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If you’ve been operating forklifts in the warehousing and construction industry for years, you’ll know that you receive certification after completing the beginner training course, but how long is it valid for and does it need renewing at all?

Luckily, the experienced and knowledgeable team at SB Skills Solutions is here to explain all.

From how long a forklift licence lasts to how much it costs to renew, and when you should renew, we answer all these important questions below.

Does a forklift licence expire?

Technically, there’s no such thing as a ‘forklift licence’.

However, this doesn’t mean that anyone can operate a forklift.

Instead, aspiring forklift operators are legally required to pass the relevant training, and upon successful completion of a course they are presented with a certificate that doesn’t have an expiry date.

When should you renew your forklift licence?

As mentioned above, while you don’t have to renew your forklift certification, it is strongly advised that additional refresher training is completed when necessary.

To ensure this training is kept up to date, the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) recommends a refresher forklift training course be taken every three years.

However, this training certification renewal period is often left to the employer’s discretion and does not invalidate your existing paperwork.

If you’ve had a prolonged period of absence away from a forklift-operating role, you may decide to apply for refresher training of your own volition.

Is it a legal requirement to renew a forklift licence?

Since there is no expiry date on the forklift training certification, there is no legal responsibility to renew a forklift license in the UK.

However, if an accident occurs while operating the forklift, then the employer of the forklift operator could be held liable if their employers neglected to enrol them in regular refresher training.

How much does it cost to renew a forklift licence?

Want to find out how much a forklift licence costs?

As mentioned above, a forklift licence is actually certification that someone has successfully completed the relevant forklift training. As a result, the cost to renew a forklift licence in the UK, is simply how much it costs to take the required refresher forklift training.

If you are renewing your forklift training, then you’ll need to take an experienced operator training course (also known as a refresher forklift training course) which can cost anywhere between £295-£350.

However, if you’re an employer that wants to upskill several of your employees at once, then you can get group discounts to reduce the renew forklift licence price for some training courses from selected providers in the UK.

Refresher forklift training at SB Skills Solutions

Keen to update your forklift licence by investing in professional refresher training?

Contact the knowledgeable team at SB Skills Solutions today.

A trusted second generation, family-owned business, we have decades of invaluable experience delivering fully accredited and high-quality forklift training courses for a wide range of clients.

Best of all, our comprehensive industrial forklift training courses are led by qualified instructors and professional examiners.

Based in Skelmersdale, our forklift training courses are accredited by NPORS or delivered in-house by us tailored to your requirements.

With courses for beginners and experienced forklift operators alike, we offer novice, conversion, and refresher training sessions.

We also work with commercial and private clients on a national basis, so don’t hesitate to get in touch today regardless of who you are, or where you’re based, if you want to upskill yourself or your employees.

To speak to an expert member of our team, simply call us on 01695 558 420 or send an email to info@sbskills.co.uk. Alternatively, you can also fill out and submit our handy online contact form and once we’ve received your enquiry, we’ll get back to your shortly to find out