How to Verify OSHA 10 Training in 2026: 5 Official Steps

Whether you’re an employer ensuring your job site is safe or a worker proving you have the right credentials, knowing how to properly verify OSHA 10 training is essential. If you manage buildings or facilities, our property maintenance safety practices can help you strengthen site safety beyond OSHA cards. A valid OSHA 10 card proves a worker has completed foundational safety training, but with fraudulent cards on the rise, just glancing at a card isn’t enough.

This guide walks you through the official, reliable methods to confirm a card’s legitimacy. From a quick QR code scan to contacting the right organization, here’s everything you need to know to verify OSHA 10 training with confidence.

Scan the QR Code to Instantly Verify OSHA 10 Training

For any OSHA 10 or 30 hour card issued after March 2016, the process to verify OSHA 10 training is incredibly simple. These modern plastic cards feature a QR code on the back.

Scanning this code with any smartphone camera or QR reader will instantly take you to a verification page. This page confirms whether the card is authentic and provides contact information for the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center that issued it. This is the fastest and most direct way to verify a newer card.

If a card is from before 2016, it is likely a paper card without a QR code. In that case, you’ll need to use one of the methods below to verify OSHA 10 training.

How to Verify an OSHA 10 Card Without a QR Code

When a card is older or you want to double check the source of the training, you need to use other methods to verify OSHA 10 training by going directly to the people who are authorized to provide it.

Check the OSHA Outreach Trainer’s Status

The first step is to confirm you’re dealing with a legitimate instructor. OSHA Outreach trainers are not government employees, but private trainers who have completed an official course to become authorized.

Every authorized trainer has an OSHA Authorized Trainer card. You should always ask to see this card before taking a class. It includes their name, a unique ID, an expiration date, and the name of the Authorizing Training Organization that qualified them. If their authorization is expired, they cannot issue valid cards.

Use the OSHA Find a Trainer Tool

OSHA provides a helpful online directory called the Find a Trainer tool. This public database allows you to search for authorized trainers by name, city, state, or industry. With over 18,000 trainers listed, it’s a great resource for both finding a class and performing a background check on an instructor.

It’s important to note that trainers must opt in to be included in this public list. If a trainer doesn’t appear in the search, it doesn’t automatically mean they are fraudulent, but those who do appear are definitely legitimate.

Contact the Authorizing Training Organization (OTI Education Center)

An Authorizing Training Organization, or OTI Education Center, is a non profit organization (often a university or college) that OSHA has approved to train and authorize Outreach trainers. These centers are the backbone of the program.

The name of the OTI Education Center is printed on the back of the student’s OSHA card and on the trainer’s authorization card. If you have any doubts about a card or a trainer, you can contact the listed OTI Education Center directly. They keep the official records and can provide the ultimate way to verify OSHA 10 training.

Common Myths About OSHA Card Verification

There is a lot of confusion about how to verify OSHA 10 training. Let’s clear up a couple of the biggest misconceptions.

OSHA Does Not Verify Individual Cards

If you try to call OSHA’s main office to ask if a card is real, they will not be able to help you. Due to privacy policies and the decentralized nature of the program, OSHA does not verify individual student cards for the public. The agency sets the rules, but the responsibility for record keeping and verification falls to the authorized trainers and their OTI Education Centers.

There Is No National OSHA Card Database

Another common myth is the existence of a single national database for OSHA card verification. OSHA does not operate or endorse any public website where you can enter a card number to check its validity. Any third party site claiming to be a national OSHA card lookup is not an official government system and should not be trusted. The only official ways to verify OSHA 10 training are through the QR code or by contacting the issuing OTI Education Center.

Lost Cards, Record Keeping, and Fraud

What happens if a card is lost or you suspect someone is cheating the system? Understanding OSHA’s policies on records and fraud is crucial. For employer playbooks on keeping teams engaged and compliant, see our employee retention category.

The Five Year Trainer Record Retention Rule

OSHA requires all authorized trainers to keep records of their training sessions for a minimum of five years. These records include class dates, attendee lists, and topics covered.

This five year period is critical. If you completed your training within the last five years, your trainer should have the records needed to verify it or issue a replacement. If your training was more than five years ago, the trainer is no longer required to have those records, and you will likely need to retake the course to get a new card. To improve your documentation habits, see our estimating and writing repair work guides.

Requesting a Replacement Card

If you lose your OSHA 10 card, you cannot get one from OSHA directly. You must contact the original trainer or training provider who issued your card. They will work with their OTI Education Center to issue a replacement. Keep in mind:

• You can only get one replacement card per class.

• You can only request a replacement if the training was within the last five years.

• There is often a small administrative fee for processing the new card.

If you completed your training through a recognized online platform like SkillCat, their support team can guide you through the replacement process with their OSHA authorized partner. Have questions along the way? Ask the community in our Questions & Answers forum.

How to Report OSHA Training Fraud

Unfortunately, fraudulent OSHA cards are a serious problem. Some unscrupulous individuals sell fake cards to untrained workers, putting everyone on the job site at risk. In 2023, a group in Brooklyn was indicted for selling forged OSHA safety cards to construction workers.

OSHA takes this very seriously. If you suspect fraud (for example, a trainer offering a card with no training), you should report it.

• Email: outreach@dol.gov

• Phone: (847) 725 7804

OSHA keeps the identity of anyone who files a report confidential. To build internal checks that prevent issues before they start, review our quality control articles.

Ensure Your Training is Valid From Day One

The best way to ensure you can easily verify OSHA 10 training later is to get your training from a legitimate source. This is especially important when taking your course online. If your team also manages other regulated credentials, explore our commercial driving and licensing category.

Confirm Your Online Provider is OSHA Authorized

OSHA maintains an official list of OSHA Authorized Online Training Providers. Only companies on this list are approved to offer the 10 and 30 hour courses online and issue valid DOL cards. Before signing up for any online class, check OSHA’s website to make sure the provider is listed. Training from an unlisted provider will not result in a legitimate OSHA card.

Platforms like SkillCat make this easy by partnering directly with OSHA authorized providers, ensuring that the OSHA 10 training you receive is fully compliant and results in a verifiable DOL card. If you’re also preparing for refrigerant handling, check our EPA certification resources.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Verify OSHA 10 Training

1. What is the fastest way to verify an OSHA 10 card? If the card was issued after March 2016, the fastest method is to scan the QR code on the back with a smartphone. It will link to a verification page.

2. Can I look up an OSHA card number online? No, there is no official national database or public lookup tool operated by OSHA. Any website claiming to offer this service is not an official OSHA system.

3. What should I do if my OSHA card is more than five years old and I lost it? According to OSHA policy, if your training occurred more than five years ago, you will need to retake the 10 hour course to receive a new, valid card. Trainers are only required to keep records for five years.

4. Can I call OSHA to check if a trainer is legitimate? While OSHA won’t verify a student’s card, you can use the “Find a Trainer” tool on their website to see if an instructor is listed in their public directory of authorized trainers. For tips on communicating expectations and vetting providers, browse our soft skills category.

5. How do I know if an online OSHA 10 course is legitimate? You must verify that the online training company is on OSHA’s official list of authorized online providers. Taking a course from a non authorized provider will not get you a valid Department of Labor card.