All About the OSHA Safety Certification Program

As you look for a job in the construction industry, you are likely to come across specific requirements, such an OSHA 10 certification. Job postings may also specify that only candidates with an OSHA 30 certification can apply. And as you prepare to get certified, you might be surprised to find out that those certifications are actually NOT provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration itself.

And no—it’s not that employers are discouraging you from applying or are trying to trick you. It’s just that many employers don’t understand OSHA certifications themselves, often making mistakes on what certain training programs are called. Knowing exactly what it means to be OSHA certified should provide some clarifications.

What you need to know

If a job asks for OSHA safety certification such as OSHA 10 or 30, it means that the employer is looking for proof that you have completed an Outreach Training Program course by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Graduating from that program should earn you a 10-hour or 30-hour completion card.

OSHA will not certify a worker who completed a 10 or 30-hour Outreach training because of the voluntary nature of these courses. Moreover, the courses are unable to meet the training requirements specified in OSHA standards, which are the regulations and rules OSHA is expecting employers to follow.

There is a disclaimer posted on OSHA’s website stating that although there are municipalities and states that may require Outreach training to become employed, it is not required by OSHA itself. So, none of these courses are considered as certifications.

OSHA may not approve of using ‘OSHA 30-certified’ or ‘OSHA 10 certification’, but employers and workers may still use those terms to refer simply to the Outreach Training Program.

What’s covered in the training

Courses in the Outreach Training Program include the 10-hour and the OSHA 30 certification training. They aim to teach every worker to recognize and avoid the most common job-related hazards. They also explain the responsibilities of employers, how to file a complaint, and the rights of workers under OSHA.

The OSHA 10 certification is the entry-level program, and OSHA 30 is for supervisors and the workers with responsibilities to observe and maintain safety in their workplace. Some Outreach courses are industry-specific, where the 10 and 30-hour OSHA safety certification training may be tailored to suit the needs of the general and construction industries.

Proving completion of the program

The US Department of Labor will give you an official completion card after graduating from an OSHA-authorized Outreach course. Employers may also refer to that card as the 10-hour or 30-hour card, OSHA 10 certification, OSHA 30 certification, DOL card, OSHA 10 or 30 completion card, or OSHA DOL card.

Certificates vs. certification

These may sound similar, but OSHA treats them differently. For instance, if you complete the OSHA 10 for the construction industry, you will get a temporary certificate of completion until the DOL card arrives. Keep in mind that earning a DOL card or a course certificate does not mean being certified.

As per the Institute of Credentialing Excellence, a certification program recognizes professionals who meet established competencies, skills, or knowledge. The program verifies your mastery of an advanced topic. The Institute refers to OSHA Outreach training as an ‘assessment-based certificate program,’ which are narrower in scope compared to certification programs.