- Does the OSHA 10 card expire? The federal answer
- Why some people are told their OSHA 10 needs renewing
- What the OSHA 10 card shows, and what it doesn't
- OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30
- How to get an OSHA 10 card online the right way
- How to check an OSHA card is valid
- Replacing a lost or damaged OSHA 10 card
- Myths and mix-ups about the OSHA 10 card
- Frequently asked questions
No. OSHA says its Outreach Training Program cards, including the OSHA 10 card, don't have an expiration date. Some states, cities, employers, unions or job sites can still ask for more recent training, such as New York City's Site Safety Training rules. Replacements come from your original trainer, within five years of the class.
If you're starting work on a US building site, applying for a construction job or hiring your first crew, someone will probably ask for an OSHA 10 card. The next question is nearly always the same: does it run out? I've gone straight to the source for this one. Everything below comes from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's own Outreach Training Program pages on osha.gov, plus one city's official rules where they add a renewal requirement of their own.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your employer, union, job site or state can set rules of their own, so always check what applies to you.
Does the OSHA 10 card expire? The federal answer
No. OSHA's Outreach Training Program FAQ says the student course completion cards in Construction, General Industry, Maritime and Disaster Site don't have an expiration date. For Maritime, OSHA adds that cards issued from April 1, 2019 don't expire and that earlier Maritime training remains valid too.
So once you've completed the 10-hour class and received your card, the federal card itself stays valid. There's no OSHA renewal and no OSHA refresher you're required to take to keep it.
Why some people are told their OSHA 10 needs renewing
Here's where the confusion comes from. OSHA says the Outreach Training Program is voluntary and that it doesn't require anyone to take it. It also notes that some states have passed laws mandating the training, and that states, municipalities or others may require it as a condition of employment. Those bodies can set their own rules about how recent your training must be.
New York City is a clear example from an official source. The NYC Department of Buildings runs Site Safety Training (SST) for workers on certain construction sites. Its worker information page says SST cards are valid for five years from the date of issue. It also says a 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA class completed within the past five years counts toward the SST training hours, and can get you a temporary SST card while you finish the rest. In that situation the OSHA card hasn't expired, but the date you took the class still matters for the city's card.
Employers, unions and project owners can also ask for recent training. If you're told your card is "too old", ask which rule they're applying and where it's written down.
What the OSHA 10 card shows, and what it doesn't
OSHA describes the Outreach Training Program as basic safety and health training. It covers how to recognise, avoid and prevent job hazards, plus workers' rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a complaint. When you finish, you receive a course completion card.
Two points are easy to miss:
- It isn't a certification. OSHA states that none of the courses in the Outreach Training Program is considered a certification.
- It doesn't meet specific training requirements. OSHA says the program doesn't meet the training requirements for any OSHA standard, so your employer still has to train you on the particular hazards of your job.
That's worth knowing when you list it on a CV. My guide on writing a CPR certification on your resume shows a tidy way to present training cards and certificates.
OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30
Both are part of the same program. OSHA explains the difference by audience:
| Point | OSHA 10-hour | OSHA 30-hour |
|---|---|---|
| Intended for | Workers | Supervisors or workers with some safety responsibility |
| Purpose | Awareness of common job hazards | Training for people with safety duties |
| Industry tracks | Construction, General Industry, Maritime | Construction, General Industry, Maritime |
| Federal card expiry | No expiration date | Also no expiration date |
Disaster Site Worker training is the exception to the 10 and 30 pattern. OSHA runs it as 7.5-hour and 15-hour classes for workers who provide skilled support or clean-up after a disaster.
How to get an OSHA 10 card online the right way
You can take OSHA 10 in a classroom with an OSHA-authorized trainer or online. For online classes, OSHA publishes a list of the current OSHA-authorized online Outreach providers and says it can't validate training from vendors that aren't on that list. The providers listed on osha.gov include 360Training (OSHAcampus), AdvanceOnline, CareerSafe, ClickSafety, HSI, PureEHS, Redvector and the University of South Florida. Not every provider offers every course, so check the list for your industry.
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- Decide which track you need. OSHA's online provider list covers Construction and General Industry.
- Open OSHA's list of authorized online providers on osha.gov and pick one that offers your course.
- Plan your time. OSHA limits training to seven and a half contact hours per day, so a 10-hour class can't be finished in one sitting.
- Complete the course and keep any completion confirmation you're given.
- Wait for your card. OSHA says trainers must issue cards to students within 90 days of finishing the class. If yours hasn't arrived by then, contact your provider.
If you're unsure which qualification to go for next, my guide to choosing the right certification for your career walks through how to weigh your options.
How to check an OSHA card is valid
OSHA's FAQ says you can scan the QR code on the back of a plastic student or trainer card to verify the training. OSHA also says it doesn't keep records of Outreach classes itself. Trainers and online providers keep student records for five years, and completion has to be verified using those class records.
If you're an employer checking a new starter's card, scan the code and, if anything looks wrong, contact the training provider named on the card.
Replacing a lost or damaged OSHA 10 card
- Who to contact: OSHA says to contact your Outreach trainer, or your online provider if you trained online. OSHA can't issue the card itself.
- Time limit: a replacement can only be issued if the class was taken within the last five years.
- How many: only one replacement card may be issued per student per class.
- Older training: if your class was more than five years ago, or you don't know who your trainer was, OSHA says you'll need to retake the class.
Take a photo of both sides of your card when it arrives. It won't replace the card, but it'll make it much easier to find the provider's details if you lose it.
Myths and mix-ups about the OSHA 10 card
- "OSHA 10 expires after five years." The federal card doesn't. Five years comes up in other places: the window for a replacement card, how long trainers keep records, and some local rules such as NYC's.
- "It's an OSHA certification." OSHA says it isn't a certification.
- "Any online course will do." Only providers on OSHA's authorized online list issue official Outreach cards.
- "OSHA requires every worker to have one." OSHA says the program is voluntary. Requirements come from some states, cities, employers and job sites.
If you run a construction business, keeping on top of crew training sits alongside quoting and planning. My guide to construction estimating software covers the planning side.
Frequently asked questions
Does the OSHA 10 card expire?
No. OSHA says its Outreach student course completion cards for Construction, General Industry, Maritime and Disaster Site don't have an expiration date. Some states, cities, employers or job sites may ask for more recent training.
Does the OSHA 30 card expire?
No. The same OSHA rule applies to 30-hour cards. Check with your employer or local authority in case they set their own refresher rules.
How do I replace a lost OSHA 10 card?
Contact the trainer or online provider who ran your class. OSHA says a replacement can only be issued if you took the class within the last five years, and only one replacement is allowed per class.
Can I get an OSHA 10 card online?
Yes, through one of the OSHA-authorized online Outreach providers listed on osha.gov. OSHA says it can't validate training from vendors that aren't on its list.
How long does it take to get an OSHA 10 card?
OSHA says trainers must issue cards within 90 days of the class ending. If yours hasn't arrived by then, contact your trainer or provider.
Is OSHA 10 required by law?
OSHA says the Outreach program is voluntary, but some states and cities have their own laws requiring it for certain work. Check with your employer or your state or city authority for your situation.
