How to Choose IATA Dangerous Goods Training Online in the UK

Shipping dangerous goods by air requires IATA certification. Your employer needs proof you know the regulations. The Civil Aviation Authority expects it. But dozens of providers offer IATA Dangerous Goods training online. Some cost £200, others £500. Some take three days, others a few hours. How do you know which one meets your needs and gives you a valid certificate?

The right IATA DGR training matches your job role, meets regulatory standards, and fits your schedule and budget. You need a provider approved by the CAA or IATA, offering the correct category of training for what you actually do. Online courses work well if they include proper assessment and certification.

This guide walks you through choosing IATA dangerous goods training in the UK. You’ll learn what the training covers, how to confirm you need it, which level suits your role, how to compare providers, and what to check about format and costs. By the end, you’ll know exactly which course to book.

What IATA dangerous goods training involves

IATA dangerous goods training teaches you how to classify, pack, mark, label, and document hazardous materials for air transport. The course follows the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) manual, which updates every year on 1 January. You’ll learn the rules that keep dangerous goods safe in aircraft holds and cargo bays.

Core modules you’ll study

Your course covers nine classes of dangerous goods, from explosives to corrosive substances. You learn to read the DGR manual, identify what counts as dangerous, and work out which packing instructions apply to your shipment. The training explains how to complete a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods correctly, because one mistake can ground a flight or trigger a fine.

Most courses include these modules:

• General philosophy and limitations: Why regulations exist and what you cannot ship by air
• Classification: How to assign UN numbers and proper shipping names
• Packing and marking: Which boxes, labels, and markings you must use
• Documentation: How to fill out the Dangerous Goods Declaration without errors
• Storage and loading: Where dangerous goods can sit on an aircraft and how to segregate them

Your training category depends on your job function. A person preparing consignments needs different content from someone accepting cargo at an airport.

Assessment and certification

You complete an examination at the end of your course, typically requiring 80% to pass. The test checks you can apply the regulations, not just memorise them. Online courses let you sit the exam remotely, though you must prove your identity.

Your certificate lasts 24 months from the date you pass. It shows your name, training category, the date you completed the course, and the version of the DGR you studied. Employers keep copies on file because the CAA or an airline can request proof during an audit. Some providers email your certificate immediately; others post a physical copy within a week.

Step 1. Confirm you need IATA DGR training

Not everyone who works near dangerous goods needs IATA certification. You need training if you classify, prepare, accept, handle, or load dangerous goods for air transport. The regulations require proof of training for anyone whose job function involves these tasks, even if you only do them occasionally.

Check your job functions against IATA requirements

You need IATA dangerous goods training if your role includes any of these activities:

• Classifying substances to determine if they count as dangerous goods
• Preparing consignments by packing, marking, and labelling packages
• Completing the Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods
• Accepting cargo at an airline counter or freight facility
• Loading or unloading dangerous goods from aircraft
• Screening packages for hidden or misdeclared hazardous materials

Even if you handle paperwork without touching the goods themselves, you still need certification if you complete transport documents or accept consignments.

Verify your exemptions

You do not need training if you only handle dangerous goods after they reach their final destination. Warehouse staff who store goods without shipping them typically fall outside the regulations. Lab technicians who prepare samples but hand them to a trained courier may not require certification either, though your employer’s policy might differ.

Check your job description and company procedures to confirm. If you sign transport documents, book air cargo shipments, or approve dangerous goods for loading, you need the training. When in doubt, assume you need it. The CAA can fine companies whose untrained staff handle regulated shipments.

Step 2. Define your training level and role

IATA dangerous goods training splits into different categories based on your job function. You cannot pick any course and expect it to meet your needs. Airlines, freight forwarders, and the CAA expect you to complete the correct category for what you actually do. Choosing the wrong one wastes money and leaves you uncertified for your role.

Understanding IATA training categories

IATA divides training into 12 specific categories, each designed for a particular function in the dangerous goods supply chain. Your employer should specify which category you need, but if they do not, you must work it out yourself. The categories cover everything from shippers preparing consignments to flight crew receiving notification of dangerous goods on board.

The most common categories include:

• Category 1 & 2: Shippers who classify and prepare dangerous goods for transport
• Category 3: Packers who physically pack dangerous goods into containers
• Category 5: Freight forwarders and cargo agents who accept consignments
• Category 6: Cargo acceptance staff at airlines and ground handlers
• Category 10: Load planners and flight dispatchers
• Category 12: Passengers and other persons (awareness training)

Each category requires different depth of knowledge. A shipper needs comprehensive understanding of classification and packing instructions, while a load planner focuses on stowage and segregation.

Match your role to the correct category

Check your job description and daily tasks against the category definitions. If you prepare shipments from start to finish, you likely need Categories 1 and 2 combined. These cover classification, packing, marking, labelling, and documentation. If you only accept already-prepared consignments at a freight facility, Category 5 or 6 applies.

Your training provider will ask which category you require when you book. Some courses combine multiple categories into one programme, which suits people with varied responsibilities. Others offer single-category training for specialists. Request guidance from your provider if you remain unsure, but come prepared with a clear description of your actual duties, not just your job title.

Step 3. Compare and shortlist providers

You need to separate legitimate IATA dangerous goods training providers from those offering worthless certificates. Dozens of companies advertise online courses, but only a handful deliver training that airlines and the CAA recognise. Start by checking approval status, then compare what each provider actually teaches and how they deliver it.

Verify CAA or IATA approval status

Check if the provider holds UK CAA approval for online dangerous goods training. The CAA publishes a list of approved training organisations on their website. IATA also maintains an Authorized Training Center (ATC) directory that shows which providers can issue IATA certificates. Your certificate means nothing if the issuing organisation lacks proper accreditation.

Contact the provider and ask for their approval number and expiry date. Legitimate organisations display this information prominently on their website and include it on certificates. If a provider cannot provide proof within 24 hours or claims approval is unnecessary, remove them from your list immediately.

Providers selling "IATA-style" or "IATA-compliant" training without actual IATA authorisation issue worthless certificates that airlines will reject.

Compare course content and delivery quality

Request a course syllabus or module breakdown from each provider. The syllabus should match the IATA DGR manual edition currently in force (check the year). Compare how each provider structures their content. Does the course include practical examples, case studies, or just regulatory text? Do they provide the actual DGR manual or expect you to buy it separately?

Check the assessment process and pass requirements. Reputable providers require an 80% pass mark and limit retake attempts. Ask how long you can access course materials and whether they include revision resources. Look for providers that offer post-training support, such as a helpline for questions after you complete the course.

Build your shortlist

Create a comparison table with three to five providers that meet your approval requirements. List each provider down the left side and add columns for these factors:

Narrow your list to two or three providers that offer the correct training category, hold valid approval, and fit your learning preferences. Contact each one to ask about next available course dates and whether they offer any support for first-time learners.

Step 4. Review format, costs and renewal

Your shortlisted providers offer different formats, price structures, and renewal policies. These factors directly affect how quickly you complete training, your total spend, and when you need to retrain. Compare these details carefully before booking, because the cheapest option often costs more in the long run if it requires expensive manual purchases or offers poor support.

Compare online vs classroom formats

Online iata dangerous goods training lets you study at your own pace and costs less than classroom courses. You log in when convenient, pause between modules, and sit the exam from your desk. Most online courses take 8 to 12 hours spread over days or weeks. Classroom courses run for one to three days in person, which suits some learners better but requires travel and time off work.

Check what each format includes and excludes:

Calculate total training costs

Course prices range from £200 to £500 per person depending on provider, format, and whether materials come included. Add the cost of the DGR manual if your provider charges separately (around £95 to £150). Factor in travel and accommodation for classroom courses. Some providers offer bulk discounts if you book multiple staff at once, which reduces per-person costs significantly for companies training teams.

Budget for recertification costs every two years, as your certificate expires 24 months after completion.

Plan for certification renewal

Your dangerous goods certificate remains valid for exactly 24 months from your pass date, not from the course start date. Set a reminder six weeks before expiry to book renewal training. Renewal courses typically cost the same as initial training, though some providers offer slight discounts for returning learners. You cannot extend your certificate or gain grace periods, so expired certification means you must stop handling dangerous goods until you retrain and pass again.

Final steps

You now know how to choose the right iata dangerous goods training provider for your UK-based role. Book your course with a CAA or IATA-approved organisation that delivers the correct category for your specific job function. Set a calendar reminder for six weeks before your certificate expires in two years so you can arrange renewal training without any interruption to your work duties.

Start your search today because most providers require several days to process bookings and grant full course access. Logicom Hub offers CAA-approved IATA dangerous goods training with flexible online and classroom options, practical coaching, and ongoing post-training support to help you apply your knowledge confidently at work.