OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30: Differences, Requirements, Who Needs Which

OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 are voluntary outreach training programs from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA 10 is a 10-hour course for entry-level workers. It covers basic hazard awareness, workers' rights, and the main types of workplace hazards. OSHA 30 is a 30-hour course for site supervisors, foremen, safety coordinators, and anyone with safety responsibility for others. It covers the same topics as OSHA 10 in more depth and adds a lot of supervisor-focused content. Both come in two tracks: Construction Industry and General Industry. Card colors: blue for OSHA 10 Construction, gold for OSHA 30 Construction, green for OSHA 10 General Industry, and yellow for OSHA 30 General Industry.

At the federal level, OSHA 10 cards do not expire. The OSHA Outreach Program does not formally retire them. But several states do require expiration through their own programs. New York, Connecticut, Nevada, and Massachusetts require OSHA 10 cards to be no more than 5 years old for state-funded or state-permitted construction work. Many large employers and most union locals refresh OSHA 10 every 3 to 5 years as a matter of policy, regardless of the state. Best practice: treat OSHA 10 cards as 5-year cards and refresh accordingly.

OSHA 30 cards follow the same federal rule as OSHA 10. They do not formally expire, but the same state and employer refresh rules apply. Because OSHA 30 holders are usually supervisors with ongoing safety duties, most employers require refresh every 3 to 5 years. Some state projects (especially union jobs) require a fresh OSHA 30 card within a set window before the worker can show up to the site.

OSHA 10 is for entry-level workers in construction (1926) or general industry (1910). That includes laborers, helpers, equipment operators, warehouse staff, manufacturing operators, retail stockroom staff, custodial staff, and any worker exposed to hazards but not in charge of safety for others. Many state-funded projects in NY, CT, NV, MA, NH, RI, and MO require OSHA 10 for every worker on site. Many large GCs also require it from every sub's employees as a matter of policy.

OSHA 30 is required (or strongly preferred) for site superintendents, foremen, project managers with field duties, safety coordinators, lead persons, and anyone overseeing the work of others. State-funded projects in NY, CT, NV, MA, NH, RI, and MO often require OSHA 30 for supervisors. Most union locals require OSHA 30 for foremen and stewards. Many GCs require it from every sub's on-site supervisor too, especially on public works and prevailing-wage jobs.

OSHA 30 is at least 30 hours of training. It is usually run as a 4-day in-person course or as a self-paced online course over 6 months. Online providers have to be authorized by the OSHA Outreach Program. The course must include required interactive parts like knowledge checks and quizzes. The trainer or training organization issues the card within 90 days of course completion. Cards are physical and are also recorded in the OSHA Outreach Trainer database.

OSHA 30 online courses typically range from $135 to $250 per student (US, May 2026). In-person classroom courses run $350 to $700 depending on location and provider. Group rates are common. Some employers cover the cost; others reimburse upon successful completion. Bulk training contracts for large GCs and unions can drive per-seat pricing below $100. The card itself is free - the cost is the training and trainer time.

OSHA 10 has two tracks: Construction (under 29 CFR 1926) and General Industry (under 29 CFR 1910). Construction covers hazards from building and contracting work: falls, struck-by, caught-in or between, electrical hazards, scaffolding, and excavation. General Industry covers hazards from manufacturing, warehousing, retail, and services: machine guarding, walking and working surfaces, electrical, hazcom, and PPE. The cards are not interchangeable. A worker with a Construction card who moves to a manufacturing plant should also take the General Industry course.

Not directly. The federal government does not require Outreach training. But many state programs require it for state-funded work, several federal programs require it on certain projects (like GSA construction contracts), most large GCs require it in their contracts, and most union locals require it from their members. So in practice, OSHA 10 and 30 are required across most US construction and many industrial settings, even though the cards themselves are voluntary.

Best practice is a centralized system that records each worker's name, card number, course type (10/30), industry track (Construction/General Industry), training date, trainer ID, and renewal date (typically 5 years out). Reminders should fire 60 and 30 days before the renewal date so workers can refresh without lapsing on a state requirement. Spreadsheets work for under ~25 workers. Above that, use a dedicated tracking platform that handles per-state rules and maintains audit-ready records for OSHA inspections, customer audits, and union grievances.