Checklist

Employee Training Checklist Template

Global HR

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Running a company-wide training program can be one of the most complex tasks an HR manager or L&D specialist can undertake. Whether planning mandatory training, skills-specific training courses, or modules for employee development, shaping, delivering, and reviewing training requires a lot of organization.

We’ve created this thorough checklist to offer an overview of everything you need to remember to get your training initiatives up and running. With versions for single and multiple stakeholder programs, our free training checklist will ensure efficient project management.

Employee training checklist template overview

The template, compatible with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, is a checklist of the key stages and relevant tasks you must undertake to run efficient training initiatives.

Developed from our in-house HR professionals’ decades of experience, the checklist is available in two forms:

A single stakeholder version for startups and small businesses
A multi-stakeholder version for companies in which training responsibility is shared between HR teams, L&D officers, and other contributors

The template covers key elements such as resources, personnel, communications, attendance, troubleshooting, and more, beginning with defining training objectives and ending with follow-up and review.

How to use this training checklist template

The spreadsheet is designed around 15 focus areas, each further broken down into tasks. The training checklist template walks you through this thorough process with 31 individual tasks which can be delegated, or managed by one dedicated individual, depending on your business circumstance.

Here are some guidelines for how to use this employee training checklist template:

Review the steps to ensure they are relevant to your organization—add steps or amend them as needed
Fill in empty fields to define the owner and beneficiaries of the process
Define your training program’s learning objectives—link them to business objectives and internal training needs or skills gaps
Decide who is responsible for which steps on the checklist—ensure all stakeholders understand what their contributions are
Set deadlines for all steps and communicate these to stakeholders
Review the checklist before embarking on your training program
Regularly review progress against deadlines to identify problems.
Hold periodic meetings to ensure everyone is on target and to review course design
Start adding comments and link relevant documents as you go through the checklist—for instance, document the chosen types of training and effectiveness metrics, provide links to training materials, training schedules, or other resources
As you progress, mark off each task as it is completed—this helps in tracking progress and ensuring that no steps are missed
Ensure you have a debrief after your course has run with all stakeholders to review participant feedback

How to use this checklist for new hire training

The checklist is comprehensive enough to be appropriate for both general learning and development programs and new-hire training.

Use these tips to turn this template into a new employee training checklist:

Assess training needs: New hires will probably have broadly the same mandatory training requirements, but you may need to include a step to emphasize the need to identify unique training requirements that key hires will need
Review/design the training program: You will likely already have an established set of training courses you want to deliver to your new hires (e.g., covering internal policies, tools, health and safety training, etc.)—review them periodically (especially IT skills courses) to make sure they are up to date and address any feedback from previous new hires
Assess onboarding schedule: Assess how the new hires’ mandatory training will fit around other onboarding tasks—it may be necessary to arrange security and systems access before delivering training, for instance
Consider adding other onboarding tasks: Add other onboarding processes besides training to this checklist, where these tasks are intimately linked to training—these tasks may include obtaining security passes, setting up email access, joining the intranet or other communication channels (such as Slack, Trello)
Add a one-month review: Add a review with individual participants and their line managers to assess training retention and gaps—add this step at the end of the checklist

Download our free training checklist Excel template now to enhance and streamline your training processes.

FAQs

What is a training checklist?

A training checklist is a structured tool for ensuring that all necessary steps and components of a training planning process are covered.

It helps organize, plan, and execute training sessions systematically, ensuring nothing important is overlooked. The checklist typically includes tasks and milestones from the planning stage through to the review phase of the training.

What should a basic training checklist include?

A basic training checklist should include the following elements:

Training objectives: Clear goals that the training aims to achieve
Training needs assessment: Evaluation of what participants need to learn
Design of the training program: Outlining the structure and content
Resource allocation: Identifying and securing necessary materials and tools
Trainer preparation: Ensuring trainers are ready and knowledgeable
Communication plan: Strategy for informing participants and stakeholders
Attendance confirmation: Methods to track who will attend
Participant preparation: Pre-training information and materials for participants
Implementation plan: Steps for conducting the training
Troubleshooting plan: Methods for addressing issues during the training
Evaluation: Techniques for assessing the effectiveness of the training
Follow-up: Ensuring the training is reinforced post-session
Review and update: Continuous improvement based on feedback

How is a training checklist different from a training plan?

A training checklist is a detailed list of tasks and steps to ensure the training program is executed correctly. In contrast, a training plan is a broader document that outlines the training initiatives’ overall strategy, objectives, curriculum, and schedule.

The training plan provides the “what” and “why,” whereas the checklist focuses on the “how” and “when.”

How do you create a training checklist?

To create a training checklist:

Begin by understanding the specific objectives and goals of the training
Identify the tasks and milestones that must be covered and ensure they are clearly outlined in the checklist
Ensure each task is specific, actionable, and measurable
Gather all necessary resources and information before you start checking off tasks—materials, tools, participant information, and any logistical details
If the checklist involves multiple stakeholders, assign responsibilities to ensure accountability for each task As you progress, mark off each task as it is completed. Doing so helps you track progress and ensure you don’t miss any steps. It is important to periodically review the checklist to ensure all tasks are on track and you address any issues promptly.

Finally, once all tasks are completed, conduct a final review to ensure everything has been covered thoroughly. Use this opportunity to gather feedback on the checklist process, which can help refine and improve it for future use.

What should I include in a new hire training checklist?

You’ll want to ensure everything specific to employee onboarding is covered, including all necessary training and related administrative requirements. A new hire training checklist should include:

Welcome and introduction: Overview of the company, its culture, and key personnel
Administrative tasks: Completion of the necessary paperwork and IT setup
Job-specific training: Detailed training on the new hire’s specific role and responsibilities
Compliance training: Training on company policies, health and safety protocols, and regulatory requirements
Mentorship and support: Assignment of a mentor or buddy for guidance
Performance expectations: Clear communication of performance standards and goals
Evaluation and feedback: Regular check-ins and feedback sessions to assess progress

Are a new hire training checklist and an onboarding checklist the same thing?

A new hire training checklist and an onboarding checklist are related but not the same.

The new hire training checklist focuses specifically on the training aspects, such as job-specific skills and compliance training. In contrast, an onboarding checklist is broader. It includes all activities necessary to integrate a new hire into the company, such as administrative tasks, introductions to team members, and orientation sessions.

The training checklist can be a component of the overall onboarding process.

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