FOET vs BOSIET
FOET vs BOSIET — What Is the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
This is one of the most searched questions in offshore training and the answer is actually very simple once someone explains it properly. Here it is.
The One Sentence Answer
BOSIET is the full offshore safety course you do once when you first go offshore. FOET is the shorter refresher you do every four years to keep it valid.
That is genuinely it. Everything else is detail.
What Is BOSIET?
BOSIET stands for Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training. It is the entry-level OPITO approved qualification required before you can set foot on an offshore installation, travel by helicopter to a rig, or work in the offshore oil, gas, or renewables sector.
The course runs for three days and covers four mandatory modules — safety induction, firefighting and self-rescue, sea survival with first aid, and helicopter underwater escape training including CA-EBS. I have done this course myself and it is genuinely excellent training — practical, hands-on, and nothing like as daunting as it sounds going in.
Cost: typically £800 to £1,200 for the full three-day course.
Validity: four years from date of completion.
What Is FOET?
FOET stands for Further Offshore Emergency Training. It is the one-day refresher course that renews your BOSIET certificate before it expires. Same core modules, significantly shorter duration, and generally a more relaxed environment because everyone in the room has already done it before.
You cannot do FOET unless you already hold a valid in-date BOSIET certificate. If your BOSIET has already expired, you go back to the beginning and repeat the full three-day BOSIET. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Cost: typically £400 to £600 for the one-day refresher.
Validity: four years from date of completion.
FOET vs BOSIET — Side by Side
| BOSIET | FOET | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | First time offshore workers | Experienced workers renewing |
| Duration | 3 days | 1 day |
| Cost | £800 to £1,200 | £400 to £600 |
| Prerequisite | None | Valid in-date BOSIET or FOET |
| Validity | 4 years | 4 years |
| Covers HUET | Yes | Yes |
| OPITO approved | Yes | Yes |
What Happens If Your Certificate Expires?
You have to repeat the full three-day BOSIET from scratch. No shortcuts, no partial credit, no exceptions. This catches people out more than anything else in offshore training. Book your FOET well in advance of your expiry date — you can complete it up to 90 days before expiry without losing time on your new certificate.
Do not leave it to the last minute. Training centres get busy, appointment slots fill up, and mobilising offshore with an expired certificate is simply not possible. I have seen it happen to experienced workers who just did not book far enough ahead.
Which One Do You Need?
Never worked offshore before? — You need BOSIET.
Already hold a valid BOSIET or FOET? — You need FOET before it expires.
Certificate has already expired? — You need to repeat the full BOSIET.
Working in offshore wind rather than oil and gas? — Check with your employer. Some offshore wind roles accept GWO Basic Safety Training rather than BOSIET. Most UK North Sea wind installations still require BOSIET or FOET.
Where to Do BOSIET and FOET in the UK
OPITO approved training centres across the UK deliver both courses including Aberdeen, Middlesbrough, Great Yarmouth, Southampton, and Glasgow. Find your nearest approved centre at opito.com.
FAQs
Can I do FOET instead of BOSIET to save money?
No. FOET is only available to holders of a valid in-date BOSIET or FOET certificate. If you have never done BOSIET you must complete the full three-day course.
Is FOET the same as BOSIET refresher?
Yes — FOET is the official OPITO name for the BOSIET refresher course. You may also hear it called the offshore refresher or RGIT refresher. They all mean the same thing.
Does FOET include HUET?
Yes. Helicopter Underwater Escape Training is included in both BOSIET and FOET.
Is BOSIET valid internationally?
BOSIET with CA-EBS is specifically for UK and Dutch sector offshore work. For international offshore work you may need BOSIET with EBS or a TBOSIET. Check with your employer or operator before booking.
Always verify current course requirements and find approved training centres at opito.com. Requirements are reviewed periodically.
