What is meant by a registered training provider?
A registered training provider is an individual, or a company/organisation, which has agreed their quality assurance procedures with FETAC and is registered with FETAC to provide training courses that lead to FETAC awards. The list of registered training providers is available on the FETAC website www.fetac.ie
There is also information and an application form available on the website for individuals or companies who wish to become registered training providers.
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Is the process for registering with FETAC the same for small organisations and for large organisations?
Yes the process is the same but the details on the application form may vary
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Who monitors registered training providers to ensure that they adhere to their procedures when delivering training courses?
FETAC has the monitoring role for all registered training providers.
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Will any current manual handling, or people handling, instructor training courses be recognised after the new FETAC standards are released?
When the FETAC standards for manual handling instruction and people handling instruction are released, a registered training provider must submit their instructor training programme to FETAC for validation. When the programme is validated the registered training provider can then provide FETAC Level 6 manual handling or people handling instructor-training courses.
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Is there a charge for providers to register with FETAC?
No, there is no charge for providers to register with FETAC.
When providers deliver courses that lead to FETAC level 6 awards there will be a charge for each certificate that FETAC provides for successful learners.
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Could a sole trader provide instructor training within a larger organisation that is a FETAC registered training provider?
Yes a sole trader could be contracted to a larger organisation. However the sole trader must adhere to the organisations quality assured procedures and the organisation has overall responsibility for the quality of the training delivered.
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How can a company register with FETAC to provide Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for current instructors?
The company must first register with FETAC and agree their quality assurance. The company must then submit a programme to FETAC to provide instructor courses that meet the new FETAC standards. FETAC will validate that programme
The company must then register with FETAC to provide RPL. Information on all these processes is available on the FETAC website www.fetac.ie
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Are there guidelines available on the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process for companies or individuals who are registered with FETAC to provide RPL?
Yes there will be guidelines available on the process to be followed by companies, to facilitate a current instructor to achieve a level 6 award in manual handling instruction or people handling instruction, through the system of RPL. This guidance is detailed in the Guidance on the Manual Handling Training System - 2010 Revision
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How long will the instructors courses for manual handling instruction and for people handling instruction be?
The guideline is that the manual handling instructor’s course will last five days and the people handling instructor’s course will last eight days.
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Are there FETAC standards for manual handling training and people handling training at operative level?
There are no plans at this stage to introduce FETAC standards for operative level training in manual handling or in people handling. However there will be updated guidance provided by the HSA
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Is there any guidance available on the New Manual Handling Training System?
Yes. There is a guidance document published by the Health and Safety Authority which is free to download “Guide on the Manual Handling Training System -2010 Revision”(PDF 1.7MB Opens in new window)
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What are the correct names of the new FETAC Level 6 Awards?
The proper names for the two FETAC Level 6 awards are:
- Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in Manual Handling Instruction comprising the Level 6 Component Certificate Instructing Manual Handling.
- Level 6 Specific Purpose Certificate in People Handling Instruction comprising the Level 6 Component Certificate Instructing Manual Handling and the Level 6 Component Certificate Instructing People Handling
FAQs relevant to people who currently are manual handling, or people handling, instructors
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Do individual manual handling instructors have to be registered with FETAC?
Companies or organisations that provide instructor training courses must be registered with FETAC. Individual instructors who provide manual handling training at operative level do not have to register with FETAC.
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Will my current manual handling instructor training course and certificate be recognised after the new FETAC standards for manual handling instruction and for people handling instruction, are released?
Any instructor who has previously attended an instructor-training course must achieve the FETAC level 6 award in manual handling instruction or people handling instruction, through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, or through attending another course. The phase in period will continue until December 2012.
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When will recognition of prior learning (RPL) be available for existing instructors to achieve a FETAC level 6 award in manual handling instruction or in people handling instruction?
The system for RPL is now operational and there are a number of Training organisations approved as RPL providers by FETAC. This is the current list of approved RPL providers:
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Who will provide RPL for current instructors who wish to achieve a FETAC level 6 award in manual handling instruction or in people handling instruction?
The system for RPL is now operational and there are a number of Training organisations approved as RPL providers by FETAC. The RPL approved provider will then provide the information, documentation and assessment required for the instructor to achieve a FETAC level 6 award through RPL.
Providers approved by FETAC to offer named awards to learners through Recognition of Prior Learning as of April 2012
| Provider | Approved to offer |
| Safety Solutions | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Denis O Sullivan | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Nifast | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Firceall Safety Ltd | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Chris Mee Engineering | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Anderlift Safety Service | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Abbey Physio | Manual Handling Instruction People Handling Instruction |
| Occupational Physiotherapy Solutions | Manual Handling Instruction People Handling Instruction |
| Heartbeat Safety | Manual Handling Instruction |
| National Safety Centre | Manual Handling Instruction |
| Qualtec | Manual Handling Instruction People Handling Instruction |
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Is there a time frame for current manual handling instructors, or people handling instructors, to achieve the FETAC level 6 award through RPL?
Yes, any instructor who has previously attended an instructor-training course must achieve the FETAC level 6 award in manual handling instruction or people handling instruction, through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, or through attending another course. The phase in period will continue until December 2012.
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Is it possible to get information on what training provider organisations have had their FETAC Level 6 Manual Handling or People Handling Instruction Training Programmes validated by FETAC?
Yes, FETAC have provided a weblink where you can access the training programmes validated by FETAC.
View Weblink to FETAC Validated Training Programmes
Will there be a need for instructors, who have achieved a FETAC level 6 award for manual handling instruction or people handling instruction, to be re-certified at any stage?
The FETAC level 6 award is an award for life so there is no need for recertification. However continuous professional development will be important for instructors to maintain their competence and to remain up to date with ongoing developments in the area of manual handling and people handling.
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What is the current status with the new Manual Handling Training system?
The FETAC Level 6 Awards in Manual Handling Instruction and People Handling Instruction have been approved by FETAC council and were published on March 31st 2010 These awards are at level 6 on the national framework of qualifications, are nationally and internationally recognised and endorsed by the Health and Safety Authority. These awards have been devised to ensure ‘instructors’ of manual handling and people handling operate to a nationally recognised standard.
Programme Validation
Registered providers who wish to offer these awards will be required to submit their programmes to FETAC for validation prior to offering these awards to learners. The process of validation involves the provider developing their own programme in accordance with a standard template provided by FETAC and submitting it for evaluation. The validation process is approximately 12 weeks from receipt of a valid application for validation. Once successfully evaluated by FETAC the provider will be granted approval to offer the programme.
View Weblink to FETAC Validated Training Programmes
Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL)
Existing instructors with experience and other awards in this field will be facilitated to have their prior learning recognised and assessed to enable them to achieve the awards. This recognition of prior learning process will allow those who are currently instructors obtain FETAC Level 6 awards in manual handling instruction and people handling instruction.
The details on the recognition of prior learning process were finalised at the end of 2010. In general it will require existing instructors to submit a portfolio of evidence which can be assessed in a short period against the standards in the awards. The assessment process will include practical skills, demonstration(s) and a theory test to demonstrate competence.RPL can only be offered by registered FETAC providers approved to offer RPL for these awards.
The system for RPL is now operational and there are a number of Training organisations approved as RPL providers by FETAC. When you use the weblink below it will bring you to a page with the heading "Recognition of Prior Learning-Update for Registered Providers". If you scroll down and select the link "list of providers with B10 RPL approval it will detail any Training organisations who are RPL approved. These can be viewed at the following weblink
View Weblink for FETAC approved RPL Providers
Becoming a Registered FETAC training provider
Only those training providers organisation who wish to offer the Manual Handling Instruction and People Handling Instruction awards should register as a provider to offer FETAC awards. This registration process involves agreement of their quality assurance policies and procedures with FETAC.
Training provider organisations who wish to register with FETAC should first attend a FETAC Briefing. See www.fetac.iefor details of the next Quality Assurance new Provider Briefing.
Current instructors who wish to offer manual handling and people handling courses e.g. to operatives do not have to register as a FETAC Provider. Those who only wish to achieve the awards as an instructor should do so via a FETAC registered provider.
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