Is this a legit online OSHA course?

The one check that matters most

OSHA publishes a list of the online 10- and 30-hour Outreach providers it accepts at osha.gov/training/outreach/training-providers. A legitimate online course that issues the official plastic card is delivered by one of those providers. Many websites resell a listed provider's course under their own brand, so the store name you see may differ from the provider on OSHA's list. A good reseller tells you who the underlying provider is.

If you cannot connect the website you are about to pay to a provider on OSHA's list, stop and ask them directly.

What OSHA's rules say a real course looks like

It takes real time. OSHA limits Outreach training to 7.5 contact hours per day. A 10-hour course therefore takes at least two days and a 30-hour course at least four. Online platforms enforce this with timers and daily limits, so a promise of "OSHA 10 in one day" or "card in one sitting" contradicts the rules.

You get a plastic card from the authorizing organization. Trainers must issue the student course completion card within 90 days of completion. Many providers also give a printable certificate right away. That certificate is useful temporary proof, but it is not the card.

You can reach a trainer. Reputable online providers give students a way to ask an authorized trainer questions during the course. If there is no contact at all, ask why.

It does not sell a "certification" or "license". OSHA states that a completion card "is not considered a certification or license." Course marketing often uses "certification" because people search for that word, so seeing it does not prove a scam. A course that promises an "OSHA license" or "official OSHA certification" is still exaggerating.

Testing is optional for OSHA, but common. OSHA does not require a test. Trainers may give one. A course that only sells you a test, with no course time, cannot produce a legitimate card.

Warning signs, ranked

1. No course time at all: "pass the test, get the card." A legitimate Outreach card cannot be issued without the contact hours.
2. Instant or same-day card for a 10- or 30-hour course.
3. The provider is not on OSHA's list and the site will not say which listed provider it resells.
4. "OSHA license" or "government-issued certification" language.
5. A price far below the market. Legitimate online OSHA 10 courses usually sell for roughly $50–$90 and OSHA 30 for roughly $160–$200. A $15 OSHA 30 deserves a closer look.

Before you pay: a five-minute routine

1. Open OSHA's provider list in another tab.
2. On the course site, find the "about", "FAQ" or footer text that names the authorized provider or OTI Education Center.
3. Confirm the course is the right one, Construction or General Industry, and in the right language. Several providers offer Spanish versions.
4. Read the refund, retake and card-replacement terms.
5. Keep the receipt and the trainer's name. You will need them if your card is ever lost: replacements come only through the original trainer, only if the class was within the last five years, and only once.

If your employer is paying

Employers buying seats for a crew should ask the provider for group pricing and for a completion report they can file. Then put each worker's completion date and card photo into a tracker. The free tier of the OSHA card tracker covers 10 workers.

When something went wrong

OSHA says online providers handle their own customer service. Contact the provider first. If they cannot resolve it, OSHA accepts concerns at [email protected]. Include the provider name, the course, the dates and copies of your communication. If you finished a course and the card has not arrived after 90 days, contact the trainer, then OSHA.

How this checker stays fair

It only compares what you tell it against OSHA's published rules, and it never labels a named company as fraudulent. A "does not match" result means you should verify on OSHA's list before paying. It is not a finding about any business.

Online vs classroom: which is better?

Both produce the same card when delivered by an authorized trainer. Classroom courses let you ask questions in person and often include hands-on demos. Online courses fit around work and are usually cheaper. In New York City, check which courses count toward the SST card requirement before choosing. See the NYC SST guide.

Questions to ask a provider by email

A legitimate provider answers these quickly and plainly. Save the replies.

1. "Are you on OSHA's list of authorized online Outreach providers, and under what name?" The legal business name sometimes differs from the website brand. Ask for both.
2. "Will I receive a Department of Labor OSHA card, and how long does the card take to arrive?" Expect a wallet card mailed after completion, with a printable certificate in the meantime.
3. "How many hours per day can I complete?" The answer should match OSHA's limit of 7.5 hours per day. A provider that promises a one-day OSHA 10 is describing something OSHA does not allow.
4. "How many attempts do I get at the final exam?" OSHA's online program allows three attempts.
5. "How long do I have to finish?" Online Outreach courses must be completed within six months of starting.
6. "What happens if I lose the card?" A real provider can explain the replacement process and its five-year window.

Understanding course codes and names

Real courses are named for the program and industry: "OSHA 10-Hour Construction," "OSHA 30-Hour General Industry." Be careful with names that sound similar but are not Outreach courses: "OSHA-compliant 10-hour safety training," "OSHA 10 equivalent" or "OSHA awareness certificate." These may be legitimate safety courses, but they do not produce a DOL card. If a GC or state law asks for an OSHA 10 card, an "equivalent" will usually not satisfy it. Missouri is an exception: its Division of Labor Standards approves specific equivalent programs.

Group purchases and company accounts

Contractors buying seats for a crew should confirm three more things. Can seats be reassigned if a worker leaves before starting? Is there a manager dashboard showing progress and completion dates? Are cards mailed to the office or to each worker? Mailing to the office makes it easier to photograph every card before handing it out, which saves chasing people later.

Keeping the receipt

Keep the order confirmation, the provider's name and the completion date with the worker's record. If the card never arrives, or the provider later stops operating, those details are what the OSHA Training Institute Education Center or a new provider will ask for.

Red flags in reviews

Reviews can help, but read them for specifics rather than stars. Good signs: reviewers mention receiving the plastic card, give a realistic turnaround such as two to four weeks, and describe proctoring or identity checks. Warning signs: many five-star reviews posted within days of each other, reviews that praise how fast the course was ("done in 3 hours!"), or complaints that the card never arrived and support stopped answering. A course that can be finished in three hours is not a 10-hour Outreach course.