How often must the training plan be renewed?

Plans and programmes must cover periods of no more than two years (LFT, Article 153-H section I; 2013 Agreement, Article 10 section IV). When the period ends, the company must draw up the next plan (Agreement, Article 10, last paragraph). The law sets no shorter frequency; a one-year plan is possible if so agreed.

When is the DC-4 list of certificates filed?

Within sixty working days after the end of each year of the plan and after the plan ends, even if a full year has not elapsed (Agreement, Article 26 section I). Companies with more than 50 workers file electronically; those with up to 50 may file on paper or electronically.

Does the DC-3 certificate expire?

The law defines the certificate as the document with which a worker proves having taken and passed a course (Article 153-V) and the Agreement sets its content and delivery within 20 working days of the course (Article 24), but neither assigns it a validity period. Other standards may require certain courses to be repeated at their own frequency; that frequency comes from the specific standard, not from the DC-3.

Who signs the certificate?

It is issued by the training provider (an external agent, the company itself with an in-house instructor, the supplier of a good or service, or the STPS) and authenticated by the joint Training, Skills and Productivity Commission in companies with more than 50 workers, or by the employer or legal representative in companies with up to 50 (Agreement, Article 24 sections I and II).

What happens if there is no plan or it is not applied?

The employer is sanctioned under the law and the STPS may take steps to secure compliance (Article 153-S); Article 994 section IV provides a fine for breaching the training duty in Article 132 section XV. Workers and employers may bring actions before the labour courts arising from this duty (Article 153-X).

MX · Expiry & renewal tracking

Never let the training plan lapse without its successor

Employers in Mexico agree training plans with their workers for periods of up to two years and file the DC-4 list of certificates with the STPS within 60 working days after each plan year and after it ends (LFT, Articles 153-H and 153-V). Failing to keep or implement them is sanctionable (Articles 153-S and 994).

Employers must provide, and workers must receive, training or skills development under plans and programmes agreed between the employer and the union or the majority of the workers (Federal Labour Law, Article 153-A, first paragraph; Article 132, section XV). Training may be given inside or outside the company, by in-house staff, hired instructors or institutions; external institutions and independent instructors must be authorised and registered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (STPS) (Article 153-A, second and third paragraphs).

Plans and programmes are drawn up within sixty working days of the workplace starting operations and must cover periods of no more than two years, include every position and level, set out the stages, state the selection procedure and be based on technical competence standards where they exist (Article 153-H, sections I to V). The STPS Agreement of 14 June 2013 implements them through form DC-2 and adds that, when the plan's period ends, the company must draw up the next one (Agreement, Articles 9 and 10, section IV and last paragraph). The employer keeps the plans and any amendments available to the STPS and the Ministry of Economy (Article 153-F Bis; Agreement, Article 12).

Companies with more than 50 workers set up a joint Training, Skills and Productivity Commission with equal employer and worker representation (Article 153-E; Agreement, Article 7, form DC-1). Workers who pass a course are entitled to a certificate of competences or job skills (Articles 153-T and 153-V), issued on form DC-3 or an equivalent, authenticated by the joint commission or, in companies with up to 50 workers, by the employer or legal representative, and delivered within twenty working days of the end of the course (Agreement, Article 24, sections II, III and IV).

Companies must send the STPS lists of the certificates issued, for registration and control (Article 153-V, second paragraph). The Agreement sets the timetable: within sixty working days after the end of each year of the plan and after the plan ends, even if a full year has not elapsed; companies with more than 50 workers file electronically and those with up to 50 may use the printed form DC-4 (Agreement, Article 26, section I). They must keep copies of the certificates issued during the last year available to the authority (Article 26, section III). The law gives each worker's DC-3 no validity period: what expires is the plan.

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At a glance

Who it applies to	All employers and workers under section A of Article 123 of the Constitution (LFT, Articles 132 section XV and 153-A; 2013 Agreement, Article 4)
Initial plan	Within 60 working days of the workplace starting operations (LFT, Article 153-H; Agreement, Article 9, form DC-2)
Maximum plan period	No more than two years; the next plan is drawn up when the period ends (LFT, Article 153-H section I; Agreement, Article 10 section IV and last paragraph)
Joint commission	Mandatory with more than 50 workers; report on form DC-1 (LFT, Article 153-E; Agreement, Article 7)
DC-3 certificate	Delivered to the worker who passes the course within 20 working days of its end (Agreement, Article 24 section III)
DC-4 list of certificates	Within 60 working days after each year of the plan and after the plan ends; electronic filing with more than 50 workers (LFT, Article 153-V; Agreement, Article 26 section I)
Record keeping	Plans available to the STPS and Ministry of Economy (Article 153-F Bis); copies of the last year's certificates (Agreement, Article 26 section III)

Forms DC-4 and DC-5 were replaced by the STPS Agreement of 28 December 2015 and, since the Agreement of 16 November 2017, external training agents may file through a web form; the substantive criteria of the 2013 Agreement (drafting deadlines, two-year period, issue of certificates and lists) were not changed.

Who is responsible?

The employer draws up the plans and programmes in agreement with the union or the majority of workers (Article 153-A), keeps them available to the authority (Article 153-F Bis) and sends the lists of certificates to the STPS (Article 153-V). The joint commission oversees and operates the programmes and authenticates the certificates (Article 153-E section I; Agreement, Article 7 section VI). Workers must attend the courses and sit the tests (Article 153-D). Training providers issue certificates to those who pass (Article 153-T; Agreement, Article 24 section I).

If the deadline passes

An employer who does not keep the plans and programmes available to the STPS, or whose plans are not put into practice, is sanctioned under the law, and the Ministry may take steps to secure compliance (Article 153-S). The law provides a fine for employers who fail to meet the training duty in Article 132 section XV (Article 994 section IV). Companies that never registered a plan with the STPS must follow the first transitory article of the 2013 Agreement before filing their lists of certificates (Agreement, Article 26 section I, fourth paragraph).

Two separate deadlines: the plan and the annual list

Record the end date of the period set in the DC-2, which may not exceed two years (Article 153-H section I), as the plan's expiry. The DC-4 list has its own deadline: 60 working days after each anniversary of the plan and after its end (Agreement, Article 26 section I), so open a separate annual record for it. Individual DC-3 certificates have no legal expiry date; keep them as evidence for the current year (Article 26 section III).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add a record per company or establishment with the end date of the current plan (DC-2) as the expiry, and a second annual record for filing the DC-4 list of certificates.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the expiry date and on the day, leaving time to agree the new plan with the joint commission or the workers.
HR can upload the signed DC-2, the DC-4 filing receipt and the year's DC-3 certificates through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign the training coordinator or the joint commission's secretary as the responsible person; if the date passes without a new plan, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often must the training plan be renewed?: Plans and programmes must cover periods of no more than two years (LFT, Article 153-H section I; 2013 Agreement, Article 10 section IV). When the period ends, the company must draw up the next plan (Agreement, Article 10, last paragraph). The law sets no shorter frequency; a one-year plan is possible if so agreed.
When is the DC-4 list of certificates filed?: Within sixty working days after the end of each year of the plan and after the plan ends, even if a full year has not elapsed (Agreement, Article 26 section I). Companies with more than 50 workers file electronically; those with up to 50 may file on paper or electronically.
Does the DC-3 certificate expire?: The law defines the certificate as the document with which a worker proves having taken and passed a course (Article 153-V) and the Agreement sets its content and delivery within 20 working days of the course (Article 24), but neither assigns it a validity period. Other standards may require certain courses to be repeated at their own frequency; that frequency comes from the specific standard, not from the DC-3.
Who signs the certificate?: It is issued by the training provider (an external agent, the company itself with an in-house instructor, the supplier of a good or service, or the STPS) and authenticated by the joint Training, Skills and Productivity Commission in companies with more than 50 workers, or by the employer or legal representative in companies with up to 50 (Agreement, Article 24 sections I and II).
What happens if there is no plan or it is not applied?: The employer is sanctioned under the law and the STPS may take steps to secure compliance (Article 153-S); Article 994 section IV provides a fine for breaching the training duty in Article 132 section XV. Workers and employers may bring actions before the labour courts arising from this duty (Article 153-X).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 14, 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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