Driver Training · Counterbalance
Counterbalance forklift training and certification in Ireland
Novice, conversion and refresher courses on the standard sit-on counterbalance truck — delivered on your site, on your own equipment, with certificates issued on the day.
Counterbalance certification
The category most Irish operators need first
The counterbalance forklift — sit-on, front-loading, no outriggers — is the most common truck on Irish sites and the category most operators certify on first. Irish workplace law requires operators to be trained and competent on the specific truck type they use, which means a counterbalance ticket does not cover a reach truck or an order picker, and vice versa. AWE runs counterbalance courses nationwide for complete novices, for experienced operators converting from another category or from unaccredited in-house training, and for the three-yearly refresher that keeps existing certification current. Training is delivered on your own truck wherever practical, so the operator you get back at the end of the week is competent on the machine they actually drive.
Syllabus
What the course covers
Theory, practical and assessment against the accredited counterbalance syllabus recognised by Irish employers and insurers.
Legislation and responsibilities
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act duties, the operator's responsibilities and what the HSA expects to see on an Irish site.
Pre-use inspection
Daily checks on forks, chains, tyres, hydraulics, battery or fuel, horn, lights and seat restraint — plus how to record and report defects.
Practical operation
Manoeuvring loaded and unloaded, ramps, confined aisles, pedestrian interaction, load pick-up, travel and placement.
Stacking, de-stacking and assessment
Racking work at height, load stability and capacity plates, followed by theory and practical assessment against the accredited syllabus.
Which level?
Novice, conversion or refresher
Course length is set by prior experience, not by preference — we assess that before quoting.
| Novice | Conversion / experienced | Refresher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical duration | 3–5 days | 1–2 days | 1 day |
| Prior forklift experience | None required | Another category | Currently certified |
| Theory and practical | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Formal assessment | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate issued on the day | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on your own truck | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Typical trigger | New hire | Moving truck type | 3-year expiry |
How it works
From enquiry to certificate
Tell us the group
How many operators, their experience, the truck they will drive and where the site is.
Written quote and dates
Per-group and per-head price with available dates, normally back to you within one working day.
Course on your site
Instructor travels to you with syllabus, materials and testing kit. Training runs on your own counterbalance truck where practical.
Certified and recorded
Certificates issued on the day for successful candidates, digital records held, reminder sent before the three-year expiry.
FAQ
Counterbalance training — common questions
Keep exploring
Related services
All driver training courses
Counterbalance, reach, VNA, order picker, pallet truck, MEWP and manual handling.
Learn moreForklift hire
Need a truck for the course or for the work after it? Daily, weekly and contract hire.
Learn moreThorough Examination
Statutory inspection of the trucks your newly certified operators will be driving.
Learn moreKnowledge Hub
Read before you decide
Forklift Licence Ireland: What the Law Actually Requires
There is no government-issued forklift licence in Ireland. What the law requires is documented training, an employer authorisation and a safe system of work — here is exactly how that works.
8 min readForklift Operator Training Cost in Ireland — What You'll Pay and Why
Novice, experienced-operator and refresher courses are priced very differently, and group size changes the per-head cost more than anything else. Here is how Irish forklift training pricing really works.
7 min readForklift Daily Safety Checklist for Irish Sites
The pre-use check takes five minutes and is the single cheapest way to prevent both incidents and breakdowns. Here is the full walk-around, in the order that works.
6 min readNeed counterbalance operators certified this month?
On-site courses available nationwide. Call (01) 401 9919 and we'll confirm the next available dates.