Is there such a thing as a forklift licence?
Not in law. The UK has no DVLA-style licence for lift trucks. What the law requires, through the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, is that operators are adequately trained, and the HSE's Approved Code of Practice L117 sets out what adequate means: basic training on the type of truck, specific job training for the site and attachments, and familiarisation on the actual machine.
The forklift licence everyone talks about is the certificate of basic training you get at the end of an accredited course. It is registered with the accrediting body, which is what lets a new employer verify it, and it is the document an HSE inspector or an insurer will ask to see. RTITB, the body BJB is accredited by, records certificates on its national register.
Which forklift licence do you need?
Certificates are issued per type of truck, using the RTITB and ABA category codes. Pick the course for the truck you will actually drive:
- Counterbalance B1: up to 5,000 kg, the standard warehouse and yard forklift and the most common first certificate.
- Counterbalance B2: 5,000 to 15,000 kg, for distribution, ports and heavy manufacturing.
- Counterbalance B3: over 15,000 kg, for ports, steel and heavy industry.
- Reach truck D1 to D3, pallet trucks and stackers A1 to A7, order pickers E1 and E2, VNA F1 and F2, sideloaders C1 to C3, pivot steer P1, rough terrain and telehandlers J1 to J4.
- For scissor lifts and cherry pickers the certificate is an IPAF PAL Card, not an RTITB certificate.
A certificate on one category does not cover another. An operator who holds counterbalance and needs reach truck takes a shorter conversion course rather than starting again.
How do you get one, step by step?
- Work out the truck type and your starting point: novice (no experience), experienced (time on the truck, no certificate), refresher (certificate due) or conversion (certificated on another type).
- Book the course with an accredited provider. Accreditation means the content, instructors and testing are audited against a published standard, which is what makes the certificate worth having.
- Do the training: classroom theory (the truck, its stability, the rules, pre-use checks) and practical driving and load handling, at the training centre or on your own site.
- Pass the tests: a written theory test and a practical test observed by the instructor.
- Receive the certificate, and then get your employer's written authorisation to operate their trucks, after specific job training and familiarisation.
How long does forklift training take?
For a rider-operated truck such as a counterbalance, a novice course typically runs five days for a group of up to three operators, or three days for a single trainee. Experienced-operator and conversion courses are usually two days and a refresher is one day. Pedestrian trucks are shorter. Every course page on this site shows the length at each level.
How much does a forklift licence cost?
It depends on the truck, the level and how many operators train together, which is why prices are shown when you pick a date and level rather than as a single figure. Training on your own site is quoted per job. Employers can often train several operators together for little more than one.
How long does a forklift licence last?
The certificate has no legal expiry, but L117 expects employers to arrange refresher training, and RTITB recommends it every three years, or sooner after an accident or near miss, a long break from driving, or a change of truck. IPAF PAL Cards for access platforms are valid for five years.
Can you get a forklift licence with no job?
Yes. Individuals can book a novice course directly, and the certificate is yours, not your employer's. Bear in mind that the certificate is basic training: whoever employs you still has to give you job-specific training and authorise you on their trucks before you operate them.