OSHA does not offer a formal certification for workers, but the most widely recognized credential is the OSHA outreach training card, available in 10-hour and 30-hour versions. Many employers, job sites, and local jurisdictions treat this card as proof that you’ve completed essential safety training. Getting one involves taking a course through an OSHA-authorized trainer, either online or in person, and receiving a Department of Labor card upon completion. Here’s how the process works and what to expect.
What OSHA Training Cards Actually Are
The OSHA Outreach Training Program offers courses in four industry categories: Construction, General Industry, Maritime, and Disaster Site. Each category has a 10-hour and a 30-hour version. These aren’t licenses or certifications in the legal sense. They’re course completion cards issued by the U.S. Department of Labor showing you finished an approved safety and health training program.
The 10-hour course is designed for entry-level workers and covers awareness of common job-related safety and health hazards. The 30-hour course goes deeper into industry-specific topics and is intended for supervisors or workers who have some safety responsibility on the job. Most people searching for “OSHA certified” need one of these two cards, and Construction and General Industry are by far the most common tracks.
Choose the Right Course for Your Industry
Your first decision is which industry track to take. If you work on construction sites, doing anything from framing to electrical work to general labor, you need the Construction track. If you work in manufacturing, warehousing, healthcare, retail, or most other non-construction settings, the General Industry track applies. Maritime covers shipyard employment, marine terminals, and longshoring. Pick the wrong track and the card won’t satisfy your employer’s or jurisdiction’s requirements.
Your second decision is 10 hours versus 30 hours. If you’re a frontline worker and your employer or job site just requires an “OSHA card,” they almost always mean the 10-hour course. If you’re a foreman, site supervisor, or safety coordinator, the 30-hour version is typically what’s expected. Check with your employer before enrolling so you don’t pay for the wrong one.
Where to Take the Training
You can complete OSHA outreach training online or in a classroom. Both lead to the same Department of Labor card, but you need to use an authorized provider. OSHA maintains a specific list of approved online training organizations, and courses from unlisted vendors won’t result in a valid card.
OSHA-authorized online providers for the Construction 10-hour course include 360Training (also called OSHAcampus), ClickSafety, CareerSafe, AdvanceOnline, HSI, PureEHS, Redvector (Vector Solutions), and the University of South Florida. The General Industry and 30-hour course lists are similar but slightly shorter. You can find the full, current list on OSHA’s Outreach Training Program page.
For in-person training, OSHA-authorized outreach trainers conduct classes through unions, trade associations, community colleges, and employer-sponsored programs. These trainers hold active authorization cards from OSHA’s OTI (Occupational Safety and Health Training Institute) and must follow the same curriculum standards as online providers.
What the Courses Cost
Prices vary by provider and format. Online 10-hour courses generally run between $25 and $90. The 30-hour courses typically cost $60 to $200. In-person classes can be more expensive, especially if they’re offered through a private training company, though union members and employees of certain organizations sometimes get access at reduced rates or no cost. Some employers pay for the training directly, so it’s worth asking before you pay out of pocket.
How the Training Works
Online courses let you work at your own pace within a set window, usually 60 to 180 days depending on the provider. The 10-hour course takes a minimum of 10 hours to complete (providers enforce this with timers so you can’t skip ahead), and the 30-hour course takes at least 30 hours. Most platforms break the material into modules with quizzes at the end of each section and a final exam.
Topics in a Construction 10-hour course typically include fall protection, electrical safety, personal protective equipment, hazard communication, scaffolding safety, and an introduction to OSHA’s role and workers’ rights. General Industry courses cover similar foundational topics but focus on hazards like machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures, and ergonomics. The 30-hour versions expand on all of these and add more specialized modules.
After you pass the final assessment, the training provider requests your physical card from OSHA. You’ll usually receive a temporary certificate or proof of completion right away, which most employers accept while you wait for the official card. The Department of Labor card is a white, wallet-sized card that arrives by mail. Processing and delivery can take several weeks, so plan ahead if you need it for a specific start date.
Do OSHA Cards Expire?
At the federal level, OSHA outreach training cards do not expire. A 10-hour or 30-hour card you earned years ago is still technically valid. However, some states, cities, unions, and individual employers require workers to retake the training periodically, often every three to five years. Your card might be valid in OSHA’s eyes but not accepted on a particular job site if local rules mandate recent training. Always check with the organization requiring the card to see if they enforce a renewal window.
Beyond the Outreach Card: Certificate Programs
If you want training that goes significantly deeper than the 10-hour or 30-hour card, OSHA’s network of OTI Education Centers offers Safety and Health Fundamentals Certificate Programs. These are available in Construction, General Industry, and Maritime tracks.
Earning a fundamentals certificate requires completing seven courses (three required, four electives) totaling at least 68 contact hours for Construction or General Industry, or 77 contact hours for Maritime. Courses are offered at OTI Education Centers around the country, and credits earned at one center transfer to another. Once you’ve finished all seven courses, you submit an application with copies of your course certificates and a $95 processing fee. Processing takes roughly four to six weeks.
These certificate programs are geared toward safety professionals, not the average worker who needs a card to get on a job site. They’re a good investment if you’re building a career in occupational safety or want to stand out as a safety-focused supervisor.
Steps to Get Your OSHA Card
- Confirm what you need. Ask your employer or the job site which card is required: 10-hour or 30-hour, Construction or General Industry.
- Pick an authorized provider. Use OSHA’s official list of authorized online providers, or find a local OSHA-authorized outreach trainer for in-person classes.
- Complete the coursework. Finish all modules and pass the final assessment. Budget at least two to three days for the 10-hour course and a week or more for the 30-hour course if you’re fitting it around work.
- Get your temporary proof. Download or print your course completion certificate immediately after finishing. Most employers and job sites accept this while you wait for the physical card.
- Receive your DOL card. Your official Department of Labor card will arrive by mail. Keep it in your wallet alongside any other trade credentials.