How Long Is Your OSHA 10 Card Valid?

Name: OSHA Education Center Courses
Brand: OSHA Education Center
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Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

Getting an OSHA 10 card is often an important part of entering the workforce. Many construction industry, warehouse, manufacturing and other jobs require you to get formal education about workplace safety. But how long is your card good for?

Forever, technically. There is no formal expiration date. But the real answer is, “It depends.”

For some, finishing the course once is enough to keep them in good standing for their whole career. For others, it's necessary to update their education periodically due to employer requirements or the requirements of their local jurisdictions.

Let's look deeper into OSHA 10 training and when it's a good idea to consider completing another safety course.

What Is OSHA 10 Training?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for setting workplace safety standards for much of the country in both the private and public sectors. OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) initiated a general safety training initiative in 1971 called the Outreach Training Program to provide instruction on “the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards.” Millions of Americans benefit from this system.

The 10-hour version of the official program is intended for entry-level workers and others with non-supervisory roles. There is also a 30-hour program intended for workers with some safety responsibilities.

Outreach education is voluntary at the federal level, but many employers, states and municipalities require workers to go through an Outreach Training Program course as a condition of employment. Once you complete a course, you get an official card from the DOL demonstrating that you successfully completed that part of your workplace safety education.

Renewal Requirements for OSHA 10 Cards and Certification Expiration Dates

There is no expiration date printed on the OSHA 10 card. However, employer policies regarding OSHA 10 certification may require you to take another safety course every three to five years. Or you could live in a jurisdiction that requires you to take another course within a specific timeframe.

Additionally, you may want or need to refresh your instruction when you change roles or in case of a workplace accident. Check with your employer or local government to find out if and when you must pursue further education.

Benefits of Updating Your OSHA Certification

Even though OSHA standards do not specifically require you to update your safe workplace education, there are multiple reasons to consider completing another course. Common reasons to refresh your knowledge with a class include:

Getting a New Card

OSHA regulations in the Outreach Training program specify that you can only get a replacement if you completed your training within the last five years. That means if you lose your card, you can only get a new one from your trainer if you completed your education within that timeframe.

Furthermore, the administration only permits one replacement per student per class. If you dropped yours down a sewer grate, got a new one and then accidentally put it through the washing machine, you are going to have to go through training all over again.

Employers and Local Jurisdictions May Require It

Continuing education is an important part of many careers. As previously stated, employers and local jurisdictions may require periodic retraining for legal or liability reasons.

If you are unsure of what your renewal requirements are, be sure to ask your employer. If you are in a union, you can also ask your union representative. It's best to find out this information sooner rather than later so you don't have to rush to complete more coursework.

Improve Your Safety Knowledge

No one remembers all of the safety training requirements in an instruction program at once. It's normal to forget some things and no one can be expected to have perfect recall of an entire curriculum. And memory gets more porous over time. People forget things.

The problem with forgetting safe workplace practices is that it can be dangerous. You may put yourself or others at risk. But if you update your education, you will be much more likely to remember the important practices that protect you from potential injury. You will also be better equipped to explain to your coworkers what safe practices are and why they matter.

Things change. New technologies, different industrial norms and other developments may cause best practices to change over time. By checking in from time to time you will stay abreast of major changes to accepted safety practices and stay up to date on new ideas.

Safety Training Specific for Your Career

One of the great things about the modern Outreach Training Program is that it is customized to your individual career needs. The type of program you choose should reflect your role, your industry and your experience level.

For most workers, an OSHA 10 card is the right choice. The 30-hour program is more comprehensive but contains a lot of material that doesn't apply to the average employee. That's why the 10-hour version is the most popular.

Within the 10-hour classification you can choose from:

10-Hour Training for Construction: Designed for entry-level workers in construction.
10-Hour Training for General Industry: Designed for entry-level workers in non-construction industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare, warehousing and transportation.
10-Hour para la Construcción en Español: The same high-quality entry-level construction safety education delivered in Spanish.
10-Hour para la Industria General en Español: Our general industry education program offered in Spanish.
10-Hour International OSHA Training: For workers located outside of OSHA's normal jurisdiction.

Why Choose OSHA Education Center?

We are an industry leader in Outreach Training for a reason — we provide the highest quality education in a format that works for real people with real lives. Our goal is to make education as convenient as possible for busy people who prefer personalized learning over classroom sessions.

Some of the benefits we offer include:

Courses are fully online. Going to a classroom to complete a program is time-consuming and unnecessary in many cases. Our courses are 100% online, which means you can study when the time is right for you without needing to adhere to an instructor's schedule.
Lessons available when you are. All lessons, quizzes, activities and other resources are available 24/7. You can train in 15-minute bursts or in hours-long marathons at any time of the day or night.
Use any device with an internet connection. Our courses can be completed on your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. As long as you can connect to the internet and use a web browser, you can take our online courses.
We save your progress automatically. Many students need to get their education time in between other obligations, like work and family time. If you have to stop working on your education suddenly, no worries. We save your progress so you can come back to where you left off.

Our course catalog is expansive and includes a variety of industry-specific courses, including entry-level courses and OSHA 30-Hour training. We offer state-specific courses for construction workers in California and general industry workers. We also offer courses that cover New York City's specific SST training. Whatever you need, we have you covered.