Course and certificate
Asbestos Awareness
For anyone in the UK whose work could disturb asbestos without their knowing it, from maintenance staff, electricians, plumbers and joiners to decorators, caretakers and facilities teams. Seven short lessons in plain English explain what asbestos is and why it harms, where it is found, the duty to manage and the asbestos register, what awareness training does and does not allow, how to plan work around it, what to do if you disturb it and your employer's duties, followed by a 25-question test.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Languages
- English, Български, Español, Italiano, Polski, Português, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 7
- Time needed
- About 40 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 1 year
- Content updated
- 28 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- £12.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- Maintenance workers, caretakers and facilities staff
- Electricians, plumbers, gas and heating engineers
- Joiners, builders, plasterers, painters and decorators
- Telecom, IT and cable installers working in older buildings
- Surveyors, site managers and supervisors
- Anyone starting a job in the UK in buildings built before 2000
02Syllabus
03Assessment
25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
- HSE — Asbestos health effects and FAQ
- HSE — Asbestos training
- HSE — Asbestos FAQ
- HSE — Asbestos essentials
- HSE — Duty to manage asbestos
06Questions
Is asbestos awareness training a legal requirement?
Yes. Regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires employers to give adequate information, instruction and training to employees who are, or may be, exposed to asbestos, and to their supervisors. The law does not name a particular course or certificate.
Is this certificate accredited?
No. It is a certificate of completion: it shows you finished this asbestos awareness course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification, and your employer decides whether this training meets their needs.
Does this course let me work with asbestos?
No. It teaches you to recognise where asbestos may be, to avoid disturbing it and to know what to do in an emergency. It does not allow you to remove, repair or enclose asbestos. That needs training for non-licensed work, or a licensed contractor.
Does this course replace the training my employer must give me?
No. Your employer must still give you site-specific information, such as the asbestos register or survey for your workplace, instruction on the work you will do, and supervision. They must also assess the risk of your work and have an emergency procedure.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the lessons and the 25-question test in about an hour. You can stop and come back at any time on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
Nothing is charged. You see which lessons to read again and can retake the test as often as you need.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you pass: £12 for the certificate. The course and the test are free.
How does my employer check the certificate?
Every certificate has a number and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the number on our check page, shows your name, the course and the date you passed.
How long is the certificate valid?
The certificate shows a renewal date 12 months after you pass, as a yearly reminder to refresh your knowledge. HSE guidance says there is no legal requirement to repeat a whole formal awareness course every 12 months, but refresher training should be given as necessary, and every year for people doing non-licensed or licensed work. Your employer decides what refresher you need.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.