The National Operator Registration Scheme (NORS) is a centralised registration, certification and validation system for Lift Truck operators and other mechanical handling equipment drivers. Until recently there has been no system in place to identify people who are trained to drive fork lift trucks nationally. The NORS system, introduced by the Road Transport Industry Training Board, aims to correct that.

Registration on the NORS system lasts for three years but I am not sure what happens after that time in the event that the operator does not receive refresher training. I am trying to find out and will update the page when I do. (As of January 2010 I still don't know!)

The NORS is being introduced to:

• Eradicate counterfeit operator certificates issued by trainers not properly accredited by RTITB
• Align with potential and forthcoming European and other international requirements and to provide internationally recognised and transferable records of training and competence. (I asked the RTITB when I did my last re-registration course in April 2006 exactly what "European requirements" they were refering to. To date, I have not had an answer!)
• Help meet the requirements of UK educational funding agencies and to improve the access of accredited training organisations and individuals to funded basic training.
• Reinforce adherence to training standards by only certificating and registering fully accredited training.
• Raise confidence in operator training, competence and qualification and support high quality training provided by accredited training organisations.
• Provide government agencies with assured and improved data and information.
• Provide centralised data and certification records in a standardised format.
• Provide operators with a straightforward means to obtain replacement or duplicate certificates in the event of loss or damage to originals.

Please note that the above wording belongs to the RTITB. My comments are in brackets.

If you are on the NORS database you should be able to get a copy of your training certificate, (licence), by contacting the RTITB. There will be a small charge I understand.