Last reviewed: 2026-05-31
Why asbestos training is a legal duty
Under Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), every employer must ensure that any employee who is — or is liable to be — exposed to asbestos, and anyone who supervises them, is given adequate information, instruction and training. The aim is that workers can recognise asbestos risks and avoid disturbing asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) unsafely.
This is not limited to asbestos specialists. It typically catches building, maintenance and allied trades — electricians, plumbers, joiners, heating engineers, roofers, demolition and refurbishment workers and others — because their day-to-day work can disturb hidden ACMs in pre-2000 buildings.
The three categories of training
HSE and the regulations describe three broad levels of asbestos training. The right level depends on the work a person actually does:
- Asbestos awareness (often called Category A) — information and instruction so workers can avoid disturbing asbestos. Crucially, awareness training is NOT a qualification or licence to work on or remove asbestos; it is about recognising and avoiding it.
- Training for non-licensable work, including notifiable non-licensed work (NNLW) (Category B) — for those who will carry out lower-risk work that knowingly disturbs asbestos (for example certain asbestos-cement or textured-coating tasks), covering safe methods, controls and decontamination.
- Training for licensable work (Category C) — for those doing higher-risk work that legally requires an HSE licence (such as sprayed coatings, pipe lagging and most asbestos insulating board), covering the more stringent controls those jobs demand.
Awareness training is not a licence
This is the single most common misunderstanding. Asbestos awareness training tells people how to recognise asbestos and what to do (and not do) so they avoid disturbing it. It does not authorise anyone to work on, repair or remove asbestos. Work that disturbs asbestos needs the appropriate non-licensable or licensable training and controls — and, for licensable materials, an HSE-licensed contractor.
Refresher training, online vs classroom
Regulation 10 requires training to be given at regular intervals and adapted to changes in the work. In practice, awareness training is commonly refreshed annually, though the regulations set a duty to keep training adequate rather than a single fixed legal interval — follow your risk assessment and current HSE guidance.
Asbestos awareness can be delivered online (e-learning) or in a classroom. Practical training for non-licensable and licensable work generally needs a hands-on, in-person element so workers can demonstrate safe methods, use of controls and decontamination. Choose the format that matches the work and your risk assessment.
Who provides asbestos training
Training is delivered by many independent providers across the UK. Several accreditation, registration and awarding bodies operate membership schemes or course directories you can search to find a provider — for example UKATA (United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association), IATP (Independent Asbestos Training Providers), RoSPA and CITB.
These are independent organisations. AsbestosDirectoryUK is not affiliated with them and does not endorse, accredit or guarantee any provider — and importantly, HSE itself states that listing these associations does not mean it endorses them. Always check that the training matches the work your people actually do. You can find course finders and links in our training section.
Sources & official guidance
We link to the authoritative source rather than reproducing it. Always check the current HSE guidance and legislation for your situation.