Education and training of forklift operators
Get your forklift (VZV) operator licence. We'll prepare you and your employees for safe, confident work with a forklift — complete the theory online, with practical training carried out directly on the forklift. The course concludes with a valid operator licence that is also valid across the EU.
Interested in this course?
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What is the forklift truck operators' course
The forklift truck (motorised truck) operators' course is professional training, after successfully completing which you obtain a forklift operator's licence — the document your employer requires when assigning you to operate a forklift. It is intended for workers in warehouses, manufacturing, logistics and construction, as well as for companies that must ensure their forklifts are operated only by authorised persons.
Education and training for forklift operation is carried out in accordance with group 06 of Annex No. 7 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. The licence is issued by a person authorised to provide education and training holding an authorisation from the National Labour Inspectorate (NIP) and is valid in the Slovak Republic as well as in the European Union. Related qualifications are available in the load slinger, lifting equipment and cranes and mobile elevating work platforms courses.
Who the course is for
The course targets individuals who want to obtain a forklift operator's licence and improve their employment prospects, as well as companies that are legally required to ensure authorised operation of their forklifts.
For individuals
A forklift operator's licence is one of the most sought-after qualifications in warehouses, distribution centres, manufacturing and on construction sites. A valid licence is typically a condition of employment and often a prerequisite for higher earnings. As this is higher-risk work (load handling, tip-over, crushing of persons), a qualified operator holds a stable position in the labour market.
For companies and employers
Under § 6 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. you are required to ensure that work equipment is operated only by professionally competent persons, and under § 12 ods. 2 písm. d) an employee may operate a forklift only on the basis of a licence under § 16 ods. 1 and only if you have authorised them to do so. The licence is tied to a specific person — every forklift driver must hold one. Operating without a valid licence during an inspection risks a fine and, in the event of an accident, criminal liability.
Types of forklift, classes and when a driving licence is required
Motorised trucks are divided by drive type into class I (electric trucks) and class II (trucks with an internal combustion engine), and by steering and lift method into pedestrian-controlled, tiller- and steering-wheel-steered, low-lift and high-lift types. Group 06 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. specifies a minimum training scope for each type.
The most common high-lift steering-wheel-steered trucks are distinguished by capacity into type W1 (up to 5 tonnes) and W2 (over 5 tonnes). For steering-wheel-steered trucks, the scope of training depends on whether the participant holds a driving licence:
| Truck type | Driving licence | Minimum training scope |
|---|---|---|
| W1.1 — high-lift steering-wheel-steered up to 5 t (with driving licence) | B, C, D or T | 16 h theory + 12 h practical |
| W1.2 — high-lift steering-wheel-steered up to 5 t (without driving licence) | no | 19 h theory + 6 h road traffic rules + 22 h practical |
| W2 — high-lift steering-wheel-steered over 5 t | B, C, D or T | 16 h theory + 12 h practical |
| Low-lift / pedestrian-controlled / tiller-steered | generally no | shorter training by type |
When a driving licence is required: for steering-wheel-steered trucks (types W1.1 and W2). If the operator does not hold a driving licence (type W1.2), they complete extended training supplemented by 6 hours of road traffic rules. We always tailor the scope of training to the types of forklifts your company actually uses.
Course content and final examination
The course combines theoretical preparation with practical training, closing with an assessment of knowledge. It is based on Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (group 06) and may only be delivered by a person authorised to provide education and training with an authorisation from the National Labour Inspectorate (NIP); the professional representative is a BOZP (occupational health and safety) safety technician.
Theoretical and practical part
Theory covers legal regulations, the construction and types of forklifts, their stability and load capacity, safe load handling principles, pre-drive operational checks and risks (tip-over, falling load, crushing of persons). Practical training takes place on the specific type of forklift — driving, manoeuvring and load handling.
Final examination
Professional knowledge is assessed by an examination board of at least three members by written test and practical examination (§ 2 and § 3 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll.). After successful completion, a forklift operator's licence is issued for the types of truck for which the participant was trained.
Legal basis, obligations and sanctions
The operation of motorised forklifts is governed by binding legal regulations, which must be distinguished from technical standards STN (e.g. STN 26 8805), which provide technical guidance but are not themselves law.
Key regulations
Under § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., a forklift may be operated only on the basis of a valid licence. The scope and types of education and training are determined by Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (group 06). Conditions for the issue of a licence include a minimum age of 18 years and medical fitness (§ 16 ods. 2 a 4). Related inspections and checks of equipment are covered by our reserved technical equipment service.
Penalties for breach
If the labour inspectorate finds a forklift being operated without a valid licence, fines may be imposed under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll.:
| Breach | Fine | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Breach of BOZP (occupational health and safety) regulations (employer) | up to €100,000 | § 19 ods. 1 písm. a) |
| Accident with serious bodily harm / resulting in death | at least €20,000 / at least €33,000 | § 19 ods. 1 písm. a) |
| Serious breach of BOZP obligations | €1,000 to €200,000 | § 19 ods. 2 písm. b) |
| Operating without a valid licence | €300 to €33,000 | § 19 ods. 2 písm. a) |
| Managerial employee or statutory representative | up to four times average monthly earnings | § 19 ods. 1 písm. c) |
Who issues the licence. The forklift operator's licence is issued by the person authorised to provide education and training, NOT the labour inspectorate. Until 31 March 2021 licences were issued by labour inspectorates; following the amendment by Act No. 73/2021 Coll. (effective 1 April 2021), issuing was transferred to authorised persons.
Licence, validity and renewal
After successful completion you obtain a forklift operator's licence, which under § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. is issued for an indefinite period — it has no expiry date. However, its validity is contingent on the ongoing fulfilment of obligations (§ 16 ods. 12); neglecting these means you may not legally operate a forklift:
- Refresher instruction: the statutory minimum is at least once every 3 years (§ 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. — by amendment No. 114/2022 Coll. from 1 January 2023 the original 2 years was changed to 3). For forklift operators, a stricter interval of 2 years based on technical standard STN 26 8805 is also applied in practice — this is a standard recommendation, not a legal requirement.
- Update professional development (AOP): the licence holder must complete it within 5 years of issue and then within 5 years of each previous one (§ 16 ods. 8 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.); the minimum scope for group 06 is 8 hours.
- Preventive medical examination (LPP): medical fitness must be renewed within 5 years (§ 16 ods. 6); if fitness is lost the licence ceases to be valid.
There is widespread confusion on the market about refresher training intervals (some state 24, others 36 months). The correct position: the statutory minimum is 3 years under § 7 ods. 5; the stricter 2-year interval derives from standard STN 26 8805. We can track and remind you of all deadlines for your company, so your drivers' licences remain valid.
How to obtain a forklift truck licence — procedure
The path to a forklift operator's licence has six steps — our team guides you through them from the medical assessment to the issue of the licence.
Medical fitness assessment Obtain a medical fitness assessment for work — when the licence is issued, it must not be more than six months old (§ 16 ods. 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.).
Registration and scheduling Contact us with the number of participants, the types of forklifts your people operate and the location. We will agree on a date and scope, and advise you on which type (W1, W2…) you need.
Theoretical preparation The trainer covers regulations, the construction and types of forklifts, stability and load handling, pre-drive operational checks and safe working principles. Training takes place at your premises.
Practical training Under supervision, participants practise driving, load handling and vehicle checks on the specific type of forklift they will be operating.
Final examination before the examination board Professional knowledge is assessed by an examination board of at least three members — by written test and practical examination (§ 2 and § 3 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll.).
Issue of the licence After successful completion, the person authorised to provide education and training will issue you with a forklift operator's licence. We will notify you of the deadlines for refresher instruction, the medical examination and the update professional development.
Participation requirements, deadlines and legal basis
| Item | Value | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | at least 18 years | § 16 ods. 2 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Medical fitness | medical assessment no older than 6 months | § 16 ods. 2 a 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Qualification document | forklift operator's licence (issued by the person authorised to provide education and training) | § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. + Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (group 06) |
| Driving licence | for steering-wheel-steered trucks W1.1 and W2 (categories B/C/D/T) | Annex No. 7 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. |
| Refresher instruction | statute: at least once every 3 years; STN 26 8805 stricter at 2 years | § 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. / STN 26 8805 |
| Update professional development (AOP) | within 5 years, then within 5 years each time (scope 8 h) | § 16 ods. 8 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. + Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. |
| Preventive medical examination (LPP) | within 5 years | § 16 ods. 6 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Licence validity | indefinite (subject to obligations being met) | § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
Scope of the forklift operators course
Participation requirements
Completed compulsory school attendance, age at least 18 years, medical fitness certificate not older than 6 months.
Course scope
Basic course: 16 hours. Repeated familiarization: 3 hours. Update professional training: 6 hours.
Repeated familiarization and update training
Repeated familiarization with regulatory changes and current OHS knowledge every 36 months (Act 124/2006, §7 para. 5). Update training every 5 years (§16 para. 8).
Classification of forklifts
Class I – electric trucks. Class II – internal-combustion trucks. Type A – platform, low-lift, tow and push – hand-guided. Type B – platform, low-lift, tow and push – lever-controlled. Type C – platform, low-lift, tow and push – steering-wheel controlled. Type D – high-lift – hand-guided. Type E – high-lift – lever-controlled. Type W1 – high-lift up to 5 t – steering-wheel controlled. Type W2 – high-lift over 5 t – steering-wheel controlled. Type G – high-lift with lifting platform. Type Z – special trucks.
Why choose Alpha Safety?
- Certified instructors with years of experience
- Official certificates and credentials issued
- Flexible training schedules
- Training throughout Slovakia
- Individual approach to each participant
Duration
By truck type
Format
Online theory + practical training
Related courses
Stručná odpoveď
The “Operation of forklift trucks” course is intended for company employees who are to operate motor (forklift) trucks. It covers theoretical and practical preparation under Decree No. 356/2007 Coll., group 06 — safe operation, load handling and maintenance according to the individual types of trucks. After successful completion, the participant obtains a motor-truck operator's licence card.
Časté otázky – Forklifts
The course is intended for company employees who operate forklift (motor) trucks — in warehouses, production, logistics or on construction sites. A participant must be at least 18 years old and medically fit. It is also suitable for employers who, under § 6 a § 12 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., must ensure operation by authorised personnel. We organise the training for entire work groups directly at your company.
After successful completion, the participant obtains a motor-truck operator's licence card under § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. The card authorises the operation of the types of trucks for which the holder was trained and is valid in the Slovak Republic and in the European Union. The education and training are delivered under Decree No. 356/2007 Coll., group 06.
The licence card is issued by a person authorised to provide education and training and holding an authorisation from the National Labour Inspectorate, not by the labour inspectorate. Until 31 March 2021, licence cards were issued by the labour inspectorates; by the amendment under Act No. 73/2021 Coll. (from 1 April 2021), issuance was transferred to authorised persons.
Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (group 06) classifies motor trucks by drive into class I (electric) and class II (with a combustion engine), and by guidance and lift into hand-guided, lever- and steering-wheel-controlled, low-lift and high-lift. High-lift steering-wheel trucks are divided by load capacity into type W1 (up to 5 tonnes) and W2 (above 5 tonnes). We tailor the training to the types your operation actually uses.
For steering-wheel-controlled trucks (types W1.1 and W2), a driving licence of group B, C, D or T is required. If a participant does not hold one (type W1.2), they complete extended training supplemented by 6 hours of road traffic rules. For hand-guided and low-lift trucks, a driving licence is generally not required.
The duration depends on the type of truck under Annex No. 7 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. A high-lift steering-wheel truck up to 5 tonnes with a driving licence (W1.1) has at least 16 hours of theory and 12 hours of practice; without a driving licence (W1.2) 19 hours of theory, 6 hours of road traffic rules and 22 hours of practice; above 5 tonnes (W2) 16 hours of theory and 12 hours of practice. For company groups, we adapt the organisation to your operation.
The statutory minimum for refresher familiarisation is at least once every three years (§ 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.; by the amendment under Act No. 114/2022 Coll., the original 2 years were changed to 3 from 2023). For truck operators, a stricter interval of 2 years under the technical standard STN 26 8805 is also applied in practice. In addition, the licence-card holder is obliged to complete refresher professional training within five years (§ 16 ods. 8).
These are two different sources. The statutory minimum for refresher familiarisation is 3 years, i.e. 36 months (§ 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.). The stricter interval of 24 months arises from the technical standard STN 26 8805, which is a recommendation of the standard, not a statutory obligation. The two figures must therefore be distinguished and not confused.
An applicant must be at least 18 years old and medically fit under § 16 ods. 2 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. Medical fitness is evidenced by a medical assessment no older than six months (§ 16 ods. 4) on the basis of a preventive medical examination in relation to the work.
The course includes a theoretical part (legislation, construction and types of trucks, stability, the principles of safe load handling, pre-drive checks and risks) and practical training directly on the truck. The scope is adapted to the types of trucks your employees actually use.
Professional knowledge is verified by an examination board of at least three members through a written test and a practical examination under § 2 a § 3 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. After successful completion, a motor-truck operator's licence card is issued covering the types for which the participant was trained.
Under § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., the licence card is issued for an indefinite period. However, it becomes invalid if the holder does not undergo a preventive medical examination (within 5 years, § 16 ods. 6), fails to complete refresher professional training (within 5 years, § 16 ods. 8) or has the licence card withdrawn (§ 16 ods. 12).
Under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll., an employer faces a fine of up to EUR 100 000, for a serious breach from EUR 1 000 to 200 000, and for an activity without a licence card from EUR 300 to 33 000. In the case of an accident causing serious harm the fine is at least EUR 20 000, and in the case of death at least EUR 33 000. The licence card is tied to a specific person, so every truck driver must hold one.
Yes. For companies and work groups, we deliver forklift-truck operation training directly at your operation, including the practical part on your trucks. We adapt the dates to your shifts so that operational downtime is as small as possible. Just contact us with the number of employees and the types of trucks.
Basic course from 107,90 € per person (prices exclude VAT). Refresher training 21,90 €. Update professional training (AOP) 44,90 €. We confirm the exact price based on the number of participants and the training format.
Interested in forklift operator training?
Contact us and we will schedule a training date.