OSHA Outreach Training Program FAQs
New Student and Trainer Course Completion Cards
It is possible to obtain a replacement card later, but there will be a nominal fee determined by the Authorizing Training Organization (ATO). OSHA does not maintain student records for training conducted by other organizations or by authorized Outreach trainers. In order to obtain transcripts or copies of course completion documents such as student course completion cards, you must contact the original training provider.
Please note that replacement student course completion cards for OSHA Outreach Training Program classes cannot be issued for training completed more than five years ago. Only one replacement card may be issued per student per class (Outreach Training Program Requirements section VII.E.(2)). Before requesting a replacement, please ask your trainer to clarify with their ATO as to current availability of the new cards.
As of April 1, 2019, Maritime student course completion cards do not expire. Training completed before this date remains valid. Cardholders are not required to obtain a replacement. If a replacement card is desired, the Maritime class must have been completed within the past five years. To request a replacement card, please contact the original training provider.
The Outreach Training Program is voluntary and OSHA does not require Outreach training. Some states, municipalities, employers, unions, and other organizations have enacted requirements mandating training. Any determination on what will be accepted in order to meet mandatory training requirements must be made by the organization mandating the training. Anyone in possession of a Maritime Outreach course completion card with an expiration date who is eligible to request a replacement card, may request a replacement card with a course end date through the OSHA-authorized Outreach trainer who provided their training.
General Information
OSHA-authorized trainers issue student course completion cards to individuals that successfully complete an OSHA Outreach Training Program class. The Outreach Training Program offers 10-hour or 30-hour classes for Construction, General industry, Maritime, and a 15-hour class for Disaster Site Worker. In order to obtain an OSHA card, an individual must attend and successfully complete the entire class, including all requisite topics and the minimum number of contact hours. Please note that an OSHA card is not considered a certification or license.
OSHA offers Outreach Training Programs for the following industries: Construction, General Industry, Maritime, and Disaster Site work.
The 10-hour class is intended to provide workers with awareness of common job-related safety and health hazards, while the 30-hour class is more appropriate for supervisors or workers with some safety responsibility.
No. Although the Outreach Training Program Requirements refer to training being targeted for workers, participants of Outreach Training Program classes are not required to be employed.
No. There is no minimum age requirement to participate in Outreach Training Program classes.
The 10-hour outreach courses provide basic awareness training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards. The course also provides information regarding workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and filing a complaint.
The 30-hour outreach courses provide a greater depth and variety of training on an expanded list of topics associated with workplace hazards in each industry. OSHA provides authorized trainers procedures for each industry program on the topic outlines for each industry.
No, they are voluntary. OSHA recommends outreach courses as an orientation to occupational safety and health for workers. However, some states have enacted laws mandating the training. Also, some employers, unions, organizations or other jurisdictions may also require this training.
No. Employers are responsible for training their workers on specific hazards of their job, as noted in many OSHA standards. A list of standards requiring training is found in OSHA Publication 2254 [PDF], "Training Requirements in OSHA Standards and Training Guidelines."
OSHA authorized outreach trainers are not OSHA personnel. Trainers are authorized (not certified) through this program to deliver Outreach training classes. Trainers are independent service providers and their schedules and fees may vary. OSHA recommends contacting multiple trainers to find one that best meets the student's needs. This includes questioning trainers about their accommodations for students with a learning disability. Students may verify the status of an authorized outreach trainer. All trainers should possess a trainer card which includes an expiration date along with the name of the authorizing OTI Education Center.
Students interested in attending an Outreach Training Program class should request to see a prospective trainer's current Authorized Trainer card in order to verify the trainer's status. This should be done prior to selecting a trainer. Authorized Trainer cards will contain the trainer's name and authorization expiration date on the front of the card. The card will also list the Authorizing Training Organization (ATO) which authorized the trainer to deliver Outreach classes. Students may contact the ATO if there are any questions regarding the trainer's status. Outreach trainers must provide proof of their current training authorization on request.
For privacy reasons, OSHA does not provide individual verification of student course completion cards or authorized trainer cards. Verification of Outreach card authenticity is at the discretion of the cardholder.
If an individual holding an OSHA Outreach student course completion card wishes to verify the authenticity of their student course completion card, the individual can provide the name and contact information of the authorized trainer who issued the student course completion card. Each authorized OSHA outreach trainer is required to maintain records on their training for a period of five years.
If it is a plastic Outreach Training Program student or trainer card, scan the QR code on the back of the card to verify the training. The QR code will provide contact information for the OTI Education Center who processed the card and can provide verification of the card. OSHA does not operate, maintain or acknowledge any national database websites to verify plastic or paper student course completion cards.
An individual who completes an OSHA outreach trainer course is provided an OSHA authorized trainer card. This card indicates the expiration date of the trainer's authorization. If the authorized trainer who issued the OSHA Outreach student course completion card wishes to verify the authenticity of their own authorized trainer status, the trainer can provide their OSHA trainer card, which will include the name and phone number of the authorizing training organization. The authorizing training organization can verify the status of the trainer. Please note that in most cases, the authorizing training organization is an OSHA Training Institute Education Center. OSHA does not operate, maintain or acknowledge any national database websites to verify authorized trainer cards.
Write to outreach@dol.gov or call the outreach fraud hotline at 847-725-7804 to file complaints about program fraud and abuse. Provide all pertinent information, including the trainer's name, the date of training, the location of the training, the type of training (Construction, General Industry, Maritime, Disaster Site Worker), and whether it was to cover 10 or 30 hours. Include any other relevant information including your name and contact information. Please note that OSHA will maintain the confidentiality of the person providing the information.
Trainers are responsible for applying for approval for issuing CEUs. OSHA does not accredit organizations or individuals, does not certify organizations or individuals, and does not assign CEUs to outreach classes delivered by OSHA outreach trainers.
Branch Chief, Outreach and OTI Education Center Programs
OSHA Division of Training Programs and Administration
2020 S. Arlington Hts. Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4102
(847) 725-7804
E-mail: outreach@dol.gov
OSHA authorizes trainers to conduct occupational safety and health training through the OSHA Outreach Training Program. Through this program, individuals who complete a one-week OSHA trainer course receive a certificate of completion and an authorized outreach trainer card. Trainer courses are based on one of the following subject areas: disaster site workers (second responders), construction, general industry, or maritime. Upon successful completion of the trainer course, trainers are authorized to teach students courses based on the trainer course subject area. These include two-day courses for disaster site workers (second responders), as well as 10-hour and 30-hour courses in construction, general industry, or maritime safety and health hazards. Authorized trainers can receive OSHA course completion cards for their students. The OSHA Outreach Training Program is voluntary. OSHA does not require participation in this program.
To become an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer, you must complete a required OSHA trainer course and complete/meet the necessary prerequisite requirements:
- For Construction Industry: OSHA #500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction. Prerequisites are: five (5) years of construction safety experience (a college degree in occupational safety and health, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) designation, in the applicable training area may be substituted for two years of experience) and completion of OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry.
- For General Industry: OSHA #501 Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for General Industry. Prerequisites are: five years of general industry safety experience (a college degree in occupational safety and health, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) designation, in the applicable training area may be substituted for two years of experience) and completion of OSHA #511, Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry.
- For Maritime Industry: Course #5400 Trainer Course in OSHA Standards for the Maritime Industry. The prerequisites for Course #5400 are as follows: Three years maritime industry experience and at least one of the following: Two years of occupational safety and health experience (with a broad focus) in any industry; a degree in occupational safety and health from an accredited college or university; or certification as an Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation; Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH); designation; Certified Marine Chemist (CMC) designation; or Certified Safety Health Manager (CSHM) designation.
- For Disaster Site Workers: Course #5600 Disaster Site Worker Train-the-Trainer Course. The prerequisites for Course #5600 are as follows: OSHA Course #500 or #501, three years safety training experience and completion of the 40-hour HAZWOPER training.
The OSHA courses listed above are only offered by authorized OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers located throughout the United States. For a complete list of all the OTI Education Centers and their approved courses, please visit the OTI Education Center Locations page.
No, testing is not a requirement for Outreach classes. Testing is not considered instructional time and does not count toward the contact hour requirements for subject topics.
Although testing is not required by OSHA, trainers have the option of administering a test to evaluate learning. It is at the discretion of the trainer to determine whether or not a student has successfully completed the class. Because OSHA does not require testing in these classes, the agency has not issued specific requirements for trainers regarding tests being administered orally as opposed to written tests. For this reason, it is recommended that students discuss any accommodation needs related to their learning environments prior to selecting a trainer. This includes questioning trainers about their accommodations for students with a learning disability.
Please note that the Outreach Training Program requirements and procedures have no requirement for training to be 508 compliant. OSHA does not currently host or offer online Outreach Training Program classes on a federal government Web site. Private Web sites are encouraged, but not required to be section 508 compliant. Authorized Outreach trainers are independent service providers, not federal employees or agents.
Online Outreach Training Program classes are offered by independent training providers. If you have technical issues or customer service concerns related to your online Outreach Training Program classes, you should contact the online training provider directly to resolve the matter. The current list of OSHA-accepted online 10- and 30-hour Outreach Training Programs is available at: https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/training-providers.
If the online training provider is unable to resolve the matter, you may forward your concern to OSHA by email at: outreach@dol.gov. Please provide specific information regarding the issue and include all relevant communication between you and the online training provider. Please note that Outreach Training Program trainers are required to issue student course completion cards directly to the student within 90 days of class completion. If you completed an Outreach Training Program 10- or 30-hour class and did not receive your completion card within 90 days, contact your Outreach trainer.
Worker Information
Outreach Training Program trainers are required to issue student course completion cards directly to the student within 90 days of class completion. If you completed an Outreach Training Program 10- or 30-hour class and did not receive your completion card within 90 days, contact your Outreach trainer.
Individuals that successfully complete an OSHA Outreach Training Program class receive a student course completion card. Please note that there is no program requirement for trainers to issue any other form of course completion documentation. Outreach trainers are encouraged to provide training certificates to students at the end of the training class to help students provide verification that they completed the training prior to receiving their student course completion card. Acceptance of a training certificate instead of a student course completion card is at the discretion of the employer or job site. Although the program is voluntary, some States, employers, unions, and other jurisdictions require this training to fulfill their safety training goals. Check with the relevant organization, employer or work site to determine if a course completion certificate in lieu of a course completion card fulfills their training requirement.
Outreach trainers are required to issue student course completion cards directly to the student within 90 days of course completion, regardless of who paid for the training. If you have not received your card within the 90-day period, contact your trainer immediately. If your trainer does not provide the card as requested, notify the Outreach Training Program by email (outreach@dol.gov). Please be sure to include all relevant information such as student name, trainer name, training location and date, type of class, and actions taken to contact the trainer.
To obtain a replacement 10-hour or 30-hour card, contact your Outreach trainer. A replacement card can only be issued if the class was taken within the last five years and only one replacement card may be issued per student per class. OSHA does not keep records of these classes and cannot provide a replacement card.
As of April 1, 2019, Maritime student course completion cards do not expire. Training completed before this date remains valid. Cardholders are not required to obtain a replacement. If a replacement card is desired, the Maritime class must have been completed within the past five years. To request a replacement card, please contact the original training provider.
The student course completion cards in Construction, General Industry, Maritime and Disaster Site do not have an expiration date. The form and content of additional training is left to the discretion of the student and/or employer.
The Outreach Training Program is intended as an orientation to Occupational Safety and Health. Workers must receive additional training on specific hazards of their job.
Trainer Information
Authorized Outreach trainers can obtain training materials from various sources and develop their own material to support the classes they conduct. Trainers generally receive training materials from their Authorizing Training Organization (OTI Education Center) during their trainer course. OSHA provides some required Outreach Training Program curriculum such as Introduction to OSHA and Focus Four on its Outreach Training Program Web page. Outreach trainers may also reference other safety and health training resources on the OSHA Web site at: www.osha.gov/training/library.
Outreach trainers are authorized for four years from the date that the trainer course is completed. To maintain authorization status, a trainer must successfully complete an update course every four years.
If the trainer does not successfully complete the update course within four years, the trainer must meet associated prerequisites and retake the full trainer course in order to reinstate authorization status.
See the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center course schedules and contact information. Each OTI Education Center posts its course offerings, schedule, and locations on their individual website.
ID numbers are given to trainers who have conducted an outreach training class and received student course completion cards. It is usually provided on the letter that is sent with the student completion cards. If you are submitting your first card request, you must include a copy of your OSHA trainer card. Some authorizing training organizations may issue an ID number upon course registration or trainer course completion.
OSHA Outreach Training Program classes may only be conducted in training locations within the geographic jurisdiction of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. The geographic jurisdiction of the OSH Act is limited to the 50 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, Outer Continental Shelf Lands defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and Johnston Island.
OSHA Outreach Training Program classes delivered outside the geographic jurisdiction of the OSH Act to members of the U.S. military and to civil service employees are permissible and these personnel are eligible to receive student course completion cards. In these cases, Outreach trainers are not required to request an exception, but must ensure their ATO is aware that the persons trained are members of the U.S. military or civil service employees of the U.S. government. A civil service employee is defined as a federal employee who is either a Competitive Service, Excepted Service, or a Senior Executive Service employee. Non-civil service employees, contractors for the U.S. government, and individuals not subject to the OSH Act cannot be trained outside of the geographic jurisdiction of the OSH Act.
OSHA Outreach Training Program classes delivered outside the geographic jurisdiction of the OSH Act to members of the U.S. military and to civil service employees are permissible and these personnel are eligible to receive student course completion cards. In these cases, Outreach trainers are not required to request an exception, but must ensure their ATO is aware that the persons trained are members of the U.S. military or civil service employees of the U.S. government. A civil service employee is defined as a federal employee who is either a Competitive Service, Excepted Service, or a Senior Executive Service employee. Non-civil service employees, contractors for the U.S. government, and individuals not subject to the OSH Act cannot be trained outside of the geographic jurisdiction of the OSH Act.
It takes up to 90 days to process a request for student course completion cards. If you have not received your cards after 90 days, contact your authorizing training organization.
Trainers should contact their authorizing training organization that issued the cards. Please note that authorizing training organizations may charge an administrative fee for issuing and/or replacing cards.
If you are an authorized outreach trainer who conducts the training in a language other than English, send the following information to your Authorized Training Organization:
- Name
- Construction, General Industry, Maritime and/or Disaster Site Worker
- Company/Organization, if applicable
- City/state
- Phone
- Website address, if applicable
- Language
Training that is conducted to comply with requirements in the OSHA standards cannot be counted toward outreach training. Also, CPR and First Aid training cannot be counted towards fulfillment of outreach requirements because they are not considered occupational safety and health topics dealing with hazard recognition or prevention.
OSHA does not issue waivers for the trainer course prerequisites. The prerequisites contain separate requirements for experience and training. Experience is not considered a substitute for the training prerequisite.
Yes, trainers may do this under the following conditions: the same trainer must conduct all of the training, all the training must be completed (from the start of the 10-hour class, to the end of the 30-hour class) within six months, and the student must return the 10-hour card to the trainer, who must then return the 10-hour card to the issuing Authorizing Training Organization (ATO) in order to receive the 30-hour card.
Please note that the purpose of surrendering the 10-hour card is to accurately reflect the level of training a student has received. Simultaneous possession of both a 10- and 30-hour card may inaccurately imply that the student has received a total of 40 hours of training. For this reason, the trainer is required to collect the original 10-hour card from the student and return it to the issuing ATO along with a new Outreach Training Program Report to be issued a 30-hour course completion card.
OSHA limits training contact hours to 7½ hours per day. A trainer is allowed to add additional time for breaks and lunch that would increase the overall time to more than 7 ½ hours.
OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers do not receive any funding from OSHA. These organizations support their training programs and Outreach Training Program administrative activities through tuition and fees. For this reason, OSHA authorizes OTI Education Centers to charge fees for processing requests for student course completion cards.
Students may complete the makeup training with the guest trainer who conducted the particular missed training portion, as long as this part of the training is coordinated by the primary trainer. The student must have access to the primary trainer for any follow-up questions.