Staying on top of employee training deadlines is crucial for compliance and productivity. This guide covers how to set up and automate training reminders, organize records, track completions, and optimize notifications. Discover how Expiration Reminder streamlines the process with automated alerts and seamless tracking.

Looking for Ways to Keep Employees on Track with Training? 

Training is a big investment—U.S. companies spent an average of $1,207 per employee on training in 2023. Employees also dedicate over 62 hours a year to learning new skills. With so much time and money on the line, missed deadlines aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re a costly setback.

We know how frustrating it is to track multiple certifications and deadlines manually. Without a system, important training can slip through the cracks. That’s where automated training reminders help—keeping HR teams organized and employees compliant.

In this Expiration Reminder guide, we’ll show you how to set up and manage training reminders effectively to protect both your workforce and your budget.

What is a Training Reminder?

A training reminder is an automated notification that helps employees and HR teams stay on top of required training and certification deadlines. It ensures no one misses important sessions, renewals, or compliance requirements.

These reminders can be sent through:

• Email, and SMS for quick access
• Calendar integrations to sync with work schedules
• Automated dashboards for centralized tracking

Without a system in place, it’s easy to lose track of deadlines. Training reminders take the guesswork out of scheduling, helping businesses stay compliant, reduce stress, and avoid costly delays.

Why are Training Reminders Important?

Training reminders help HR teams and employees stay compliant, productive, and organized. They help meet regulatory requirements, prevent missed deadlines, and costly disruptions. Key benefits include:

• Ensure Compliance: Avoid fines, audits, and legal issues by keeping up with required training.
• Reduce Last-Minute Scrambles: Give employees enough time to complete training before deadlines, reducing stress and rushed learning.
• Improve Productivity: Ensure employees stay efficient with up-to-date skills, leading to better performance.
• Avoid Financial Penalties: Prevent costly fines and certification lapses that could impact operations.
• Support Employee Growth: Encourage continuous learning and career advancement through structured, well-timed training programs.

How to Manage Training Reminders Manually

Step 1: Create a Centralized Training Tracker

The first step is to create a training tracker that helps keep your deadlines organized. You can use an Excel sheet, Google Sheet, or shared document to list:

• Employee Name – Who needs training?
• Training Type – What’s required? (e.g., safety, compliance)
• Due Date – When is it needed?
• Status – Completed, pending, or overdue?

For example, a construction company tracks OSHA training for all field workers. If John Smith needs OSHA safety training on June 15, 2024, HR logs his details and follows up until he completes it.

Step 2: Set Calendar Alerts for Deadlines

After tracking training deadlines, the next step is scheduling reminders to avoid missed renewals. You can use Google Calendar, Outlook, or a team-wide planner to set alerts.

• Schedule Multiple Reminders: Set alerts one month, one week, and one day before training is due.
• Include Key Details: Date, time, location, and required materials.
• Share Calendar Events: Notify employees and managers responsible for follow-ups.

For example, if John Smith’s OSHA training is on June 15, 2024, HR sets a May 15 reminder for sign-ups, a June 8 reminder for prep, and a June 14 alert for last-minute attendance confirmation.

Step 3: Send Manual Follow-Up Emails

Calendar alerts help, but employees may still overlook scheduled training. Sending follow-up emails ensures participation and timely completion.

• First Email: One month before, reminding employees to register for training.
• Second Email: One week before, confirming attendance and sharing prep materials.
• Final Reminder: One day before, providing details (time, location, or login info).

For example, if John Smith’s OSHA training is scheduled for June 15, 2024, HR emails him on May 15 to sign up, June 8 to confirm, and June 14 with last-minute details.

Here's what such emails may look like: 

First Email – One Month Before (Register Now)

📅 May 15, 2024

Subject: Register for OSHA Training – Due June 15

Hi John,

Your OSHA training is on June 15. Register by May 25 [here]. Let us know if you have questions.

– HR Team

Second Email – One Week Before (Confirm Attendance)

📅 June 8, 2024

Subject: OSHA Training Next Week – Confirm Now

Hi John,

Your training is on June 15 at 10 AM. Reply to confirm attendance. Prep guide attached.

– HR Team

Final Email – One Day Before (Reminder)

📅 June 14, 2024

Subject: Reminder: OSHA Training Tomorrow

Hi John,

Your OSHA training is tomorrow at 10 AM ([Location/Link]). Arrive early. Questions? Let us know.

– HR Team

Step 4: Review Compliance and Adjust as Needed

After training sessions, it's important to track completions and improve the reminder process.

• Log Attendance: Update the tracker to mark who completed training.
• Follow Up on Missed Sessions: Send a reschedule email to no-shows.
• Evaluate Effectiveness: Check if reminders were sent at the right time and adjust as needed.

For example, if John Smith missed his June 15 OSHA training, HR can email him:

"Hi John, we noticed you missed OSHA training. Please reschedule [here]. Let us know if you need help. – HR Team"

Regular adjustments keep training on track and compliance risk low.

Overall, while useful, manual tracking requires constant manual updates and can be prone to errors or missed deadlines. This makes tracking harder as teams grow. 

This is where Expiration Reminder comes in. 

How to Automate Training Reminders with Expiration Reminder

Step 1: Set Up Training Categories and Contacts

Before automating training reminders, you need a structured system to track employee training. With Expiration Reminder, this starts by creating training categories and adding employees as contacts.

• First, create a document type for each type of training your team needs. For example, if you manage OSHA safety training, set up a “OSHA Training” document type. This keeps all related records organized in one place. 

1. Next, add employees as contacts to assign training. Each contact will have their own training records, renewal dates, and automated reminders. For example, John Smith can be added as a contact with his details. 

By setting up categories and contacts first, you lay the foundation for a seamless, automated tracking system. This eliminates manual spreadsheets and missed deadlines. 

Next, we’ll add expiration items to start automating reminders.

Step 2: Add Training Expiration Items

Once training categories and contacts are set up, the next step is to add expiration items for each required training. This allows Expiration Reminder to track deadlines and send automated reminders before training expires.

• Create Expiration Items: Each training must have an expiration item assigned to the relevant employee.
  
  • Example: John Smith – OSHA Training – Due June 15, 2024
  • Specify the training type, due date, and renewal cycle

• Assign Training to Employees: Link expiration items to the correct employees so they receive reminders.
  
  • Enter the employee’s name as the expiration item (e.g., John Smith – OSHA Training).
  • Set the training date and renewal cycle.

• Assign Notifications and Permissions
  
  • Add employees and supervisors under "Send notifications to" so they receive reminders.
  • Set an Owner if specific users need editing permissions.

Adding expiration items ensures no training deadline slips through the cracks. In the next step, we’ll automate reminders to notify employees before deadlines.

Step 3: Automate Training Reminders

With expiration items added, the next step is to configure automated reminders to ensure employees complete their training on time. Expiration Reminder allows you to customize who gets notified, when, and how. 

• Set Up Reminder Frequency: Under the Reminders tab in the expiration item, you can adjust the default reminder schedule or add new ones. 

For example, you can send reminders 30 days, 15 days, 5 days, and 1 day before training is due.

• Choose Notification Recipients: Assign reminders to employees, supervisors, or HR teams in the "Send notifications to" field. 

For example, if John Smith’s OSHA training is due June 15, he and his supervisor receive email reminders in advance.

• Select Notification Channels: Send reminders via email or mobile SMS for better reach. You can customize messages to include training details, links, or registration instructions.

By automating reminders, Expiration Reminder ensures no training deadline is overlooked. Next, we’ll review how to track completions and optimize the system.

Step 4: Monitor Training Progress and Optimize

With training reminders automated, the final step is to track completions, follow up on overdue training, and refine reminder settings. Expiration Reminder’s dashboard makes it easy to manage everything in one place.

• Track Upcoming and Overdue Training: Use the calendar view to see deadlines at a glance and click on items for quick details.
• Filter by Training Status: Quickly find employees who are up to date, near expiry, or overdue, making follow-ups more efficient.
• Adjust and Optimize Reminders: Use expiration forecasts to anticipate training needs and modify reminder timing for better compliance.

By actively using the dashboard, HR teams can keep training on track, reduce compliance risks, and ensure employees stay prepared.

Best Practices for Setting Effective Training Reminders

To ensure training reminders are effective, go beyond basic setup with these best practices:

• Standardize Reminder Timing Across Training Types: Keep schedules uniform to prevent confusion and improve compliance.
• Leverage Multi-Channel Notifications: Use email, SMS, and WhatsApp to reach employees through their preferred method.
• Regularly Audit Expiration Data: Review training records to correct errors and update expiration dates.
• Customize Messages for Urgency and Clarity: Tailor reminders based on deadlines—early notices inform, last-minute alerts drive action.
• Integrate with HR and Learning Systems: Sync Expiration Reminder with HRIS or LMS to reduce manual tracking and improve efficiency.

Never Miss a Training Deadline with Expiration Reminder

Keeping up with training deadlines doesn’t have to be a struggle. By setting up structured tracking, automated reminders, and real-time monitoring, you can ensure employees complete required training on time. 

Automating this process reduces manual effort and helps maintain compliance effortlessly. That’s where Expiration Reminder comes in. Our platform simplifies training management by automating reminders, tracking progress in a centralized dashboard, and integrating with HR and learning systems. 

Start your 14-day free trial today to experience seamless training management with Expiration Reminder.

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