This CPD approved Legionnaires’ Disease (Legionella) training has been designed to help raise awareness of Legionnaires' disease by explaining how outbreaks might occur and highlighting water systems that have a potentially high risk of developing the legionella bacterium. By completing this legionella awareness training online course learners will understand how outbreaks occur, the implications of a legionella outbreak and much more.
This course was reviewed and updated in February 2025
This course has been designed to help raise awareness of Legionnaires' disease by explaining how outbreaks might occur, and highlighting water systems that have a potentially high risk of developing the Legionella bacterium.
You may have heard about Legionnaires' disease or the Legionella bacterium, and it’s not something anyone wants to experience first-hand. On average there are approximately 200 to 250 reported cases of Legionnaires' disease each year in the UK, although many believe this total is generally underestimated. Contracting 'Legionella pneumophilia' bacteria can cause high fever and may become fatal in approximately 12% of cases. Learn more here.
This course was previously known as Awareness of Legionnaires' Disease and Legionnaires' Awareness.
To prevent people from developing this disease, we need to know what it is and how to prevent it coming into contact with us. This legionella training module explains how outbreaks might occur, including how to identify which water systems have a potentially high risk of developing the Legionnella bacterium.
Anyone who works with or around water handling systems would benefit from taking this course. You’ll find out about the potential consequences of an outbreak and the symptoms associated with the disease. You'll also get information on the relevant legislation and requirements for compliance.
Learn more about legionnaires' awareness by clicking here.
There were 604 confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease in England and Wales in 2023, although many believe this total is generally underestimated. The disease is caused by the 'Legionella pneumophilia' bacteria and is an extremely serious form of Legionellosis, causing high fever and proving fatal in approximately 3% of cases.
In an attempt to help reduce these figures, this legionella training module has been developed by Virtual College working with partners Life Environmental Services. It has been designed to help raise awareness of Legionnaires' disease by explaining how outbreaks might occur, and highlighting water systems that have a potentially high risk of developing the Legionnella bacterium.
On completion of this legionella training, learners will have an increased understanding of Legionnaires' disease, including the potential consequences of an outbreak and the symptoms associated with the disease. The legionella training course also provides information on the relevant legislation and requirements for compliance.
Areas covered in this online legionella awareness training course include:
The content of this legionella training course has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.
By completing the course you will earn 1 CPD point.
On completion of this legionella awareness training course you will be able to download a CPD approved Virtual College certificate.
Your certificate will be available to download once you have completed the end of course assessment. There are 20 multiple choice questions, the pass mark is set at 80% but don't worry you can attempt the test as many times as is needed.
This legionella awareness training should take approximately 30 - 45 minutes to complete. The length of time taken depends entirely on how quickly you can study and absorb the legionella course material.
You can proceed as quickly or slowly as you like and your progress is automatically saved so you can complete the training at your convenience.
This legionella training online course is aimed primarily at those working with manufactured water handling systems, in an environment where water handling systems are used or in environments that have:
There are no specific entry requirements for this legionella training online course.
Roles including:
A test certificate is not required. On completion of this legionella awareness training course you will be able to download a Virtual College certificate.
Learn more about legionnaires' awareness by clicking here.
This legionella awareness training should take approximately 2-3 hours to complete. The length of time taken depends entirely on how quickly you can study and absorb the legionella course material. You can proceed as quickly or slowly as you like.
Learn more here.
This course certificate has no expiry date because there is no formally recognised period of validity for any health and safety training or this type of course. The HSE recommends refresher training is carried out whenever it is felt necessary, or commonly every 3 years.
Learn more here.
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If you are not 100% satisfied with your course then we offer a 30-day, no hassle money-back guarantee. To request a refund, you should email our learner support team with your receipt stating why you would like to be reimbursed. You, or your learners, must not have completed the training in order to make a valid refund claim. Any claim made after the training has been completed will be invalidated.
This online course consists of a series of pages in which an instructor will talk learners through the lesson material. Pages may include supporting pictures, graphs, animation or extra sounds to help with the learning where appropriate. Some lessons will include challenges/quizzes to help learners stay engaged and interested in the material. Lessons can be taken in any order and each lesson may be paused and resumed at any stage.
The course is self-paced so learners decide how fast or slow the training goes. There is no deadline for completion but some of our courses have a test at the end to check that learners have understood the material. If the course has a test at the end then learners are required to achieve a 75% pass mark to successfully complete the course. Once learners have passed the test they are awarded a certificate, which can either be downloaded digitally or sent as a physical copy if this option was chosen when purchasing the course.
Upon completion of any of our courses, learners will be able to download a digital certificate from Virtual College which will include the accrediting bodies logo where applicable, the learner's name, the title of the course and the date of completion.
If you have purchased the posted certificate option, available on selected courses, a high quality, seal embossed, certificate will be sent out the following working week after completion.