Is Online OSHA Training Legitimate? What Employers Accept (2026)

Yes. Online OSHA training is legitimate, and the DOL card you receive is the same one you’d get from an in-person class.

But not every website offering “OSHA certification” is authorized. Some are outright scams. Others are real courses that don’t result in an official DOL card. Knowing the difference can save you money and keep you from carrying a worthless credential.

Here’s how to tell the real thing from the fake.

How OSHA’s Training Program Works

OSHA doesn’t deliver training directly. Instead, it runs the Outreach Training Program, which works through a chain of authorized organizations and trainers:

1. OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers These are OSHA-authorized organizations that train and credential individual instructors. There are currently about a dozen OTI Education Centers across the country.

2. Authorized Trainers Individuals who complete an OTI Education Center’s trainer course and receive a valid trainer card. Each card has an expiration date, and trainers must renew it.

3. Training Providers Organizations (including online platforms) that employ authorized trainers to deliver OSHA Outreach courses. These are the companies you actually enroll with.

4. DOL Card After you complete the course, your authorized trainer submits your information. The Department of Labor issues you a wallet card proving you completed the training.

The bottom line: only authorized trainers can issue valid DOL cards. If your provider doesn’t employ authorized trainers, you won’t get a real card.

What Makes an Online Provider Legitimate

A legitimate online OSHA training provider must:

• Be listed on OSHA’s official authorized providers page. OSHA maintains a public list at osha.gov/training/outreach/training-providers. This is the easiest way to verify a provider.
• Employ trainers with valid OTI Education Center authorization. The trainer behind your course must have a current trainer card.
• Issue a DOL (Department of Labor) card upon completion. Not just a “certificate of completion” from the provider. The official DOL wallet card is what employers look for.
• Meet OSHA’s minimum time requirements. A 10-hour course must actually take 10 hours. A 30-hour course must take 30 hours. The platform should track your time and prevent you from rushing through.

If a provider meets all four of these, they’re legitimate. Your DOL card will be identical to one earned from in-person training.

Red Flags: How to Spot Fake or Unauthorized Training

“Complete OSHA 10 in 1 hour” Any provider that lets you finish a 10-hour course in significantly less than 10 hours isn’t compliant. OSHA requires the actual training time be met.

“OSHA Certified” OSHA doesn’t certify individuals. No one is “OSHA certified.” The Outreach Training Program results in a DOL completion card, not a certification. Any provider using “OSHA certified” is misleading you.

Provider not on OSHA’s list If you can’t find the provider on OSHA’s authorized providers page, don’t enroll. OSHA’s list is the definitive source.

No DOL card offered Some training courses offer their own “certificates of completion” but don’t issue official DOL cards. These courses may be educational, but they won’t satisfy employer or state requirements for OSHA Outreach training.

Unrealistic promises Claims like “guaranteed job placement” or “employers will double your salary” are sales tactics, not legitimate training outcomes.

No customer support Legitimate providers offer clear contact information and responsive customer support. If you can’t reach them, don’t trust them.

How to Verify a Provider Before You Enroll

1. Check OSHA’s list. Go to osha.gov/training/outreach/training-providers and search for the provider.

2. Ask about the trainer. Legitimate providers will tell you who the authorized trainer is behind the course. You can ask for their OTI Education Center authorization.

3. Confirm the DOL card. Ask the provider directly: “Will I receive an official Department of Labor wallet card after completion?” The answer should be yes.

4. Read the fine print. Some providers sell “awareness training” or “safety refresher courses” that don’t qualify for the OSHA Outreach program. Make sure you’re enrolling in the official OSHA 10 or 30-hour Outreach course.

What Is the DOL Card?

The DOL card is a wallet-sized card issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. It proves you completed an OSHA Outreach Training Program course.

What it looks like: Credit-card sized, white background with a colored stripe. Green stripe for OSHA 10 Construction. Orange stripe for OSHA 30 Construction. It includes a QR code on the back that anyone can scan to verify authenticity.

What it’s not: The DOL card is not a license, certification, or credential. It doesn’t certify you as competent to perform any specific work. It’s proof that you completed the training. That said, employers, states, and job sites treat it as a required credential.

How you get it: After you complete an authorized course, your trainer submits your completion information to OSHA. Most providers give you a printable temporary certificate immediately. The official DOL card arrives by mail in 2-8 weeks.

Does it expire? No. The DOL card has no expiration date. However, OSHA recommends refresher training every 4-5 years. Some employers and states set their own renewal requirements.

Do Employers Accept Online OSHA Training?

Yes. OSHA cards issued through authorized online training are accepted nationwide. The DOL card is identical whether you trained online or in person. Employers, general contractors, job sites, and unions all accept it.

A few things to know:

• Some employers prefer in-person training. A few large contractors or union shops may want in-person training, but this is the exception, not the rule.
• Some training requires hands-on components. OSHA Outreach courses (10-hour and 30-hour) can be fully online. But other types of safety training, like forklift certification, require a physical, hands-on evaluation that can’t be done online.
• State and city programs may have additional requirements. For example, New York City requires Site Safety Training (SST) cards under Local Law 196. SST is different from standard OSHA Outreach training and has its own requirements.

State-Specific Considerations

Most states accept online OSHA training without issue. But some states have their own programs:

California (Cal/OSHA) Accepts online OSHA Outreach training, but Cal/OSHA may require additional state-specific training on topics like heat illness prevention and wildfire smoke exposure.

New York City Accepts online OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training. But NYC construction workers also need SST cards under Local Law 196, which requires additional courses beyond OSHA Outreach.

States with their own OSHA Plans Twenty-two states operate OSHA-approved State Plans. These states accept federal OSHA Outreach training but may add their own requirements on top of it.

Check your state’s specific requirements to make sure online OSHA training meets local rules.

How Much Does Online OSHA Training Cost?

Online OSHA training is significantly cheaper than in-person options:

The cheapest authorized online provider produces the exact same DOL card as the most expensive in-person class. Price doesn’t affect the validity of your card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is online OSHA 10 the same as in-person OSHA 10? Yes. Both result in the same DOL card. Both cover the same required topics. The only difference is the delivery format.

Can I take OSHA 30 entirely online? Yes. OSHA 30 is available fully online through authorized providers. The course is self-paced but must meet the 30-hour minimum time requirement.

How do I know if my DOL card is real? Official DOL cards include a QR code on the back that can be scanned to verify authenticity. If your card doesn’t have a QR code, contact the provider who issued it.

What if my employer doesn’t accept my online card? This is rare with authorized providers. If your employer questions your card, show them the QR code verification. You can also direct them to OSHA’s Outreach Training Program FAQ, which confirms that online training is accepted.

Are free online OSHA courses legitimate? Some free courses provide general safety education, but most don’t result in an official DOL card. If you need the DOL card (and you probably do), plan to pay for an authorized course. Prices start at $25 for OSHA 10.