Ladder Association Training Scheme
Ladders are still legal. Using them badly is not.
Ladder Association training cuts through the confusion about what is and is not allowed when working at height. Half a day gives your team the competence to use ladders safely — and a LadderCard to prove it.
Half a day for the core user course
Works with the HSE on standards
Independent course comparison
Ladders have not been banned
The most persistent myth in working at height is that ladders are no longer allowed. They are. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 do not ban any particular equipment — they require you to select equipment appropriate to the task, and ladders remain entirely legitimate for short-duration, low-risk work where a more substantial platform would be disproportionate.
What the Regulations do require is competence. Anyone using a ladder at work should be trained to use it properly, and anyone inspecting ladders should know what they are looking for. That is what the Ladder Association scheme provides, and the LadderCard is the recognised evidence of it.
Ladder Association courses
Accredited courses delivered by approved training providers across the UK, in a classroom or at your own premises.
User · Most requested
Ladders and Stepladders for Users
The core half-day course for anyone who uses ladders or stepladders at work. Covers selecting the right ladder for the job, pre-use checks, safe positioning and footing, and the limits of what a ladder should be used for. Delegates receive a LadderCard and certificate on completion.
Inspection
For those responsible for the formal inspection of ladders and stepladders in the workplace. Covers what to look for, how to record findings, and when equipment should be taken out of service. The Work at Height Regulations require ladders to be inspected by a competent person.
On-site option
Group training at your premises
A half-day course suits group delivery particularly well. Training happens on the ladders your team actually uses, whole crews are trained in a morning, and everyone’s card expires on the same date — which makes the next round far easier to plan.
What the Ladder Association does
Training
The Association’s training scheme is the fastest way to cut through workplace confusion about what is and is not allowed. Half a day gives a worker the competence to use ladders safely, and the LadderCard to prove it to a client or inspector.
Guidance
Are you using your ladder properly? Is the ladder itself safe? Who should be trained to what level? Staying safe and on the right side of the law raises plenty of questions, and the Association has the expertise to answer them.
Advocacy
The Association is the voice of the industry, promoting the highest standards of competence and working with major bodies including the Health and Safety Executive. Its Advocate Scheme keeps users and managers informed of the latest developments.
Ladders, towers or powered access?
Three types of access equipment, three separate training schemes. Holding a card for one does not cover the others, and the right choice depends on the job rather than on preference.
Ladder Association — ladders and steps
Short-duration, low-risk tasks where setting up a tower or platform would be disproportionate. Quick to train and quick to deploy.
Aluminium towers assembled by hand for longer tasks needing a working platform. A separate scheme with a card valid five years.
Scissor lifts, cherry pickers and boom lifts, for work at greater heights or over obstacles. Issues the PAL Card, also valid five years.
Ladder training — frequently asked questions
Are ladders banned at work?
No, and this is the most common misunderstanding in working at height. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 do not prohibit any particular equipment. They require you to choose equipment suited to the task, and ladders remain appropriate for short-duration, low-risk work. What the Regulations do require is that the person using the ladder is competent to do so.
What is a LadderCard?
The LadderCard is the photo card issued to delegates who complete Ladder Association training. It is the recognised evidence that the holder has been trained to use ladders and stepladders safely, and is what a client, site supervisor or inspector will ask to see.
How long does ladder training take?
The core Ladders and Stepladders for Users course is half a day, which makes it one of the quickest recognised working at height qualifications to obtain. Inspection training is typically a separate short course.
Do ladders need to be formally inspected?
Yes. Ladders should be checked by the user before each use, and inspected at intervals by a competent person, with the findings recorded. Ladder inspection training covers what to look for and when equipment should be taken out of service — a step many workplaces overlook until something fails.
Is ladder training a legal requirement?
The Regulations do not name a specific training scheme, but they do require that anyone working at height is competent. Ladder Association training is the most widely recognised way of demonstrating that competence, and many clients and principal contractors now ask for a LadderCard as a condition of working on their premises.
Can ladder training be delivered at our premises?
Yes, and it suits this course particularly well. Because it runs for half a day, a whole crew can be trained in a morning without losing a full day’s work, and the training happens on the ladders your team actually uses rather than on a training rig. Get a group quote.
Find a ladder training course near me
Ladder Association courses run at approved training centres across the UK, and are also commonly delivered at the client’s own premises. Because the course includes practical work with real ladders, it is delivered in person rather than online.
To find a course near you, open the course from the cards above for live dates and venues. Nothing suitable showing? Contact us and we will let you know when something becomes available in your area, or arrange delivery at your own site.
Related working-at-height training
PASMA tower training
IPAF MEWP training
Ladder inspection course
Scaffold inspection
Work at Height Regulations
Equipment safety training
Construction courses
On-site group training
Half a day. One card. No more guessing.
See live dates and locations from accredited training providers across the UK, or ask about delivery at your own premises.