--- title: "Trade Certifications: The Cards and Tickets Employers Want" description: "The certifications that get tradespeople hired: OSHA 10 and 30, EPA 608, NCCER, AWS welding, forklift, NATE and crane. What each is and who needs it." url: https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/ updated: 2026-10-10 site: ShapeMyCareer --- Certifications ยท Overview # Trade certifications The cards in your wallet that open job site gates. Cards, tickets and credentials A license lets you do the work legally in a state. A certification proves you passed a specific course or test. Many are cheap and quick, and some are required before you can step on a job site or touch certain equipment. In short The most common trade certifications are the OSHA 10 and 30 hour safety cards, the EPA Section 608 card for handling refrigerant, NCCER craft credentials, AWS welder certifications, forklift operator training, NATE for HVAC technicians and NCCCO crane operator certification. Some are required by federal rules, such as EPA 608 and crane certification. Others are required by employers or project owners. Most take days or weeks, not years. **Sources checked October 10, 2026** Pay, training and outlook come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay is the middle (median) figure nationally; your first paycheck in the trade will usually be lower. Which cards matter for which trade | Certification | Who needs it | Required by | |---|---|---| | OSHA 10 | New construction workers | Many employers, some states and projects | | OSHA 30 | Foremen, leads, safety roles | Employers and projects | | EPA 608 | Anyone who opens refrigerant circuits | Federal rule | | NCCER | Craft workers in industrial and commercial construction | Employers and owners | | AWS Certified Welder | Welders | Employers and codes on the job | | Forklift | Anyone running a powered industrial truck at work | Federal rule (employer must train and evaluate) | | NATE | HVAC technicians | Voluntary; employers value it | | NCCCO | Crane operators | Federal rule for most construction cranes (NCCCO is one accredited option) | ## All certification guides [ ### AWS Certified Welder $53,750middle pay, May 2025 Start with**High school or GED** Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/aws-certified-welder/)[ ### Crane operator $68,080middle pay, May 2025 Start with**High school or GED** Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/crane-operator/)[ ### EPA 608 EPA Section 608 certification explained: Type I, II, III and Universal, the core exam, who must be certified, testing and why the card never expires. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/epa-608/)[ ### Forklift What forklift certification means under OSHA: employer training, a hands-on evaluation at work, re-evaluation every three years and online card limits. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/forklift/)[ ### NATE What NATE certification is for HVAC technicians: entry-level certificates, core and specialty exams, renewal, and whether it helps with hiring and pay. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/nate/)[ ### NCCER What NCCER certification means for craft workers: the Core curriculum, craft levels, tests and performance checks, the NCCER Registry and who uses it. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/nccer/)[ ### OSHA 10 vs 30 OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30 compared: hours, who each is for, topics, time to finish and which one to take first if you are new to construction. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/osha-10-vs-osha-30/)[ ### OSHA 10 What the OSHA 10-hour card is, what the course covers, who needs it, how to take it online or in person, and how to spot fake OSHA training providers. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/osha-10/)[ ### OSHA 30 What the OSHA 30-hour course is, who it is for, what the construction version covers, how long it takes and why foremen are often required to have it. Open ](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/osha-30/) ### Want training that includes these cards? Many trade programs build OSHA 10 or EPA 608 into the course. Tell us your trade and ZIP. [Find training near me](#smc-form) ## Straight answers ### What is the difference between a license and a certification? A license is issued by a state or city and lets you legally do certain work. A certification shows you passed a course or test from an organization such as OSHA, EPA or a trade group. ### Which certification should I get first? For construction, the OSHA 10 is a common first card. For HVAC, the EPA 608. For welding, a basic AWS test in the process you will use. ### Do certifications expire? Some do and some do not. EPA 608 does not expire. AWS welder certifications need regular maintenance, and crane certifications must be renewed every five years. ## Where this comes from - [OSHA Outreach Training Program (10 and 30 hour)](https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach) - [EPA Section 608 Technician Certification](https://www.epa.gov/section608/section-608-technician-certification-0) - [NCCER: Credentials and the NCCER Registry](https://www.nccer.org/credentials/) - [AWS Certified Welder program](https://www.aws.org/certification/certified-welder/) - [29 CFR 1926.1427: Crane operator qualification and certification](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1926/subpart-CC/section-1926.1427) ## Keep looking - [Licenses](https://shapemycareer.com/licensing/) - [Test prep](https://shapemycareer.com/test-prep/) - [Apprenticeships](https://shapemycareer.com/apprenticeships/) - [AWS Certified Welder](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/aws-certified-welder/) - [Crane operator](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/crane-operator/) - [EPA 608](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/epa-608/) - [Forklift](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/forklift/) - [NATE](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/nate/) --- Canonical page: https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/