme profiles and curricula in which the sequence of modules is determined). 
    Combined study 
    Some programmes are offered in the form of blended learning. This means that in addition to the bricks and mortar classes, we will ask you to process certain subject matter independently

  • Who can register?

    In order to start a course in adult education, you must meet the conditions of age and nationality. You must be at least 16 years old or you must be at least 15 years old and have completed the first 2 years of secondary education. If you are 18 years of age or older, you must have Belgian nationality or meet the conditions for legal residence in Belgium. 

  • How do I register?

    You can register on one of our campuses. Keep in mind the opening hours. These may vary per class location. Upon arrival you simply tell us which course you want to take and we will register you.

    Be sure to bring your identity card so that our administration can run smoothly. If you do not have Belgian nationality, we will also ask you for proof of legal residence.

    For some courses, you will need to present a secondary school diploma or other. For some others, it is sufficient to pass an admission test. For more information, please go to the registration page.

    You can also register online for most courses.

  • When is the student administration office open?

    The opening hours of our student administration offices may vary depending on the class times. They may also vary depending on the class location. You can find an overview of the opening hours on the page campuses and course locations.

  • How much are the registration fee and the course material?

    The Flemish government decided on Friday, May 23, 2025, to change the fees for a large number of courses: registration fees

  • When do I have to pay?

    We ask you to pay directly at your registration. If you have a partial or total exemption from registration fees, please bring proof of this with you when you come to register. If you do not have this with you, you will first have to pay the full amount. You can later show your proof of exemption and apply for a refund of the registration fee.

  • How can I pay?

    You can pay at our student administration offices with Bancontact, cash and training vouchers. When you register online, you will pay with Bancontact. We do not accept VISA or Mastercard or any other credit cards.

  • Am I entitled to an exemption from registration fees?

    If you can provide the necessary certificates, you can enjoy partial or total exemption from your registration fee. If you are partially exempt, you only pay € 0.30 per lesson time. Even if you follow Dutch, you only pay € 0.30 per lesson time. This applies, amongst others, to people with a disability, people on unemployment benefit. If you are a civic integration programme participant, a detainee, or if you have a living wage, there is a full exemption from the registration fee. More information about exemptions from registration fees can be found on our exemptions page and on the website of Flemish Education.

  • What are training vouchers?

    If you meet certain conditions, you can apply for training vouchers to finance a course you are following outside normal working hours.
    More information can be found here.

  • When am I entitled to training vouchers?

    If you are an employee, temporary worker or European worker and you live in Flanders or in the Brussels Region, you have a low or medium level of education and you follow the training course on your own initiative. If you are highly educated, you are only entitled to training vouchers if you want to follow a career-oriented training course as part of career guidance. Moreover, this programme should then be included in your personal development plan.

    You can apply for training vouchers for the following programmes:
    • a programme that is registered in the Flemish Training Incentives database.
      • Only valid if you have at most a secondary education diploma (i.e. only for those with a low or medium level of education).
    • a career-oriented programme
      • Valid for people with a short education, people with a  medium education as well as people with a high education. 
      • Career-oriented training is a training that is recommended in the personal development plan (POP) during the course of career guidance.

    You can read more information here.

  • How do I apply for training vouchers?

    From 1 September 2020, you will no longer be able to apply for training vouchers via VDAB, but rather via the WSE desk.
    This means that you can apply for your training vouchers digitally. More information can be found here.

    You can still use your VDAB paper training vouchers after 1 September 2020 until the end of November (if they are still valid).

  • In order to apply for training vouchers, I have to provide the ODB number of my training. Where can I find it?

    You can find the ODB number of your programme in the Flemish Training Incentives database.

  • What is Flemish training leave?

    Do you work in the private sector? Under certain conditions, you can take Flemish training leave (VOV). This allows you to take time off work to attend a course while continuing to receive your salary.

    You decide whether you wish to apply for Flemish training leave. You can find more information about the conditions and the number of hours you are entitled to here.

    Would you like to calculate how many hours of training leave you are entitled to? Click here.

  • Am I eligible for Flemish training leave?

    Flemish training leave (VOV) is available to private-sector employees and contract staff of autonomous public-sector companies who work at a site located in the Flemish Region.

    Do you work in Brussels or Wallonia? If so, please contact the service responsible for paid educational leave in the Brussels-Capital Region or the Walloon Region.

    Please note: from 1 September 2026, you can only take Flemish training leave once for the same module. A check will be made to determine whether you have already taken the module since 2020. This rule also applies to open modules.

  • How do I apply for Flemish training leave?

    When enrolling, ask the administrative office for a certificate of regular enrolment for the module for which you wish to take Flemish training leave. Make sure you submit this document to your employer on time.

    Our staff will also check whether you meet the conditions for the chosen module. From 1 September 2026, you can only take Flemish training leave once for the same module.

    You can find detailed step-by-step instructions on the website of the Flemish Government.

    Are you taking a module fully or partly through distance learning? From 1 September 2026, only synchronous class hours will be eligible. These are online classes that you attend at a fixed time together with your teacher. Hours during which you work independently and at your own pace will not count.

  • For which training courses can I apply for Flemish training leave?

    You can only apply for Flemish training leave for courses that are eligible. Check this on the website of the Flemish Government or ask our administrative office.

    Are you taking a module fully or partly through distance learning? From 1 September 2026, only synchronous class hours will be eligible. These are online classes that you attend at a fixed time together with your teacher. Hours during which you work independently and at your own pace will not count.

  • What is a stamp-checking exemption (for unemployment benefit)?

    If you are unemployed, you can apply for a stamp-checking exemption to take classes during the day. To do this, you must request or download the necessary documents from VDAB, which will be filled in by a staff member of the student administration office.

  • Am I entitled to child benefit?

    If you are younger than 18, your parents are entitled to child benefit. If you are between 18 and 25 years old, you are also entitled to child benefit under certain conditions. For example, you must be enrolled in a course that has at least 17 class hours per week and you must attend it regularly. For more information about child benefit, please contact one of our student administration offices.

  • I would like to start my own business as an independent entrepreneur. Am I entitled to a premium?

    Yes, if you meet certain conditions. In that case the transition premium will help you take the step.

  • Can I get an exemption?

    Have you successfully completed a training course in the past? Or have you gained a lot of experience? Then you can apply for an exemption. The director can grant an exemption on the basis of an exemption test or study certificates of previously acquired training or on the basis of experience. More information about this can be found in the centre regulations of Crescendo CVO.

  • I interrupted a training prematurely. Will I be exempted from modules that I have already done?

    Have you ever started a course and interrupted it? Then you can apply for an exemption for the modules for which you have received a partial certificate. This is on condition that the training profile has not changed. 

  • I think my language skills are good enough for a higher level. How can I know which level is suitable for me?

    You can register for a module in a higher language level if you can provide proof of your current level. This could be, for example, a partial certificate from one of our branches or a diploma or certificate from other institutions.

    Check your level HERE

  • What is a partial certificate?

    If you pass a module, you will receive a partial certificate of the module in the training programme in question.

  • What is a certificate?

    You will receive a certificate of the training programme if you pass all modules of the programme. If you have followed a module of this programme in another programme or in another CVO, you will be exempted on the basis of the partial certificate obtained.

  • What if the course is fully booked?

    All courses have a maximum capacity and therefore a maximum number of enrolments. We cannot make reservations for these courses in advance. So try to be on time when the registrations for a course are open. Please contact the administration office for more information about the current enrolment periods. If a course is fully booked but you still want to register, we can put you on a waiting list. If another student cancels their enrolment for the course, we will contact you to inform you that a place has become available.

  • Am I obliged to be present in every class?

    In adult education, you are generally not required to attend every class. However, we recommend attending as many classes as possible to increase your chances of success.

    Are you taking Flemish training leave? If so, your attendance is important. From 1 September 2026, only the hours during which you are actually present will count. Even justified absences will no longer entitle you to Flemish training leave for the missed class hours.

    Are you taking a distance-learning course? Only synchronous online class hours will count.

  • What should I do if I am unable to attend due to illness or work?

    If you are absent due to illness, you can report your absence online via the website.  You can also upload a doctor's certificate. If you do so, you have been absent for a valid reason. If, exceptionally, you have to work during a class, you can ask your employer to provide written proof of this. In that case, we also consider this to be a justified absence.

    Please note: if you take Flemish training leave, any class hours you miss from 1 September 2026 onwards will not count, even if your absence is justified.

  • I would like to cancel my enrolment. Can I get my enrolment fee back?

    You can cancel your registration at any time.
    To do so, contact the secretariat of the campus where you attend classes.

    • Do you cancel before the start of the module? Then you will receive a full refund of the registration fee.
    • Do you cancel after the start of the module but before the third lesson? Then you will be refunded, minus €20 administration costs.
    • Do you cancel after the third lesson? Then the registration fee will not be refunded.

  • Who can I turn to if I have a complaint?

    If you have a complaint, it is best to first discuss it with the person you have a complaint about. If this does not prove to be effective, you can contact the mediation service. Complaints can be about the administrative framework, the exam organisation, the postponement or moving of exams, etc.

  • Can I copy and print on campus?

    You can use a copier on the campuses of Mechelen, Lier, Heist-op-den-Berg and Zaventem. For this you can contact the administration office of the course location. Please note that we charge € 0.05 per copy.

  • Can I use a computer outside of classes?

    Our campus in Mechelen has an Open Learning Centre on the fourth floor. Here 6 computers are at the students' disposal. Each computer has access to the internet (wifi). The learning centre is open on school days from 8.30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8.30 a.m. to 12 noon. 
     
    Campus GLTT Halle also has an Open Learning Centre. If you wish to make use of this, please contact the administration office.

  • What to do in the event of an alarm?

    The guidelines on what to do in the event of a fire or bomb alarm, together with the evacuation plan, are displayed at the door of each room. In the event of fire, danger or alarm, follow the guidelines of your instructor and qualified personnel.

  • I am a student at Crescendo CVO and I have had an accident on the way to or from my course location. What should I do?

    If you have had an accident on the way to your course location or back home, the insurance will cover you if you took the shortest route. This unfortunately does not include a diversion, for example stopping by a shop. The insurance will only reimburse medical expenses directly related to the incident. Make sure you report the accident to the administration office within two working days. An email notification is sufficient: sven.van.steenwegen@crescendo-cvo.be or ellen.pauwels@crescendo-cvo.be . They should be informed within two days.

  • I am a student at Crescendo CVO and I have had an accident during class. What should I do?

    Report the accident to your teacher immediately. For minor injuries, the teacher will provide first aid. For serious injuries, the administration office is called in, where a first aid appointed person is present. The administration office reports the accident to the person in charge and insurance will cover medical expenses directly related to the incident. Be sure to report the accident to the administration office within two working days.

  • Smoking, alcohol and drugs

    It is forbidden to use alcoholic beverages and drugs on campus. Smoking is forbidden everywhere, even outside, within the campus walls. This smoking ban also includes electronic cigarettes.
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