H0 B0 Certification : the complete guide [2026]

What is H0B0 certification?

Definition and H0 B0 symbol

H0 B0 electrical certification is issued by the employer to personnel who operate in electrical risk environments (restricted access areas for electricians, private or public HV substations, proximity to live overhead lines, etc.) without directly working on electrical installations or equipment. B0 concerns operations in low-voltage environments (up to 1,000 volts AC and 1,500 volts DC), H0 for high-voltage environments (above 1,000 V AC and 1,500 V DC). The certification can be supplemented with H0V, for working in reinforced high-voltage proximity zones (Zone 2).

There are 2 levels for this certification:

• H0B0 Worker: for those who carry out work on site under the supervision of a site manager
• H0 B0 Site Manager: for those who supervise and organize the work area, ensuring the monitoring of personnel.

H0 B0 electrical certification concerns a large number of professionals in very different sectors of activity:

• Performing work not related to electrical installations in electrical rooms:
  • painters, masons, locksmiths, welders, plasterers… who may need to work in an electrical room, for example.
  • Pest control technician
  • Cleaning staff
  • Security guards
  • Real estate professionals (e.g., performing measurements…)
  • Construction project managers or project managers in design offices (site visits…)
  • Fiber technicians (access to telecom infrastructure in technical rooms, etc.)
  • IT Technicians
• Performing work not related to electrical equipment near live overhead lines:
  • Landscaping professionals (e.g., tree surgeons, etc.)
  • Rope access technicians
  • Aerial lift operators

This list is not exhaustive but aims to provide concrete examples of work situations requiring H0 B0 electrical certification.

What can’t you do with H0B0 certification?

Any electrical operation is prohibited if you only have H0 B0 certification, even the most basic ones:

• Opening an electrical panel or cabinet
• De-energizing an installation
• Resetting a circuit breaker
• Changing a light bulb, a fuse, an electrical outlet, etc.
• Digging a trench near an underground electrical conduit
• Cleaning a photovoltaic panel
• …

For more details, feel free to consult our article on the limits of H0 B0 electrical certification.

What are the alternatives to H0 B0 certification?

If the operations performed by you or your teams are not within the limits of H0B0 certification, a higher level of certification will need to be considered. For non-electrician personnel, you may consider:

• BS BE Manoeuvre Electrical Certification: it allows for basic electrical operations (like-for-like replacement of small electrical equipment, de-energizing a panel, resetting a circuit breaker, connecting electrical equipment to a waiting network)
• BF HF Electrical Certification: it is intended for construction professionals who perform excavation or earthwork near underground electrical conduits.
• BP Electrical Certification: non-electrician professionals who perform basic operations on Low Voltage photovoltaic installations, for example, installation, connections (only with IP2X connectors), maintenance, or cleaning.

For more advanced electrical operations, certifications for electricians such as B1V H1V B2V H2V BC HC BR will need to be considered. Please note, these trainings require good knowledge of electricity.

What regulations govern this certification?

The Labor Code requires employers to issue a certification title to any employee exposed to electrical risk. Standard NF C 18-510 defines the practical procedures and technical requirements to be observed.

Without this certification, the company is exposed to criminal penalties in the event of a workplace accident. The risks to the human body are not negligible: electrocution, burns, fire, falls related to simple contact with a live installation.

With H0B0, one learns to identify dangers, assess risks within a simple and reinforced proximity zone, and adopt appropriate prevention measures. The presence of an accredited trainer ensures the acquisition of essential safety skills.

How is H0 B0 training conducted?

Session Program

The training combines theoretical and practical instruction over a minimum duration of 7 hours (one full day). The main objective of the training is to raise trainees’ awareness of electrical risks and enable them to independently conduct a risk analysis in electrical environments to know where to operate and where not to operate.

Theoretical part:

• Effects of electric current on the human body and prevention methods
• Different voltage ranges (ELV, LV, MV, HV) and their characteristics
• Risk assessment and personal protective equipment
• Limits of H0 B0 certification (authorizations and prohibitions) according to regulations
• Actions to take in case of an electrical accident or fire
• Safe intervention methods and instructions to follow

Practical part:

At least 2.5 hours for the worker and 3 hours for the site manager. Trainees practice on installations representative of the actual workplace. The trainer guides each participant in recognizing dangers, delimiting access zones, using PPE, and simulating interventions.

Theoretical and practical assessment:

The training concludes with a theoretical MCQ and a practical assessment; you will find all the details in our article on the H0 B0 electrical certification test.

How to take H0 B0 training?

Validity period and refresher training

According to standard NF C 18-510, the recommended validity is a maximum of 3 years. Please note: this is not a strict legal obligation, but it is highly recommended. The employer must regularly assess the skills of their personnel and may decide to organize more frequent refresher training depending on the type of intervention performed.

Refresher training has the same duration as the basic training, i.e., 7 hours. This refresher allows for maintaining up-to-date skills and ensuring that each agent always has the necessary resources to intervene safely:

• Review of essential concepts and participant feedback
• Regulatory update and evolution of the standard since the last session
• Review of H0 B0 certification limits and intervention zones
• Practical scenario-based exercises on installations
• Actions to take in case of an accident or fire related to electricity

When should the certification be re-examined?

Beyond the triennial refresher training, the employer must re-examine the H0 B0 certification at least once a year. This annual assessment verifies that the employee retains the required aptitudes and complies with safety instructions within their professional activity.

The 7 cases of mandatory re-evaluation

1. Transfer with change of title signatory or site
2. Change of role (e.g., transition from worker to site manager)
3. Long interruption: cessation of practice on site for more than 6 months
4. Modification of medical fitness as determined by occupational health
5. Non-compliance with safety requirements or breach of rules
6. Evolution of work methods or equipment within the company
7. Evolution of regulations or standard updates

Price and funding

Training fees within our organization

(*) You can include up to 12 trainees in an in-company session.

Funding options

The employer must finance this mandatory training as part of their safety obligation. Several schemes exist to reduce the cost:

• Company skills development plan (training budget)
• OPCO (possible funding for professional risk prevention actions)

For individuals, support from France Travail is possible in the case of an AIF or a POEI.

Please note that since December 31, 2021, H0 B0 training can no longer be funded by the CPF. France Compétences has deactivated it from the RS (Specific Register) as indicated on their website.

Key Takeaways