LOLER training is not a specific legal requirement by name. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 require thorough examinations to be carried out by a competent person — and training is the primary way inspectors demonstrate that competence. This guide covers the types of LOLER training courses available in the UK, the qualifications that are recognised by employers and clients, and how to find LOLER training near you.
What LOLER Training Is Required?
LOLER 1998 does not prescribe a specific course or qualification. Regulation 9(1) requires that thorough examinations are carried out by a competent person. The regulations define competence in terms of knowledge and experience — not certificates.
The LOLER ACOP (Approved Code of Practice, L113) published by the HSE ↗ gives practical guidance on what competence means. It must include sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge of the specific equipment type being examined. A qualified engineer who has never worked with overhead cranes would not be competent to examine overhead cranes — regardless of their general credentials.
In practice, most employers and inspection companies use LEEA-accredited training or IOSH/NEBOSH qualifications as the baseline for demonstrating competence. These programmes provide a structured route to meeting the ACOP standard.
LOLER Inspection Training Courses
Several nationally recognised bodies offer LOLER inspection training in the UK. Each targets a different level of examiner — from awareness through to full Cat 1 and Cat 2 examiner qualification.
LOLER Competent Person Training: What the Law Actually Requires
The phrase "competent person" in LOLER carries legal weight. Under Regulation 9(1), the competent person must have sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be examined. Three elements must be present:
| Element | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Theoretical knowledge | Understanding of the regulations, equipment design, failure modes, and safe working load principles |
| Practical experience | Hands-on familiarity with the specific equipment type being examined |
| Independence | Sufficiently independent from the equipment owner and maintenance team to give an objective opinion |
A LOLER competent person training course provides the theoretical knowledge. The practical experience must be built on site, working alongside experienced examiners on the equipment types you will eventually examine independently. No training course alone satisfies the full competence requirement.
The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) ↗ publishes a competency framework that sets out the standards for thorough examination across different equipment categories. Many clients and insurers treat LEEA accreditation as the benchmark for demonstrating competence.
How to Become a LOLER Inspector
There is no single qualification that makes you a LOLER inspector. The recognised path combines technical grounding, equipment-specific experience, and formal training.
LEEA membership is not a legal requirement — but it is the most widely accepted signal of competence to clients, insurers, and the HSE. For those building an independent inspection business, LEEA affiliation is worth the investment early.
LOLER Training Near Me: Where to Find UK Courses
LOLER training courses run throughout the UK. Most providers offer both classroom and on-site delivery, so you do not need to travel to a fixed training centre.
For classroom-based LOLER training near you, check the following:
- LEEA training calendar ↗ — scheduled courses across the UK, including Scotland, the North, Midlands, and South East
- RTITB approved centres — focused on FLT and warehouse equipment inspection
- IPAF training centres — MEWP-specific, with centres in most major UK cities
- CFTS accredited providers — forklift thorough examination at locations nationwide
For online theory modules, several providers offer distance learning components of LOLER training courses. These can reduce travel costs but must be combined with practical assessment to satisfy competence requirements.
Costs for a LOLER training course range from £300 for a half-day awareness session to £1,500 for a full Cat 2 examiner programme with assessment. Most employers sponsor training for employees who will be carrying out examinations as part of their role.
What Trained Inspectors Need Beyond the Course
Your inspector finishes the course. They are now trained. But training alone does not make an inspection business run efficiently. The administration is where most small inspection companies lose time and margin.
Your inspector carries out the thorough examination on site. They need a way to complete the Schedule 1 report before they leave. They need the certificate delivered to the client without a second round of admin back at the office.
Lolerflow provides the LOLER inspection software to manage exactly that. Your inspector opens the mobile app on site, completes the examination form, and the Schedule 1 report generates automatically. No typing up at home. No lost records. See the full LOLER compliance guide for the full regulatory picture.
Frequently Asked Questions About LOLER Training
LOLER training is the foundation of a competent inspection programme. Choose the right course for your equipment type, build practical experience alongside formal training, and make sure the administration behind each examination is as robust as the examination itself. Read our guide to LOLER thorough examinations to understand exactly what trained inspectors must document on each visit.