Forklift Certification Course

According to OSHA standard 1910.178, employers are required to ensure that all forklift operators are properly trained and certified. To earn your certification, you must complete formal instruction, practical training and a performance evaluation.

You can complete our Forklift Certification course 100% online to satisfy the formal instruction requirement for certification. Our course covers all training topics required by OSHA, including operation instructions, warnings and precautions, steering and maneuvering, load capacity, inspections, maintenance and more.

Your practical training and performance evaluation will be provided by your employer. OSHA requires your on-site training and evaluation to be conducted by a qualified person who is certified to train powered industrial truck operators. After you complete your practical training and pass your evaluation, you will be officially certified to operate a forklift.

Yes, this course is 100% OSHA compliant and covers every topic that OSHA requires forklift operators to learn in order to earn their certification.

This course satisfies forklift certification training requirements for nearly every industry. It complies with 29 CFR 1910.178, OSHA's general industry standard for powered industrial trucks.

It also complies with OSHA's construction standard for powered industrial trucks (29 CFR 1926.602[d]), which states that applicable requirements in construction are identical to those listed in the general industry standard.

This course is not applicable to workers in the agriculture industry. The general industry and construction standards do not apply to:

• Compressed air or nonflammable compressed gas-operated industrial trucks
• Farm vehicles
• Vehicles used primarily for earth moving
• Vehicles used primarily for over-the-road hauling

In addition to this training, your employer will need to provide hands-on training for any equipment used on the jobsite. Your employer will also explain any site-specific safety hazards related to forklift operation.

Yes. Our 100% online course satisfies OSHA's formal training requirement for forklift operation, which is the first step to becoming forklift certified. Your employer will assist you with the remaining steps: practical training and a performance evaluation.

OSHA requires you to complete in-person training on the equipment you will be operating. A qualified forklift trainer employed with or hired by your company will conduct your performance evaluation. After you successfully pass your performance evaluation and prove you are qualified to operate a forklift safely, you will be officially certified.

Yes, our OSHA-compliant forklift certification course is valid in every state and territory under OSHA's jurisdiction. However, you may or may not be able to transfer your current certification to another employer or state.

Recertification training is often required when you change employers because your new employer may have unique forklift policies or require you to operate a new type of forklift. In addition, each jobsite presents unique forklift hazards that you need to learn about.

Step 1: Formal Instruction

Take our OSHA-accepted Forklift Certification course 100% online. Upon completion of your training, you can instantly download a forklift certificate to provide to your employer. Your wallet-sized forklift certification card, printed on durable plastic, will be mailed to you in 5-7 business days.

Step 2: Hands-On Training

You'll receive hands-on training from your employer, including a demonstration and practical exercises. In this step, you will become familiar with the specific equipment and hazards at your jobsite.

Step 3: Performance Evaluation

You must pass an employer-led evaluation of your performance as a forklift operator. You can download a Forklift Operator Evaluation Form that includes a list of skills you will be tested on. Once you pass your evaluation and your employer signs the form, you will be a certified forklift operator.

You must be at least 18 years old to drive and operate a forklift.

OSHA does not require forklift operators to have a state-issued driver license. However, employers are entitled to their own operator requirements.

Employers and training providers may use any one of these terms to describe proof of forklift certification training.

We issue an instantly downloadable forklift certificate to students who complete their forklift training online. You can provide this certificate to your employer as proof of training completion.

In addition to your certificate, we also mail you a wallet-sized forklift certification card printed on durable plastic. You can carry the wallet card on the job to show that you are forklift certified. A forklift certification card is commonly known as a forklift license, although it is not a government-issued license like your driver license.

Your forklift certification will be valid for three years. When your certification expires, you will need to complete another performance evaluation with your employer to remain forklift certified. OSHA Education Center recommends that all forklift operators complete refresher training after their forklift certification expires.

OSHA requires forklift operators to retake forklift certification training for a number of reasons. You will need to complete recertification training after:

• Being observed operating a forklift in an unsafe manner
• An accident involving a forklift
• A near-miss accident involving a forklift
• An evaluation that determines you are not operating the forklift safely
• Being assigned to a new type of forklift you're not trained to operate
• A change in workplace conditions that could affect the safe operation of a forklift

After refresher training, you will be required to complete an operator performance evaluation.

The Forklift Certification course covers the safe operation of a variety of forklift types, including:

• Class I: Electric motor rider trucks
• Class II: Electric motor narrow aisle trucks
• Class III: Electric motor hand trucks or hand/rider trucks
• Class IV: Internal combustion engine trucks (solid/cushion tires)
• Class V: Internal combustion engine trucks (pneumatic tires)
• Class VI: Electric and internal combustion engine tractors
• Class VII: Rough terrain forklift trucks

This training does not apply to compressed air or nonflammable compressed-gas operated industrial trucks, farm vehicles or vehicles used primarily for earth moving for over-the-road hauling.