How Long Is OSHA 10 Good For?
Many industries require their workers to complete OSHA 10 training to ensure basic knowledge about workplace safety and health standards. But once you've earned your OSHA 10 card, how long does it last?
The answer isn't as straightforward as you might expect. While the OSHA Outreach Training Program itself doesn't have an official expiration date, the ongoing validity of your training can depend on several factors. Below, we’ll get into everything you need to know about how long OSHA certification is good for.
What Is OSHA 10?
Before we jump into OSHA 10 expirations, we should first explain what OSHA 10 is for those not in the know.
Years ago, companies and governments began needing a minimum standard for workplace safety training to apply to high-risk industries like construction, manufacturing, and warehousing. For example, if a state government wanted to ensure that all general contractors’ employees had adequate safety training, they wanted a specific curriculum they could require.
In response, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created its OSHA Outreach Training program. These courses – called OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 – provide an introduction to worker rights and protections, as well as common hazards in a given industry.
While OSHA is very insistent that authorized training providers like us don’t call these courses “OSHA Certification,” the general public often uses the term to indicate the successful completion of the appropriate Outreach course.
Employers and safety experts will sometimes also refer to it as an “OSHA card” or “DOL card” because the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issues durable plastic wallet cards as proof that you’ve completed an Outreach course.
Which Type of OSHA 10 Course Do I Need?
OSHA Outreach courses are divided up in a few ways, and you need to identify the type of DOL card you actually need before you can enroll in the right course.
OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30
For each industry, OSHA Outreach courses are divided into two levels: OSHA 10, which is the 10-hour course, and OSHA 30, which is the 30-hour course.
The general rule of thumb is that workers with supervisory responsibilities over other workers need OSHA 30, while everyone else can get by with OSHA 10. But as is true of many things, the decision between OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 can be a little more complicated at times.
Your best bet is to check the requirements of local regulatory bodies and employers in your area.
Construction vs General Industry
There are actually a handful of OSHA “industries,” including Shipyard, Marine Terminal, and Longshoring, but the two most common types of DOL cards are Construction and General Industry.
OSHA 10 or 30 Construction is appropriate for anyone who performs construction, renovation, or demolition work.
OSHA 10 or 30 General Industry is appropriate for almost everyone else (everyone other than Construction, Shipyard, Marine Terminal, and Longshoring). This can include manufacturing, warehousing, industrial, health care, and even entertainment work.
Is OSHA 10 Certification Required?
It depends on your location, industry, and employer.
Certain jurisdictions require a DOL card under specific circumstances. The broadest mandate is in Nevada, where all construction workers must have an OSHA 10 Construction card and all entertainment industry workers must have an OSHA 10 General Industry card.
It’s more common for cities, counties, or states to set construction-specific DOL card requirements. Typically it’s tied to public funding – any publicly-funded project over a certain value will require all workers to have a recently-earned OSHA card. This means any employers who want that sweet government cheese have a strong hiring preference for candidates who already hold a valid OSHA 10 Construction card.
Employers also sometimes require an OSHA 10 card, regardless of any legal requirements. For example, a general contractor may only hire subcontractors who hold an OSHA 10 card to ensure that, even as an independent contractor exempt from OSHA, they have a solid understanding of workplace safety principles. In other high-risk industries, employers may include OSHA 10 General Industry as part of an employee’s onboarding to ensure they won’t make mistakes that will trigger an OSHA visit.
Since laws and policies can be updated at any time, the best way to find out if an OSHA 10 card is required for you is to check with local employers and regulating bodies.
Do OSHA 10 Cards Expire?
OSHA considers Outreach Training to be entirely optional, which also means there’s no official expiration date, according to the federal government.
Jurisdictions that require an OSHA 10 card typically only consider DOL cards “valid” for a set number of years, at which point you need to retake the course if you intend to continue working in that industry. Employers will have their own preferred frequency.
In other words, the question of how long OSHA 10 cards are good will vary based on where you are, who you work for, and why you need it.
How Long Do OSHA 10 Cards Last?
Again, it will depend on where you are and why you need it, but the renewal requirement for most jurisdictions is three to five years.
These laws can change at any time, so it’s best to check directly with local regulators or employers.
Can You Replace Your DOL Card?
The Department of Labor allows you to order a replacement wallet card, but only once. If you lose or damage your DOL card a second time, you’ll need to retake OSHA 10 to get another one.
How Do You Renew Your DOL Card?
Unlike some required regulatory training, OSHA has no standards for a shorter “refresher” course. This means you’ll need to take the entire 10-hour curriculum again, though you can choose to take it from a different provider with different topics.
We recommend that you review the topics available and pick the course that is most relevant to your current job responsibilities.
Earn Your OSHA 10 Card Online Today
Regardless of why you need one, ten hours of workplace safety training can feel like a lot to fit into your already busy life. Thankfully, it’s possible to earn an official OSHA 10 card with an online training provider like us.
We’ve been OSHA-authorized to issue DOL cards for over 20 years. Our courses are interactive, mobile-friendly, and available anywhere and anytime you have an internet connection. You can work through the curriculum at your own pace around your other obligations.
We offer OSHA 10 and 30 courses for both Construction and General Industry, in English and Spanish. Head to our website to enroll today!
