OSHA 10 vs. OSHA 30: What Construction Workers Need to Know
OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 cards come up constantly in construction job postings, but it's not always clear what the difference is or which one you need. Here's the short version, based on OSHA's own program descriptions.
What they actually are
Both are part of the OSHA Outreach Training Program, administered through OSHA-authorized trainers (not OSHA employees directly). They're voluntary general-awareness courses, not a license or certification in the legal sense, completing one doesn't certify you as "OSHA certified" (a phrase OSHA itself notes is commonly misused). What you get is a completion card showing you finished the course.
OSHA 10: the entry-level overview
The 10-Hour Construction course is aimed at entry-level workers. It covers general hazard recognition, fall protection, electrical hazards, struck-by and caught-in/between hazards, and personal protective equipment, at an introductory level over a minimum of 10 hours of instruction.
OSHA 30: the supervisor-level deep dive
The 30-Hour Construction course covers the same core hazard categories in more depth, plus additional topics more relevant to supervisors and safety-responsible roles, things like managing subcontractors, more detailed recordkeeping, and a wider range of hazard scenarios. It runs a minimum of 30 hours of instruction.
Which one do you need?
That depends entirely on the employer, the role, and sometimes state or local requirements for public construction contracts. There's no single universal rule. Job postings on Kareer Score will specify which (if either) is required; when in doubt, ask the employer directly before enrolling in a course, since OSHA 30 is a meaningful time investment over OSHA 10.
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