Fast facts
| Required by law? | Yes, on construction projectsO. Reg. 297/13, ss. 6 and 7 (1) |
|---|---|
| Approved provider required? | Yes, both the program and the providerO. Reg. 297/13, s. 7 (2), paras. 1 and 2 |
| Does it expire? | Three yearsO. Reg. 297/13, s. 8 (1) |
| Can it be verified? | Yes, through the ministryMinistry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development |
| How long is the training? | 6.5 hours minimumWorking at Heights Training Program Standard, s. 6.1 |
| Also called | WAH, heights ticket, fall protection ticket |
| Applies to | Construction projects |
Last verified August 23, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Is working at heights training required by law in Ontario?
Yes, on construction projects. An employer must ensure a worker has completed approved working at heights training before the worker may use a travel restraint system, a fall restricting system, a fall arrest system, a safety net, a work belt or a safety belt on a project.
O. Reg. 297/13, ss. 6 and 7 (1)
Does the training provider have to be government-approved?
Yes, both the program and the provider. The program must be approved by the Chief Prevention Officer against the working at heights training program standard in force at the time of the training, and it must be delivered by a provider separately approved by the Chief Prevention Officer against the provider standard.
O. Reg. 297/13, s. 7 (2), paras. 1 and 2
Ontario publishes the list. There are currently 167 approved providers delivering 174 approved programs across 87 cities. See the approved Working at Heights providers by city.
How long does working at heights training last before it expires?
Three years. Training is valid for three years from the date of successful completion. Refresher training re-validates it for another three years.
O. Reg. 297/13, s. 8 (1)
Refresher
Refresher training is the Working at Heights Practical module on its own, delivered by an approved provider. Passing it re-validates the training for a further three years. A worker must already have completed both modules of an approved program to be eligible.
How long is the training itself?
6.5 hours minimum. Two modules: Working at Heights Basic Theory, minimum three hours, and Working at Heights Practical, minimum three and a half hours. A provider may run longer. The maximum ratio for face-to-face delivery is twelve learners to one instructor.
Working at Heights Training Program Standard, s. 6.1
What has to be covered
- Roles, rights and responsibilities for working at heights under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- General hazard recognition for working at heights
- The hierarchy of controls
- Safety procedures for warning methods and physical barriers
- Practical use of the fall protection equipment the worker will actually use
How an employer proves it
Yes, through the ministry. An employer can accept a proof of completion issued by the Chief Prevention Officer or an approved provider, look the worker's record up with the worker's consent through the ministry's certification management system, or contact the ministry directly with the worker's consent.
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
What the employer has to keep
- A copy of the worker's proof of completion document, or
- A record showing the worker's name, the approved training provider's name, the name of the approved program, and the date the training was successfully completed
What people get wrong about working at heights training
A fully online working at heights course is not valid
The program standard permits eLearning for the Basic Theory module only, and only where it includes interactivity with a qualified instructor. It states plainly that eLearning is not an acceptable delivery method for the Practical module. Any course offering the whole ticket online does not meet the standard.
Working at Heights Training Program Standard, s. 6.2
The ministry is currently warning about fraudulent training cards
Ontario has an active alert about fake working at heights training cards in circulation. This is why the province publishes both a searchable provider list and a record lookup, and why an employer should verify the record rather than accept a card at face value.
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Verify the provider was approved on the day the worker trained
Approval is not permanent. A provider that has since been removed from the approved list still delivered valid training while it was approved, and a provider approved today did not necessarily deliver valid training two years ago. The check is against the date on the record.
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Training completed in one narrow 2017 window lasts four years, not three
Working at heights training successfully completed between 28 February 2017 and 31 August 2017 is valid for four years rather than three. This was a transitional measure and it still sits in the regulation.
O. Reg. 297/13, s. 8 (2)
Newfoundland and Labrador fall protection training is accepted
A worker holding fall protection training prescribed under s. 139 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 of Newfoundland and Labrador satisfies the requirement in Ontario. It stays valid until the expiry date printed on the WorkplaceNL certificate of completion.
O. Reg. 297/13, ss. 7 (1) (b) and 8 (3)
Automobile manufacturing workplaces are exempt
The requirement does not apply to a worker directly employed by an automobile manufacturer working on a project at that employer's own automobile manufacturing, marshalling, parts manufacturing, parts warehousing or research and development workplace. The regulation defines each of those five terms.
O. Reg. 297/13, ss. 7 (3) and 7 (4)
The ticket alone is not enough
O. Reg. 213/91 s. 26.2 applies on top of the working at heights ticket. The employer must also ensure the worker is adequately trained on the specific fall protection system being used and given oral and written instructions by a competent person, and the trainer must sign a written record naming the worker and the dates.
O. Reg. 297/13, s. 9; O. Reg. 213/91, s. 26.2
It travels with the worker, not the employer
A worker changing employers does not have to retake the program while the training is still valid.
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Related safety training requirements
Official sources
Every statement above was read from the source itself rather than a summary of it. Where Ontario law is silent, this page says so instead of repeating industry practice as if it were a legal requirement.
This is an independent summary of public information, not legal advice, and requirements change. Confirm the current requirement with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development before acting on it.