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Introduction to Sanctions training

Six microlessons on how sanctions work, who imposes them and how to manage sanctions risk in everyday decisions, with situational tests and a certificate of completion.

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Introduction to Sanctions (Global) course preview
6Short, TikTok-style microlessonsIn the browser or the iOS and Android apps

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  • 2Assessments
  • 6Microlessons
  • IncludedCertificate of completion
About this course

What the Introduction to Sanctions course covers

This introductory course explains how sanctions work in six microlessons. Sanctions affect every business that deals across borders, and most breaches happen by accident. The course covers what sanctions are and why they matter, who imposes them, the consequences of non-compliance, how to manage sanctions risk across geography, counterparties, products and ownership, and the tools and controls that support compliance. Two situational tests check understanding.

Learning outcomes

What your people will be able to do

  • Explain the types and purposes of sanctions and the legal consequences of breaches
  • Identify the international authorities that impose sanctions and work across overlapping regimes
  • Assess sanctions risk by geography, counterparty, product and ownership or control
  • Apply proportionate screening, due diligence and escalation to transactions
  • Use sanctions screening tools and review alerts to make documented decisions
  • Reduce the risk of breaches through policies, training, monitoring and record keeping
Course contents

6 microlessons

Each microlesson is a short, TikTok-style video lesson, with knowledge checks along the way.

1What Are Sanctions and Why Do They Matter?
2Who Imposes Sanctions?
3What Are the Consequences of Non-Compliance?
4Managing Sanctions Risk
5Tools and Controls for Sanctions Compliance
6Recap: Intro to Sanctions

  1. What Are Sanctions and Why Do They Matter?: What sanctions are, why they exist and what a breach can mean for your business.
  2. Who Imposes Sanctions?: The main sanctions authorities, how their regimes overlap and what to do when they conflict.
  3. What Are the Consequences of Non-Compliance?: The legal, financial, reputational and operational impact of sanctions breaches.
  4. Managing Sanctions Risk: Proportionate controls and the main sources of sanctions risk: geography, counterparties, products and ownership.
  5. Tools and Controls for Sanctions Compliance: Screening tools, how to handle alerts and why human oversight still matters.
  6. Recap: Intro to Sanctions: A recap of how sanctions work and how to manage sanctions risk in practice.
A 5Mins certificate of completion for Introduction to Sanctions (Global), lying on a desk next to a laptop
Certificate

A certificate for every learner who completes it

Learners finish every microlesson and complete the assessments. 5Mins then issues a certificate of completion for Introduction to Sanctions (Global).

  • Certificates and e-signatures stored against each learner
  • Audit-ready records, ready whenever an auditor asks
  • Completion shows on the Compliance Dashboard in real time
Audience and regulation

Who it's for and the law it covers

Who it's for

  • Procurement, finance and operations teams who deal with international suppliers and customers
  • Employees in financial services, logistics and shipping
  • Anyone who approves payments, contracts or shipments across borders
  • New joiners who need a first introduction to sanctions

Laws covered

  • Multiple sanctions regimes. The course explains how the UN, the EU, the US, the UK and other countries each impose sanctions, and how to comply when regimes overlap or conflict.
How it runs in 5Mins

Assign it once, then let 5Mins do the chasing

Every course in the 5Mins library runs on the same zero-admin engine.

  • EnrollAuto-enroll

    Enroll people automatically from your HR system, with 100+ HRIS platforms supported.

  • RemindReminders

    Nudges by email, Slack, Microsoft Teams and push until the course is done.

  • RepeatRecurrence

    Set the course to repeat, for example every 12 months, and 5Mins re-enrolls people for you.

  • CertifyCertificates

    Certificates and e-signatures are issued and stored for every completion.

  • ProveAudit-ready records

    See who is complete, at risk or overdue on the Compliance Dashboard, and prove it any time.

Customer stories

Compliance teams that swapped chasing for results

Compliance, HR and L&D leaders on what changed when they moved their training to 5Mins. Pick a team to see what changed.

ComplianceCompliance Training Insurance, 205 colleagues 100%

compliance completion and pass rate since go-live

  • ~1 day saved on each compliance course (HR estimate)
  • Automated reminders and reporting

Since go-live, our compliance completion and pass rates are 100%, and it's the quickest we've ever got there. Automated reminders and reporting save us about a day per course.

Laura ChappellLaura ChappellHR Director, Collingwood
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ComplianceCompliance Training Insurance and emergency accommodation 87%

less session time, from 2.5-3 hour sessions to modules of 25 minutes at most

  • 12 monthly sessions a year, up from 3-4
  • 95% content creation time saved

Our compliance sessions used to be two and a half to three hours in a room, and we could fit in three or four a year. Now we cover one topic a month, and I can see exactly what people are retaining.

Lucy WybornLucy WybornDirector of Learning and Development, ICAB
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ComplianceCompliance Training Legal services 80%

completion on mandatory training, up from 20%

  • Mobile microlessons finished between calls
  • Manager view of each team's progress

We were sitting at 20% completion on our mandatory training. We're now at 80%. People finish short lessons between calls, on mobile, and managers can see where their teams are, so chasing completion is no longer a one-person job.

Jamie WaltonJamie WaltonGroup Learning and Development Officer, Winn Solicitors
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ComplianceCompliance Training Fintech and digital banking On demand

training log showing who did what, when, and the pass rate

  • Any device phone or laptop, at their own pace
  • Rolling refreshers through the year

When I engage with the FCA, I can show that every team has had training tailored to their role, that it's up to date, and that it runs throughout the year, with a full log of who's done what.

Abdul GofurAbdul GofurHead of Compliance & Anti-Financial Crime, nsave
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★ Free sample lesson

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Interested in Introduction to Sanctions training? Request a free sample lesson, book a short demo with our team, and we'll share your sample lessons after the call.

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Free course catalogues

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Free PDF catalogues to share with your compliance lead, your managers or your board.

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Financial services

Global Financial Compliance Catalogue

Specialized compliance training for financial services teams working across borders, covering AML, risk management, customer due diligence and international regulations.

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Compliance

Global Compliance Catalogue

Stay compliant across every market you operate in, with regulatory training covering GDPR, data protection, workplace safety and more.

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Your questions answered

Questions about Introduction to Sanctions training

How long is the Introduction to Sanctions course?

It's made up of 6 microlessons, each under 5 minutes. Learners can finish it in one sitting or spread it over a few days, and 5Mins sends reminders until it is done.

Is there a certificate?

Yes. Learners get a certificate of completion once they finish every microlesson and complete the situational tests. The record is stored in 5Mins for audits.

What does the course cover?

What sanctions are and why they matter, who imposes them, the consequences of non-compliance, managing sanctions risk, and the tools and controls that support compliance.

Is this course for a specific country?

No. It explains how sanctions work across the major regimes. For country-specific detail, 5Mins also has financial sanctions courses for the UK and EU.

Who should take this course?

Anyone whose work touches international payments, suppliers, customers or shipments, especially in procurement, finance, operations and logistics.

Can I try the course first?

Yes. Request a free sample lesson and book a short demo with our team. After your demo, we'll share sample lessons with you so you can see the format for yourself.

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