“Is my certificate still valid?” This is the question we’re asked most often, usually when a client makes a request, an inspection is due, or there’s a new recruit to train. The answer isn’t a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’: the validity of a safety training certificate depends on the role of the person trained and the requirement for periodic refresher training. Furthermore, the situation has changed: from 2025, a new State-Regions Agreement will come into force, which has revised the durations and expiry dates.
How long is a safety certificate valid for?
Let’s start by clearing up a common misunderstanding: the certificate does not have an expiry date printed on it, unlike a driving licence. The document certifies that training has been completed, and that knowledge remains valid. What ‘expires’ is the obligation to undergo refresher training: the law requires that knowledge be refreshed at regular intervals, as risks, procedures and regulations change over time.
This requirement stems from Article 37 of Legislative Decree 81/08, the Consolidated Act on Safety, and is implemented through the State-Regions Agreements. From 24 May 2025, a new Single Agreement (17 April 2025) will come into force, consolidating and replacing the previous ones, with a transitional period ending on 24 May 2026. A certificate obtained under the previous rules remains valid: what changes is the frequency with which it must be updated.
How often does refresher training need to be undertaken: deadlines by role
There is no single deadline: each role has its own. Here are the main durations for refresher training for the most common roles, according to the new Agreement.
• Workers: refresher training every 5 years, at least 6 hours.
• Supervisor: refresher training every 2 years, at least 6 hours.
• Manager: refresher training every 5 years, at least 6 hours.
• Employer acting as Health and Safety Manager (RSPP): refresher training every 5 years, 8 hours.
• Professional Health and Safety Manager (RSPP): refresher training every 5 years, 40 hours.
• Assistant Health and Safety Manager (ASPP): refresher training every 5 years, 20 hours.
• Workplace Safety Representative (RLS): refresher training every year, 4 or 8 hours depending on the size of the company.
The most significant change concerns the designated safety officer: refresher training has been brought forward from every five years to every two years and must be undertaken in a classroom or via synchronous video conference, not via e-learning. There are also changes for employers, with a new 16-hour training requirement to be completed by 24 May 2027. First aid and fire safety training are subject to specific frequency requirements (every three years and based on the level of risk, respectively).
Basic course and refresher course: what’s the difference?
It’s a distinction that raises a lot of questions. The basic course is the comprehensive initial training: for workers, for example, it consists of a general section and a specific section tailored to the risk category of the activity. It is undertaken once and certifies the initial skills.
Refresher training, on the other hand, serves to keep that training valid over time: it is shorter in duration and is repeated when the training period for the relevant role expires. The key point is that refresher training does not replace the basic course: if the initial training is missing, it cannot be ‘made up for’ with a refresher course. Anyone who changes job or takes on a new role (for example, becoming a safety officer) needs additional training, not a refresher course. On our website, you will find both training courses for workers and the corresponding refresher courses.
Expired certificate: what happens and what must the company do?
When refresher training is not completed by the deadline, the course certificate does not ‘disappear’, but the employee is no longer considered to be adequately trained. For the company, this means it is not in compliance: the employer is responsible for the training of their staff and, in the event of an inspection or an accident, the lack of up-to-date training exposes them to administrative and criminal consequences.
The good news is that getting back on track is almost always straightforward: in most cases, it is sufficient to complete the refresher course, without having to repeat the entire basic training programme. Our advice is to keep a training schedule and plan refresher courses in advance.
Who issues a valid certificate and how to recognise it
Not all certificates are of equal value. To be valid, a workplace safety course certificate must be issued by a training provider recognised by the relevant legislation: bodies accredited by the Regions, institutional training providers, joint bodies and representative associations. A health and safety course certificate issued by an organisation not included among these bodies risks not being recognised in the event of an inspection.
A certificate that complies with the regulations is issued following a course that includes a final assessment of learning and attendance of at least 90 per cent of the hours; it must include the relevant legal references (Article 37 of Legislative Decree 81/08 and the State-Regions Agreement) and is valid throughout the country. Online safety courses leading to a certificate also meet these requirements, provided they are delivered by a qualified organisation. Sicurezza Online provides training as an organisation accredited by the Lombardy Region (Register No. 970) and ISO 9001-certified: our workplace safety courses issue certificates valid throughout Italy.
Bring your business into compliance, with no uncertainty
Understanding validity periods, expiry dates and refresher training rules is the first step to ensuring you’re not caught unprepared: you now know how long each certificate is valid for, how to distinguish between basic and refresher courses, and how to recognise a valid document. If you have any doubts about your staff’s expiry dates, we’re here to help clarify things. Discover the health and safety training courses suited to your business and, if you also need the mandatory documentation, take a look at the DVR: with a real expert by your side, organising training is easier than it seems.
Frequently Asked Questions from Customers
Here are the most common questions we receive from our customers.
- How long is a workplace safety certificate valid for? Generally speaking, training must be refreshed every 5 years, but the validity period depends on the role. Under the new State-Regions Agreement, the safety representative must undergo refresher training every 2 years; the Workers’ Safety Representative (RLS) every year; first aid and fire safety training follow their own schedules. The certificate does not have a fixed expiry date: it certifies the training completed, which must then be kept valid through the periodic refresher training required for that role.
- If my certificate has expired, do I have to retake the whole course from the start? In most cases, no: it is sufficient to complete the refresher course required for your role, without repeating the basic training you have already completed. The basic course only needs to be retaken in specific situations, such as a change of role or risk level. Our advice is not to wait until the certificate expires and to plan your refresher training in advance.
- Is refresher training for safety officers really every two years now? Yes. Under the new State-Regions Agreement, which comes into force in 2025, refresher training for safety officers has changed from every five years to every two years and must be undertaken in a classroom or via synchronous video conferencing, not via e-learning. This is one of the most significant changes: those responsible for managing staff should review the training schedules for their safety officers.
