No One is OSHA Certified Trainer

We often hear safety and human resource professionals use the terms “OSHA Certified Trainer”, “OSHA 500, 501, 510, or 511 Certified”, etc… and “OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 Hour Certified”. We also often see these terms used in the job postings (i.e. “OSHA 30 Certification Required” and “OSHA 500 Certification Desired”).

Although we often see and sometimes use the term “Certified” it incorrectly describes our accomplishments.

As per OSHA

No training program is “Certified” by OSHA including OSHA’s own OTI (OSHA Training Institute) and OSHA Outreach training programs.
Authorized, Trained, Certificate of Completion and Cardholders:

• OSHA Outreach Trainers in good standing are “Authorized”

• Students that complete an OTI course are considered trained and receive a course completion certificate often with attached CEUs (Continuing Education Credits)

• Students that successfully complete an OSHA Outreach 10 or 30 Hour Construction, General Industry and Maritime or complete an OSHA Outreach 7.5 or 15 Hour Disaster Site Worker are considered trained and receive a student course completion card (and certificate if the Authorized Outreach Trainer elects to issue one)

OSHA TRAINING INSTITUTE (OTI) TRAINED

There are currently 26 authorized OTIs (OSHA Training Institutes) located around the United States. Students that complete each course commonly receive a certificate of completion for that course.
OTIs Trainer and prerequisite standards course numbers include: 500, 501, 502, 503, 510, 511, 5400, 5402, 5410, 5600, and 5602
OTI specific standards multi-day course numbers include: 521, 2015, 2045, 2055, 2225, 2255, 2264, 3015, 3095, 3115, 5810
OTI specific standards one-day courses include: 7000, 7005, 7100, 7105, 7110, 7115, 7125, 7200, 7205, 7210, 7225, 7300, 7400, 7405, 7410, 7415, 7500, 7505, 7510, 7845
For a description of each course number visit OTI course information page at Global ERA EDU
Although OSHA does not certify any OTI or Outreach training course, many OTIs have developed their own Certification or Certificated Programs that professionals pursuing a safety certification can earn. Depending on the OTI, certification acronyms include CHSO, CSHS, SSH, SHS, SP, SPS, SHSC, PSSHF, PCGI, PCC, PCM, PSSH, MESH, ASHC, HSC, RST, OSHMS, PCOHS, SA, SHCC, MSHS, etc….
To view OSHA’s map of OTIs in your region and to see which if any certification programs they offer visit OSHA Map

AUTHORIZED OSHA OUTREACH TRAINER

OSHA Outreach Trainers that successfully complete a trainer course are actually an Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer for:
OSHA 500 – Construction
OSHA 501 – General Industry
OSHA 5400 – Maritime
OSHA 5600 – Disaster Site

10 HOUR & 30 HOUR TRAINED & COMPLETION CARDS

Students that successfully complete any of the below OSHA Outreach Courses are OSHA Outreach Trained and a cardholder for the OSHA Outreach course that they successfully complete. Since it can take up to 90 days for a student to receive and OSHA Outreach Training completion card OSHA recommends that Authorized Outreach Trainers also issue a certificate of completion but it is not required.
OSHA 10 Hour or OSHA 30 Hour – Construction
OSHA 10 Hour or OSHA 30 Hour – General Industry
OSHA 10 Hour or OSHA 30 Hour – Maritime
OSHA 7.5 Hour or OSHA 15 Hour – Disaster Site

CARD HIERARCHY FOR OSHA OUTREACH & OTI TRAINING

To view an example of all OSHA Outreach Training Cards visit OSHA Outreach Cards

OSHA OUTREACH TRAINING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Referencing non-use of the term “OSHA Certified” refer to OSHA Outreach Trainer Guidelines
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Certified. The OSHA Outreach Training Program is not a certification program and must not be advertised as such. Outreach trainers, students, and curriculum are not certified. The Outreach trainer is authorized and students receive student course completion cards.

Advertisements must not use any form of the word “certify” including the word “certification”, or imply that the Outreach Training Program class will result in the individual being certified.

Article by Douglas Castro, CSSM, CSST – Director – Safety Training and Workforce Development Programs