CO · Expiry & renewal tracking
Make sure no driver carries dangerous goods with an expired certificate
Colombia's 60-hour basic course for dangerous goods drivers is valid for two years; then a 20-hour refresher is due every year, up to 30 days before expiry (Article 6 of Resolución 1223 de 2014). Without a valid certificate the driver may not operate; six months after expiry the basic course is repeated.
The driver of a vehicle carrying dangerous goods must take, obtain and carry the certificate of the mandatory basic training course for drivers carrying dangerous goods (Article 2.2.1.7.8.2.4(A) of Decreto 1079 de 2015). The transport company must ensure that the driver holds the certificate (Article 2.2.1.7.8.2.3(C)), the owner or keeper of the vehicle must ensure that the driver takes the course (Article 2.2.1.7.8.2.5(E)) and the consignor or owner of the goods must require the certificate from the driver (Article 2.2.1.7.8.2.1(N)). Resolución 1223 de 2014 of the Ministry of Transport regulates the course and applies to drivers carrying dangerous goods in public or private freight vehicles in Colombia, with exceptions for certain hazardous waste in take-back schemes and biohazardous waste from health services (Article 2).
Under Article 6 of Resolución 1223 de 2014, as amended by Article 2 of Resolución 20243040051775 de 2024, the mandatory basic course lasts at least sixty (60) hours and is valid for two (2) years. Two years after the initial certificate is issued, the driver must show a refresher course of at least twenty (20) hours, valid for one (1) year, and after that first refresher must show a refresher every year; it may be taken up to 30 calendar days before the expiry date (paragraph 1). If six (6) months pass after the certificate expires without the refresher, the driver must take the initial sixty-hour basic course again (paragraph 2), and the driver may not carry dangerous goods until holding a valid certificate (paragraph 3).
Courses may be classroom-based or distance learning with an online component, in the proportion set by the Ministry of Education (Articles 5 and 6), and are delivered by higher-education institutions, SENA or vocational training institutions (Article 4). The certificate must show a unique serial number, the issue date and the expiry date, the driver's identification and the type of course (Article 6, paragraph 4). The institution must upload the certificate to the Information System for Drivers Carrying Dangerous Goods (SISCONMP) within twenty-four business hours after the course ends, and before starting an operation the driver must check that the certificate is registered and valid (Article 10, as amended). Resolución 20243040051775 de 2024 takes effect six months after its publication in the Diario Oficial (Article 4).
At a glance
| Who needs it | Drivers of public or private freight vehicles carrying dangerous goods (Article 2.2.1.7.8.2.4(A) of Decreto 1079 de 2015; Article 2 of Resolución 1223 de 2014) |
|---|---|
| Basic course | At least sixty (60) hours; valid for two (2) years (Article 6, as amended by Resolución 20243040051775 de 2024) |
| Refresher | At least twenty (20) hours; valid for one (1) year; then one refresher every year (Article 6 and paragraph 1) |
| Early renewal | The refresher may be taken up to 30 calendar days before expiry (Article 6, paragraph 1) |
| If it lapses | After six (6) months past expiry without a refresher, the sixty-hour basic course must be repeated (Article 6, paragraph 2) |
| Registration | The institution uploads it to SISCONMP; the driver checks it is registered and valid before operating (Article 10, as amended) |
| Who checks | Superintendency of Transport, supported by the National Police and traffic authorities (Article 10, paragraph 2; Article 2.2.1.7.8.3.1 of Decreto 1079 de 2015) |
The first certificate (basic course) is valid for two years, but each refresher is valid for one year only: after the first refresher, the expiry date moves on one year at a time.
Who is responsible?
The driver must take, obtain and carry the certificate (Article 2.2.1.7.8.2.4(A) of Decreto 1079 de 2015) and check before each operation that it is registered and valid (Article 10, paragraph 1, of Resolución 1223 de 2014, as amended). The transport company must ensure that the driver holds the certificate, the owner or keeper of the vehicle that the driver takes the course, and the consignor or owner of the goods must require it (Article 3, paragraph 3, of Resolución 1223 de 2014; Articles 2.2.1.7.8.2.1, 2.2.1.7.8.2.3 and 2.2.1.7.8.2.5 of Decreto 1079 de 2015).
If the deadline passes
The driver may not carry dangerous goods until holding the basic course or refresher certificate, on pain of the legal sanctions (Article 6, paragraph 3, of Resolución 1223 de 2014, as amended), and if six months pass after expiry without a refresher, the sixty-hour basic course must be repeated (paragraph 2). Sanctions on the transport company, the driver and the vehicle owner or keeper for breaching these obligations are in Articles 2.2.1.7.8.4.5, 2.2.1.7.8.4.6 and 2.2.1.7.8.4.7 of Decreto 1079 de 2015, and the Superintendency of Transport carries out inspection, supervision and control (Article 2.2.1.7.8.3.1).
Six months to avoid repeating the course, not to keep driving
The six-month period in Article 6, paragraph 2, of Resolución 1223 de 2014 only avoids repeating the sixty-hour course; during that time the driver may not carry dangerous goods without a valid certificate (paragraph 3). The refresher may be taken up to 30 days before expiry (paragraph 1).
Tracking it with ExpirySuite
- Add a record for each driver and enter as the expiry date the one on their certificate: two years after the 60-hour basic course or one year after the latest 20-hour refresher.
- Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before and on the day; the 30-day reminder matches the start of the period in which the refresher may be taken early.
- The driver can upload the new certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account; then move the expiry date on by one year and check that the certificate appears in SISCONMP.
- Assign the fleet manager or road-safety lead as the responsible person; if the date passes without a refresher, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.
Frequently asked questions
- How long is the dangerous goods course certificate valid?
- The basic course of at least sixty hours is valid for two (2) years; each refresher of at least twenty hours is valid for one (1) year (Article 6 of Resolución 1223 de 2014, as amended by Resolución 20243040051775 de 2024).
- Can I take the refresher before the certificate expires?
- Yes, up to 30 calendar days before the certificate's expiry date (Article 6, paragraph 1).
- What happens if I let the certificate lapse?
- You may not carry dangerous goods until you hold a valid certificate (Article 6, paragraph 3), and if six months pass after expiry without the refresher, you must take the sixty-hour basic course again (Article 6, paragraph 2).
- How is a certificate checked?
- The institution delivering the course must upload the certificate to SISCONMP within twenty-four business hours after it ends, and the driver must check before operating that it is registered and valid (Article 10 of Resolución 1223 de 2014, as amended).
Sources
- Resolución 1223 de 2014 of the Ministry of Transport, mandatory basic course for dangerous goods drivers, text with the 2024 amendments (Régimen Legal de Bogotá, District Legal Secretariat; in Spanish)
- Resolución 20243040051775 de 2024 of the Ministry of Transport, amending Articles 5, 6 and 10 of Resolución 1223 de 2014 (Régimen Legal de Bogotá, District Legal Secretariat; in Spanish)
- Decreto 1079 de 2015, Section 8 of Chapter 7 (carriage of dangerous goods), Articles 2.2.1.7.8.2.1 to 2.2.1.7.8.2.5, 2.2.1.7.8.3.1 and 2.2.1.7.8.4.5 to 2.2.1.7.8.4.7 (Función Pública, Gestor Normativo; in Spanish)
Last checked: Oct 11, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.
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