What is an RTITB licence?
RTITB (Road Transport Industry Training Board) is the de-facto UK and Irish industry standard for forklift operator training. It isn't a legal requirement in Ireland — that role goes to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, which obliges employers to provide "adequate instruction, training and supervision" — but RTITB is what almost every Irish employer asks for, what every forklift hire firm checks, and what the HSA expects to see in an inspection.
Other accreditations you'll see: FLTA (Forklift Truck Association), LANTRA (more agriculture-leaning), and the older FAS / SOLAS framework. RTITB and LANTRA are the most common.
Course types and durations
| Course | Who it's for | Duration | Typical cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice | Never operated a forklift | 4–5 days | €395–€595 |
| Experienced (uncertified) | Has driven, never tested | 2–3 days | €255–€385 |
| Refresher | Held licence, expired or 3+ years old | 1 day | €140–€225 |
| Conversion | Licensed on one truck type, switching to another | 1–2 days | €185–€295 |
| Reach truck add-on | Licensed on counterbalance, adding reach | 1–2 days | €185–€275 |
| Telehandler / VRT | Variable Reach Truck (separate from counterbalance) | 2–3 days | €295–€450 |
Costs are per learner. Group bookings (4–8 learners) drop the per-head price by 15–30%. Some providers include the LOLER trial test in the headline cost; others charge it separately (€60–€90).
Named training providers
The shortlist below is built from current 2026 RTITB and LANTRA-accredited operations across Ireland. We list them here because their courses are the ones our regional dealer enquiries refer learners to. We don't take a percentage from these providers; we may add a flat referral fee in future, which we'll disclose.
Northwest Ireland
- Safetech Plant Training Centre — Drumkeen, Co. Donegal. RTITB Forklift Operator (2-day for experienced learners). Strong fit for Donegal, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Sligo learners. safetech.ie
- Industrial Transport Training (ITT) — Sligo, with mobile delivery to Donegal, Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Galway. RTITB-aligned, 1- to 5-day formats. Has a dedicated training warehouse for practical work. ittsligo.com
Greater Dublin and East
- EDST — Naas, Co. Kildare. National coverage, RTITB-accredited. edst.ie
- ISM (Irish School of Motoring) — Dublin. RTITB forklift training alongside HGV and PSV. ism.ie
- Airport Driving School — Cloghran, Co. Dublin. RTITB Certified, on-site at firms or at their own centre. airportdrivingschool.com
National
- Safetech Consulting and Training — Multiple delivery sites. RTITB Counterbalance Novice (4-day) and other modules. safetech.ie
- National Training Solutions — Open course schedule for forklift operator training. nationaltrainingsolutions.ie
- KTC Safety — LANTRA + RTITB delivery, multi-format. ktcsafety.ie
- NCTS — Construction and safety mix, including forklift. nctsltd.ie
FAQ
How long is an RTITB licence valid?
The certificate doesn't legally expire, but employers (and the HSA) generally expect refresher training every 3 years. Some employer policies require it every 2 years; some insurance policies require it annually for high-risk operations.
Can I do the course online?
The theory module can be done remotely, but the practical assessment must be in person — RTITB will not certify online-only practical training. Beware operators selling "RTITB online certification" with no practical day.
Does my employer have to pay?
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers must provide adequate training. In practice, most employers either pay for the course or fund it via Skillnet / Solas credits. Self-funded learners are common in casual / temp warehouse roles.
What's the difference between RTITB and the older FAS / SOLAS forklift cert?
FAS was the state body until 2013; SOLAS replaced it. The old FAS forklift cert is still recognised, but most new courses run under RTITB or LANTRA accreditation, which travel better internationally and are more current.