OSHA 10 Expiration: When You Need to Renew It?

OSHA 10 certification does not expire at the federal level. Certain states or employers will insist you renew it every 3 to 5 years.

The OSHA 10-hour training equips workers with fundamental safety knowledge that every worker should carry, regardless of their industry. It helps your company stay on the right side of workplace regulations and fosters a positive safety culture.

There is not an official expiration on the cards. However, employers or state requirements might require you to take the most current training available.

Read OSHA 10 expirationand renewal tips, along with the advantages of keeping your OSHA 10 credentials in this definitive guide.

Understanding OSHA 10 Certification

The OSHA 10 certification is a foundational 10-hour training program designed to educate workers about workplace safety and health hazards. However, OSHA 10 is not federally mandated. It is commonly required by states, employers, or unions to encourage adherence to safety regulations.

In the construction industry, which employs only about 5-7% of the U.S. workforce, a startling 20% of worker fatalities occur. This highlights the importance of OSHA 10-hour training for ensuring the safety and protection of workers’ lives.

Online courses that fit training around your schedule have helped make OSHA 10 certification more convenient and accessible than ever. Previously, workers had up to 90 days to complete the requirements.

Most importantly, the certification is transferable, benefiting employees across industries. Completion requires attending all sessions, as missing hours disqualifies issuance of a card, which trainers must provide within 90 days.

If you’re looking to get certified, follow this step-by-step guide to earn your OSHA 10 card.

OSHA 10 Certification Expiration: What Is It?

OSHA 10 certification is valid for life and never expires, making it a smart, long-term investment in workplace safety training. After completing the course, there’s no need for renewal requirements or to retake the course to maintain your certification. This ensures you meet the rigorous OSHA standards without incurring additional costs.

However, note that replacement cards cannot be issued for training completed over five years ago. Therefore, it’s essential to store your training certificates securely to avoid any issues.

On the other hand, OSHA trainers must reauthorize every four years to remain active. Stricter regulations, like Philadelphia’s contractor licensing, mandate recent training, including OSHA 30, within the last five years to ensure compliance with safety protocols.

While OSHA 10 expiration isn’t federally mandated, state-specific OSHA requirements may dictate different renewal timelines.

Why Maintain Current OSHA 10 Certification?

Renewing your OSHA 10 certification is essential for maintaining compliance with OSHA standards and ensuring you’re current on processes and protections. This ongoing compliance allows you to learn about new workplace safety training regulations and practices.

As a reminder, the Outreach Training Program is entirely voluntary. However, maintaining current certification through OSHA outreach courses keeps you informed about changing standards and reduces the risk of workplace hazards.

Certification serves as a tangible demonstration of your commitment to safety, especially considering that 89% of employers would not hire someone who does not possess a valid OSHA training certificate.

Outside of compliance, consistently renewing opens up new opportunities to effectively update specific workplace hazards through prioritized education designed for your workforce’s needs.

OSHA’s curriculum, including their popular Focus Four, helps you stay up to date on the most important safety hazards. Since OSHA doesn’t have a way to track training records, getting a renewal is a great way to keep a consistent record of your progress!

Keeping your OSHA 10 certification up to date enhances safety, as outlined in our guide on why OSHA 10 is important.

Consequences of Expired OSHA 10

An expired OSHA 10 certification can be pretty serious for workers and employers alike. For workers, this frequently translates into a lack of adherence to workplace safety measures, which employers have been known to enforce to comply with OSHA guidelines. For so many industries—construction being one of the most notable—having up-to-date certifications is a prerequisite for employment.

For workers, not renewing can mean lost job prospects, curtailing their advancement on the career ladder. More than just an employment issue, expired safety knowledge is a danger to workers. With almost 2.6 million workplace injuries recorded in 2021, it is clear that poor training results in unnecessary accidents.

For employers, lack of training and noncompliance during OSHA inspections can lead to steep fines or penalties. While OSHA updates standards to improve safety, staying compliant ensures both legal adherence and a safer work environment.

How to Verify OSHA 10 Certification

First, you should reach out directly to the training provider that issued the card. They often maintain databases of all courses that have been completed. To verify, you’ll need to submit the name, course date, and trainer information.

Keeping a copy of your completion card makes this process much easier. Most training providers have online tools that allow you to verify. OSHA does not maintain its centralized database for validating cards.

Employers have a responsibility to make sure that workers are adequately trained to deal with the hazards they will face on the job. If you’re wondering how long the certification lasts, it typically varies by employer or state from three to five years.

Obtaining a New or Updated OSHA 10 Card

If you have lost your OSHA 10 card, don’t worry! Thousands of people choose to retake the course, either to brush up on their knowledge or because their employer requires it.

Due to the fact that the OSHA 10 card is not a certification or license, retaking the training with us is not mandatory unless otherwise noted. For those looking to continue their training further, OSHA provides more advanced courses to help expand the knowledge of workplace safety.

Options for obtaining a new OSHA 10 card include:

Enrolling in an online OSHA 10-hour training course.
Attending a local OSHA training session.
Contact authorized OSHA training Provider for available courses.

If you’ve lost your OSHA 10 card, you must get a replacement card through your original Outreach trainer. Replacement cards are limited to one per scheduled class, and requests must be made within five years of the class taking place.

Best Practices for OSHA Compliance

Achieving OSHA compliance starts with the realization that safety training is a joint effort. OSHA requires that employers train workers to recognize the hazards they will face on the job. This training is particularly important in perilous industries such as construction.

This small industry only represents 5-7% of the entire U.S. Workforce. However, it’s responsible for 20% of worker fatalities, underscoring the dire need for robust training programs. OSHA’s outreach programs, though not required, offer key information in a preliminary phase.

Therefore, it’s always wise to retake these courses every three to five years so you’re always in touch with the latest regulations. OSHA-authorized trainers must refresh their curriculum every four years to align with evolving safety standards.

Employers must document training sessions and incidents for at least five years to comply with OSHA regulations.

Final Remarks on OSHA 10 Expiration

Although there is no official OSHA 10 expiration, staying up to date with refresher training enhances safety awareness and job opportunities.

Renewing your OSHA 10 certification protects people first, makes your resume stand out, and helps you create a safe work environment for all employees. Staying proactive is key to not only remaining compliant but also protecting your employees’ health.

Stay compliant and informed—learn more in our OSHA 10 & 30-Hour Guide!

Frequently Asked Questions About OSHA 10 Expiration

How Long Is OSHA 10 Good For?

OSHA 10 cards do not technically expire, though employers often request retraining every three years or so.

Does the OSHA 10 Expire?

The answer is yes and no. OSHA 10 cards themselves never expire, but employers can require refresher training after a few years.

When Does OSHA 10 Expire?

OSHA 10 certifications do not expire but are recommended to be renewed every five years for compliance and updated training.

Do You Have to Renew your OSHA 10?

No, OSHA 10 certifications do not expire and thus do not need to be renewed.