Forklift Refresher Course or Full Forklift Course: Which One Do You Need?
Short answer: If you have already passed the WSQ Operate Forklift course, you need the Forklift Operator Refresher Training, at least once every 3 years. MOM makes this mandatory from 1 January 2027. If you have never passed WSQ Operate Forklift, the refresher is not for you: you must take the full forklift course first.
Which forklift course do you need?
| Your situation | Course to take |
|---|---|
| Never trained, and you hold a Singapore Class 3 or Malaysian Class D driving licence | WSQ Operate Forklift (With Class 3 Licence), 3 days |
| Never trained, and you have no Class 3 driving licence | WSQ Operate Forklift (Without Class 3 Licence), 4 days |
| Passed WSQ Operate Forklift 3 or more years ago, with no refresher since | Forklift Operator Refresher Training |
| Passed WSQ Operate Forklift, or a refresher, less than 3 years ago | No course yet. Your next refresher is due within 3 years of your last course. |
| You operate a forklift above 5 tonnes | MOM also requires the Heavy Forklift Course, on top of WSQ Operate Forklift |
What MOM requires
- Everyone starts with the full course: MOM states that all forklift operators must attend the WSQ Operate Forklift course. Operators of forklifts above 5 tonnes must also attend the Heavy Forklift Course.
- Then a refresher every 3 years: from 1 January 2027, employers must make sure their forklift operators attend refresher training at least once every 3 years.
- Before they drive: MOM’s press release states that employers and principals must make sure operators complete the refresher in time, before allowing them to operate forklifts.
How the two courses differ
| WSQ Operate Forklift | Forklift Operator Refresher Training | |
|---|---|---|
| For | New operators | Operators who have already passed WSQ Operate Forklift |
| Length at THT Academy | 3 days with a Class 3 licence, 4 days without | 4 hours of online e-learning, then a 1-day in-person workshop |
| What you do | Learn to prepare, inspect, operate and hand over a forklift, with theory and practical lessons and assessments | Refresh WSH law and SS 573, load charts, stability, checks and safe operating techniques, with case studies of past accidents and a hands-on practical |
| Languages at THT Academy | English and Chinese | English and Mandarin |
| Funding | English classes are eligible for SkillsFuture funding and SkillsFuture Credit for eligible learners. Classes in other languages are not funded. | |
Why the refresher became mandatory
MOM reported that from 2022 to 2023, vehicular incidents were the leading cause of fatal injuries at work, and 1 in 4 of those deaths involved forklifts. Close to 8 in 10 forklift-related contraventions involved operators who had not done refresher training in the previous 3 years.
Planning for a team of operators
- List each operator with the date they passed WSQ Operate Forklift, and the date of any refresher since.
- Anyone with no WSQ Operate Forklift certificate goes on the full course first.
- Book the refresher for everyone else before 1 January 2027, spreading them across class dates so you are not short of drivers.
- Note each operator’s next refresher date, 3 years after their last course.
Booking for a group? Contact us at sales@thtc.com.sg or 6269 5269. For more on the 2027 rule, read our guide Forklift Refresher Training: What Employers Must Do by 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the forklift refresher course if I have never done the full forklift course?
No. The refresher is for operators who have already passed WSQ Operate Forklift. If you have never passed it, take the full WSQ Operate Forklift course first.
How often do forklift operators need a refresher?
At least once every 3 years. MOM makes this mandatory from 1 January 2027.
Which forklift course do I take if I have no Class 3 driving licence?
WSQ Operate Forklift (Without Class 3 Licence), a 4-day course at THT Academy. With a Singapore Class 3 or Malaysian Class D licence, you can take the 3-day course instead.
Do I need another course for forklifts above 5 tonnes?
Yes. MOM states that operators of forklifts above 5 tonnes must also attend the Heavy Forklift Course.
How long is the forklift refresher course at THT Academy?
4 hours of online e-learning, followed by a 1-day in-person workshop with case studies and a hands-on practical.
Are the forklift courses funded?
English classes of WSQ Operate Forklift and the refresher are eligible for SkillsFuture funding and SkillsFuture Credit for eligible learners. Classes in other languages are not funded.
Sources
