How Long is Hazmat Training Good For?

How long is hazmat training good for? is a question many people ask during their first training experience focused on hazmat/dangerous goods (DG) compliance. It’s an apt question; like many other health and safety-related standards, the regulations for shipping hazmat require trained employees (i.e., “hazmat employees”) to complete regular re-training or “recurrent" training.

The basic answer to this question is spelled out for us in the US and international regulations.

For new employees, especially for those new to the world of hazardous materials, initial hazmat training is tremendously important. The employee's first hazmat training should plant knowledge and insights that will serve the employee for their entire career in the field, building a solid base that each subsequent re-training will build on.

So, how long is hazmat training good for? The simple answer is that hazmat employee training should be "good for" two or three years, but that good hazmat training will serve you for a lifetime. 

Basics: How Long Is Hazmat Training Good For?

The interval for mandatory re-training of “hazmat employees” depends on the mode(s) of transportation used to ship hazmat/dangerous goods:

• For shippers of hazmat by highway or rail, “hazmat employees” must complete recurrent training at least once every three years [49 CFR 172.704(c)]

• For shippers of hazmat/dangerous goods by air, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) requires training every 24 months [IATA DGR 1.5]

• The IMDG Code directs shippers of hazmat by vessel (e.g., cargo ship) to be re-trained as required by your national authority. In the US, our “national authority” is the DOT, who require training at least once every three years [IMDG Code 1.3.1]

In reality, hazmat training and re-training is about far more than "checking a box" to show that the training was done. Effective training is central to compliance with complicated US and international standards, employee health and safety, and the safe movement of hazmat in the supply chain. 

Why First-Time Hazmat Training Is Crucial to Success 

If your initial hazmat training was comprehensive and effective, your re-training will deepen your understanding of the hazmat regulations. With a strong knowledge base to work from, you can focus on new information during re-training such as regulatory updates, strategies to simplify compliance, and reliefs and exceptions you can use to streamline your operations.

Or, re-training can feel like a shock, as you realize that your first hazmat training left out a lot of important details. Now you’re playing catch up, trying to re-learn critical basics that your previous training glossed over.

In short, hazmat training is about building expertise and knowledge over a career—not re-learning the same simple facts once every three years. How long that training is "good for" depends on how good the hazmat training is!

Hazardous materials professionals provide value for organizations around the world every day. Effective compliance with U.S. and international hazmat regulations creates a competitive edge for shippers, especially when cargo space is in high demand, strong relationships with carriers are crucial to success, and good stewardship is essential for maintaining a positive business reputation.

Stay Compliant, Stay Competitive

Hazardous materials professionals provide value for organizations around the world every day. Effective compliance with U.S. and international hazmat regulations creates a competitive edge for shippers, especially when cargo space is in high demand, strong relationships with carriers are crucial to success, and good stewardship is essential for maintaining a positive business reputation.

Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification (DOT)
Hazmat Air Shipper Certification (IATA)
Hazmat Vessel Shipper Certification (IMDG)