Why Refresher Training Matters and How To Make It Work

Even the best training doesn’t stick forever.

No matter how strong your onboarding is, if you stop reinforcing it with refresher training for employees, your team’s performance will eventually slip. People forget. Processes evolve. Regulations change. And that means your employees need structured refreshers to stay sharp, even if they’re skilled.

If you lead a team in public health, education, or any public-serving agency, refresher training isn’t just nice to have. It’s essential. It helps reduce mistakes, improves compliance, and boosts long-term retention of critical skills without draining your team’s time or budget.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what refresher training for employees is, when to use it, and how to build a program that fits seamlessly into your workflow.

What Is Refresher Training?

Refresher training is a short, targeted learning intervention that helps reinforce or update knowledge your team already has. Think of it as a “booster shot” for your brain designed to fight off skill decay and keep performance strong.

It can take many forms:

• Protocol updates for home visitors
• HIPAA or confidentiality refreshers
• Communication or cultural competence practice
• Microlearning sessions on policy changes

Unlike onboarding, refresher courses are meant to be brief, relevant, and to the point.

The forgetting curve, Wikipedia.

According to Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve, people forget up to 75% of what they’ve learned after just six days without reinforcement. That’s why refresher training can have an outsized impact in even small doses.

When Do You Need Refresher Training for Employees?

If you’re noticing:

• Increased errors or compliance issues
• Lower performance or morale
• Confusion around new systems or protocols
• Drop-off in customer satisfaction or engagement

…it’s probably time for a refresher.

Other triggers include:

• Annual compliance requirements (OSHA, HIPAA, etc.)
• New staff who need support post-onboarding
• Organizational changes, new technologies, or system rollouts
• Performance evaluations showing specific skill gaps

Instead of waiting for problems to pile up, you can proactively schedule refreshers quarterly or annually. Plus, according to studies, your team is likely to look forward to it.

What Makes a Good Refresher Course?

Refresher training doesn’t need to be complex or boring.

The most effective programs are:

• Short and focused (15–45 minutes tops)
• Scenario-based to reinforce real-world decision-making
• Interactive, including quizzes, branching stories, or games
• Modular, so learners can revisit sections on-demand
• Self-paced, mobile-friendly, and LMS-integrated
• Measurable, with micro-certification or knowledge checks

The best refresher courses.

If you’re stuck using static PowerPoints, it’s time to upgrade.

How To Plan Refresher Training in Your Program

Here’s a step-by-step model to integrate refresher training into your workflow:

1. Identify What Fades

Use surveys, performance data, and manager insights to pinpoint what skills are slipping. Don’t just guess analyze.

2. Audit Existing Training

Look at what you’ve already taught. What’s outdated? What’s missing? Can you reuse content with tweaks?

3. Choose the Right Format

Some topics need video. Others work as a job aid or 10-minute micro-course. Go with the format your team will actually use.

4. Set a Training Schedule

Map refreshers to your performance calendar, compliance deadlines, or post-onboarding milestones. Automate repeat training where possible.

5. Track Results and Feedback

Use your LMS or survey tools to measure completion, knowledge retention, and satisfaction. Adjust and improve over time.

When a Refresher Isn’t Enough

Sometimes, a short course isn’t the answer.

Consider deeper retraining when:

• There’s a major protocol or legal change
• Your team is adopting new technology or systems
• Employees are transitioning roles or moving into leadership
• You’re addressing community-wide shifts, like pandemic response or health equity work

In these cases, think broader: workshops, coaching, or even a full retraining cycle may be required.

Small Doses, Big Impact

Refresher training for employees isn’t just about compliance it’s about confidence, consistency, and culture. When done right, it helps your team perform better, adapt faster, and feel more supported.

The best part? You don’t have to overhaul your entire training program to start.

Just begin with one course.