Hot Work Certificate: The Complete Guide

Who needs a hot work certificate?

Anyone performing hot work at a temporary workplace – for example welding, cutting, grinding, soldering or roofing work with an open flame or hot-air tools – must hold a valid hot work certificate. The requirement also applies to anyone acting as a fire watch.

The requirement comes from the insurance companies' safety regulations for hot work. The scheme is owned by Finans Norge Forsikringsdrift and administered by the Norwegian Fire Protection Association (Norsk brannvernforening). If you perform hot work without a valid certificate, you and your employer risk a reduced insurance settlement if a fire occurs (cf. Section 4-8 of the Norwegian Insurance Contracts Act).

A "temporary workplace" means a place that is not specifically set up for hot work. If you work in a permanent, purpose-built welding workshop, the certificate requirement does not apply – but as soon as the work moves out to buildings, construction sites, roofs or other temporary work sites, a certificate is required.

Is the hot work course required by law?

No – the certificate requirement is not laid down in Norwegian laws or regulations. It comes from the safety regulations for hot work, which are part of the insurance contract. In practice it still works as a requirement: without a valid certificate you risk a reduced insurance settlement if a fire occurs, and many clients reject workers without a certificate.

A safety regulation is a clause in the insurance terms requiring the insured to take specific measures – or hold specific qualifications – to prevent damage. In addition, working environment legislation requires that the employer can document training and risk assessment. The certification scheme itself is administered by the Norwegian Fire Protection Association on behalf of Finans Norge Forsikringsdrift.

Does the requirement apply to private individuals doing the work themselves?

Safety regulations for hot work are not found only in business insurance policies – private home and cabin insurance policies may also have such terms. If you are planning to weld roofing felt or use an open flame on your own home, for example, you should check your insurance terms first: in the event of fire, the compensation can be reduced if a safety regulation has been breached.

If you hire tradespeople for roofing or other hot work at home, you should make sure they hold a valid certificate – this can be checked via Brannvernforeningen's certificate search.

How much does the hot work course cost?

At Sertio, the online course costs NOK 1,490 in total – all mandatory Brannvernforeningen fees are included. The Complete package with the practical extinguishing exercise costs NOK 2,490 in total. The Brannvernforeningen fees apply to all course providers in Norway, but at Sertio they are always included in the price.

The Brannvernforeningen fees are the same no matter where you take the course: digital certificate NOK 270 (no VAT) and e-textbook NOK 337.50 (incl. VAT). This is not something providers profit from – it is a legally mandated part of the certification scheme, invoiced per participant.

Always compare the total price at checkout, not the advertised price. Several providers advertise prices excl. VAT or without the fees, so the final amount only becomes visible at checkout. Online courses are in principle VAT-exempt education – at Sertio, the only line item with VAT is the e-textbook from Brannvernforeningen, and the total price you see is the price you pay.

Remember that the practical extinguishing exercise comes in addition to the theory course if it is not included in your package. At Sertio, the Practical extinguishing exercise with VR extinguishing equipment costs NOK 1,090 on its own, or you can choose the Complete package (online course + practical extinguishing exercise) for NOK 2,490 in total.

How long is the hot work certificate valid?

The hot work certificate is valid for 5 years from passing the exam and applies in Norway.

The Norwegian Fire Protection Association issues the certificate digitally, and it is delivered straight to your mobile phone. Employers and clients can verify valid certificates with Brannvernforeningen. When your certificate approaches expiry, you must renew it – see the question about renewal further down.

Are foreign certificates valid in Norway?

Certificates from Sweden, Denmark and Finland are approved in Norway through the Nordic cooperation. Certificates from other countries – for example Poland, Lithuania or Romania – are not approved. In that case you must take a course under the Norwegian scheme.

Even with a valid Nordic certificate, it is always the Norwegian rules and the Norwegian safety regulations that apply when you work in Norway. Note also that Denmark has two certificate types: one for roofing work and one for other hot work.

If you work in Norway without an approved certificate, the same applies as for Norwegian workers: a risk of a reduced insurance settlement if a fire occurs, and many clients will reject you at the workplace. At Sertio you can take the entire course in your own language – see the question about languages further down.

What is new in the hot work regulations in 2026?

From 1 January 2026, the first-time course can be taken as e-learning, VR extinguishing exercises are approved as the practical exercise, and Brannvernforeningen has introduced digital recertification. From 1 June 2026, the Brannvernforeningen fees are invoiced separately by all providers.

1. 01E-learning is approved for first-time courses: you can now take the entire theory part as an online course, including the first time you get certified.
2. 02The practical extinguishing exercise must be completed within 3 months before or after the theory course, and must be documented.
3. 03VR extinguishing exercises are approved as an alternative to the traditional (live-fire) exercise – you can choose either. The Fire Protection Association had announced that VR would become the only approved form from 2027, but that plan has been shelved.
4. 04New payment model from 1 June 2026: the Brannvernforeningen fees (digital certificate NOK 270 + e-textbook NOK 337.50 incl. VAT) are invoiced separately per participant, the same at all course providers.
5. 05Digital recertification was introduced from 1 January 2026 at Brannvernforeningen for certificates that are still valid.
6. 06New recommended safety regulations for hot work take effect from 1 January 2027.

What is the practical extinguishing exercise requirement?

To receive the certificate, you must complete a documented practical extinguishing exercise within 3 months before or after the theory course. The exercise can be taken either as a traditional (live-fire) exercise or with VR extinguishing equipment approved by the Norwegian Fire Protection Association.

The exercise must be carried out with an approved instructor or qualified personnel, and documented on Brannvernforeningen's own form. Without a documented extinguishing exercise, the certificate is not issued – passing the theory exam alone is not enough.

At Sertio, we offer the Practical extinguishing exercise with VR extinguishing equipment in Oslo. We are continuously working to establish additional locations. The exercise is included in the Complete package, or can be purchased separately for NOK 1,090 if you have already completed the theory.

See venues, dates and how the drill works →

I have done an extinguishing exercise through my employer – does it count?

No. The extinguishing exercise only counts when it is completed in connection with a hot work course – within 3 months before or after the theory course – and documented on Brannvernforeningen's form.

A general workplace fire drill therefore does not meet the requirement, even if it was practical and recent. The exercise must be carried out with an approved instructor or qualified personnel following Brannvernforeningen's instructions, and the documentation must be submitted before the certificate is issued.

What requirements apply at the workplace itself?

Before hot work starts at a temporary workplace, the checklist must be completed and signed, suitable extinguishing equipment must be readily available, and there must be a fire watch where necessary.

• Checklist: Finans Norge's checklist for performing hot work (or an equivalent) must be completed and signed before the work starts.
• Extinguishing equipment: at least two 6 kg hand-held extinguishers must be readily available. One of the extinguishers may be replaced by a fire hose charged with water up to the nozzle – but two extinguishers cannot be replaced by one larger extinguisher.
• Fire watch: a named fire watch must be present and continuously assess the fire risk during the work, during breaks and for at least one hour after the work has ended.
• The fire watch must hold a valid hot work certificate themselves. Where the fire risk is assessed as low, the person performing the work may act as their own fire watch.

How long must the fire watch stay after hot work has ended?

The fire watch must be present and assess the fire risk throughout the work, during breaks and for at least one hour after the work has ended. The one-hour rule exists because a smouldering fire can flare up long after the last spark has been put out.

Smouldering fires are the most dangerous fire risk in hot work. Sparks and heat can smoulder in cavities, insulation and other hidden structures, and only burst into flame several hours after the job is done. The fire watch must therefore monitor the work site and the surrounding areas – including the far side of walls and adjacent rooms – until the danger has passed, and never for less than one hour.

The fire watch must be named in the checklist and must themselves hold a valid hot work certificate. Where the fire risk is assessed as low, the person carrying out the work may act as their own fire watch – but the requirement of at least one hour of follow-up watch still applies. Note that the insurer's safety regulations may reduce compensation after a fire if the requirement has not been followed.

What is the employer's responsibility for hot work?

The employer must ensure that everyone performing hot work has documented training and a valid certificate, that the work is risk-assessed, and that the requirements of the safety regulations – such as a fire watch and a checklist – are followed. Violations can lead to a reduced insurance settlement in the event of fire.

The requirements follow both from working environment legislation (the Regulations concerning the performance of work require risk assessment and documented training) and from the safety regulations in the company's insurance contract. Before hot work starts, a checklist must be completed, and where needed there must be a dedicated fire watch during and after the work.

For companies with several employees, Sertio offers a business solution with a consolidated overview of employees' course certificates and certificate status, invitations and volume pricing.

How do I renew the hot work certificate (recertification)?

The certificate is renewed by taking a new course with an exam and a documented extinguishing exercise. If your certificate has already expired, you must take a new first-time course – at Sertio you then take the online course and the practical extinguishing exercise as a regular course. If your certificate is still valid, Brannvernforeningen also offers a digital recertification course.

At Sertio there is no separate renewal shortcut – you take the full course again as a regular course. The Complete package at NOK 2,490 covers both the online course and the practical extinguishing exercise, and gives you a new certificate valid for five years.

Brannvernforeningen's digital recertification course can be used as long as your certificate is still valid. Note that the practical extinguishing exercise is not included there – it must be completed and documented with an external provider before a new certificate is issued, and an expired certificate cannot be renewed that way in any case.

My certificate has expired – can I perform hot work while waiting for a new course?

No. If your certificate has expired, you cannot perform hot work at a temporary workplace until you have completed and passed a new course with an exam and a documented extinguishing exercise.

So plan your renewal well before the expiry date. An online course can be started the same day you need it – at Sertio you receive your course certificate immediately after passing the exam, and the certificate is issued by Brannvernforeningen once your extinguishing exercise is documented.

I have lost my certificate – how do I get it back?

The hot work certificate is digital and is issued by the Norwegian Fire Protection Association. If you have lost access to it, you can retrieve it or order a new one from Brannvernforeningen – and employers can verify valid certificates at any time via Brannvernforeningen's certificate search.

If you took the course at Sertio, you will also find your course certificate on your profile when you log in – with a QR code for easy verification.

What is the difference between a course certificate and the final certificate?

The course certificate is issued by the course provider (for example Sertio) when you pass the theory exam. The hot work certificate itself is issued by the Norwegian Fire Protection Association – only once the practical extinguishing exercise has been completed and documented.

Brannvernforeningen itself warns against courses that only give you a "course certificate issued by the course provider" without ending in a Brannvernforeningen certificate. Such course certificates do not meet the requirements in the insurance terms. Always check that the course is approved by Brannvernforeningen before you sign up.

At Sertio, you receive your course certificate the same day you pass the exam. The certificate from Brannvernforeningen is issued once your extinguishing exercise is documented, and is delivered digitally.

Can I take the hot work course in languages other than Norwegian?

Yes. At Sertio, the entire online course is available in 7 languages: Norwegian, English, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian, Spanish and Lithuanian – with professional voiceover in all of them.

Brannvernforeningen requires that all instructional content in the course is in the same language – narration, text and animations. In other words, going through Norwegian slides with an English interpreter is not enough. Sertio is among very few providers covering the entire course in 7 languages, which makes it easy for foreign workers to obtain the certificate in their own native language.

How long does the hot work course take?

The online course takes at least 3 hours – Brannvernforeningen requires hot work e-learning to include at least 3 full clock hours of effective training, and the system prevents you from simply clicking through. Most people spend 4–6 hours including the exam. Classroom courses last about 7.5 hours including the extinguishing exercise and exam.

At Sertio, you can take breaks whenever you like – your progress is saved automatically, and you continue where you left off, on mobile, tablet or PC. The exam takes 45 minutes, and you get your result immediately. The course certificate is issued the same day you pass.