---
title: "OSHA 10 Card: What It Covers and How to Get One"
description: "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."
url: https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/osha-10/
updated: 2026-10-11
site: ShapeMyCareer
---

Certifications · OSHA 10

# OSHA 10 card

Ten hours of safety training, and the card many job sites ask for.

Entry-level safety training

The OSHA 10 is the first card a lot of new construction workers carry. It is not a license and it does not make you a safety expert, but it shows you have learned the basics of the hazards that hurt people on job sites.

In short

The OSHA 10 is a 10-hour safety course from OSHA's Outreach Training Program, aimed at entry-level workers. There are versions for construction and general industry. You take it from an OSHA-authorized trainer in person or through an OSHA-authorized online provider, and you receive a Department of Labor course completion card. OSHA says the program is voluntary, but many employers, projects and some states require the card.

**Sources checked October 11, 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.

**On this page**

1. [ What the construction course covers](#s-what-the-construction-course-covers)
2. [How to take it](#s-how-to-take-it)
3. [The card](#s-the-card)
4. [Straight answers](#s-faq)

## What the construction course covers

- The "Focus Four" hazards: falls, struck-by, caught-in or between, and electrocution
- Personal protective equipment
- Your rights as a worker and how to report hazards
- Health hazards such as silica and noise
- Electives like scaffolds, ladders, excavation and tools

## How to take it

| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| In person | Taught by an OSHA-authorized outreach trainer, often through a union hall, pre-apprenticeship program, community college or employer |
| Online | Only through providers OSHA has authorized; OSHA limits how many hours you can train per day |

OSHA itself says the card is not a certification or a license; it is proof you completed the course. Check the provider, too. OSHA publishes the list of accepted online providers. A course from anyone else will not get you a real Department of Labor card.

### Training that includes OSHA 10

Many construction and trade programs include it. Tell us your trade and ZIP.

[Find training near me](#smc-form)

## The card

After you finish, the trainer or provider issues a plastic Department of Labor card. OSHA says outreach cards do not expire, but employers, unions and some states may ask you to retake the course after a set number of years.

## Straight answers

### How long does OSHA 10 take?

Ten hours of training, which usually means at least two days because OSHA caps training at 7.5 hours a day.

### Is OSHA 10 required?

OSHA calls the program voluntary, but employers, project owners and some states require it for construction workers.

### Does the OSHA 10 card expire?

OSHA says no, but some employers and states require refresher training every few years.

### Can I take OSHA 10 online?

Yes, through an OSHA-authorized online provider.

## Where this comes from

- [OSHA Outreach Training Program (10 and 30 hour)](https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach)
- [OSHA Outreach Training Program FAQs](https://www.osha.gov/training/outreach/faq)

## Keep looking

- [OSHA 30](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/osha-30/)
- [OSHA 10 vs 30](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/osha-10-vs-osha-30/)
- [Pre-apprenticeship](https://shapemycareer.com/apprenticeships/pre-apprenticeship/)
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- [Crane operator](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/crane-operator/)
- [EPA 608](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/epa-608/)
- [Forklift](https://shapemycareer.com/certifications/forklift/)

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