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OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30: which one do I need?
OSHA 10 is for workers. OSHA 30 fits supervisors and workers with some safety duties. OSHA doesn't require either one. Some states, cities and others may ask for one. Ask who is asking before you pay.
By State Cert GuideChecked against the sources listed below.Published · Updated
The steps, in order
Ask who requires it
Your job, your state or your city
Pick the class
10 hours for workers, 30 if you supervise or have safety duties
Take it with an OSHA-authorized trainer
Online or in a classroom
Your trainer or online provider issues your card
A trainer has 90 days
Decision steps: ask what your job or state requires, take the 10-hour class if you are a worker or the 30-hour class if you supervise or have safety duties, and take it with an OSHA-authorized trainer.
What the rule says
What is the difference between OSHA 10 and OSHA 30?
The 10-hour class gives workers a look at common safety and health hazards on the job. The 30-hour class fits supervisors, or workers who have some safety duties. Pick by your job.
Do I have to take one?
OSHA says the program is voluntary. It is not an OSHA requirement. Some states, cities and others may ask for it as a condition of employment. Ask your employer or the job site what they want. Then you know which class to take.
Is the card a certification?
No. OSHA says none of the Outreach courses is considered a certification. You get a card that shows you finished the class.
Does the card cover the training my job requires?
Not by itself. OSHA says the program doesn't fulfill an employer's requirement to provide training under specific OSHA standards. If your employer owes you that training, the card doesn't replace it.
What if I work in construction?
OSHA has a construction program with a 10-hour class and a 30-hour class. Ask your employer which one they want.
What if I work in general industry?
OSHA has a general industry program with the same two classes, 10-hour and 30-hour. Ask the trainer or your employer which program fits your work.
Can I take it online?
Yes. OSHA's page tells students who took the training online to contact the online provider about their card. That page doesn't list providers. OSHA's Find a Trainer page does. Ask the provider if its trainers are OSHA-authorized before you pay.
How do I spot a real trainer?
OSHA says its classes are delivered by OSHA-authorized trainers. Ask to see the trainer's OSHA papers before you pay. OSHA's Find a Trainer page has contact details for trainers and providers.
Who gives me the card?
The trainer who taught your class. For online training, the online provider. They keep your class records and issue or replace the card.
How long until I get the card?
A trainer has 90 days after the course to issue cards. If you don't have yours by then, ask the trainer.
Does the card expire?
No. OSHA says the student course completion cards in Construction, General Industry, Maritime and Disaster Site do not have an expiration date.
What if I lost my card?
Ask your trainer or online provider for a new one. If the class was over five years ago, or you don't remember who taught it, you have to take the class again.
Can I ask for a replacement more than once?
No. OSHA says only one replacement card may be issued per student per class.
Where people go wrong
- You pay for a class before you ask what your job or state wants.
- You pay a seller without asking for proof that the trainer is OSHA-authorized.
- You wait too long to ask for your card. A trainer has 90 days to issue your card, and if the class was over five years ago you have to retake it to get a card. Keep your trainer's name and phone number.
Questions
How much does OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 cost?
We haven't confirmed a price. The OSHA page we read gives none. Ask the trainer what you'll pay before you start.
Can OSHA look up my class if I lost my card?
No. OSHA doesn't keep records of classes taught by authorized trainers.
Is there a minimum age for OSHA 10 or OSHA 30?
No. OSHA says there is no minimum age to take an Outreach class. You also don't have to be employed.
Do I have to pass a test?
OSHA doesn't require testing. A trainer may give a test, and the trainer decides whether you finished the class.
Do I get a certificate as well as the card?
The program doesn't require trainers to give you any other completion document than the card. It encourages trainers to hand out a training certificate at the end of class. Your employer or job site decides whether a certificate can stand in for the card.
Can OSHA confirm my card is real?
No. OSHA doesn't verify individual cards, for privacy. If yours is plastic, scan the QR code on the back. It gives contact details for the OSHA Training Institute Education Center that processed the card.
Your next step
Start with what your job or state asks for. Then pick a trainer from OSHA's Find a Trainer page and ask to see their OSHA authorization. For the rules in OSHA's own words, read the Outreach Training Program page.
Sources we read
- www.osha.gov › outreach · read Nov 12, 2026
- www.osha.gov › general industry · read Nov 12, 2026
- www.osha.gov › construction · read Nov 12, 2026
- www.osha.gov › faq · read Nov 13, 2026
Who publishes this guide
State Cert Guide is an independent guide to what each state requires. If a fact on this page is wrong, tell us and we fix it.