OSHA 10 is a 10-hour course for entry-level workers that teaches basic hazard recognition and worker rights. OSHA 30 is a 30-hour course for supervisors, foremen, and anyone with safety responsibility, covering the same foundations in far more depth plus how to manage safety on a site. If you direct other people's work, take OSHA 30. If you're new to the trade, start with OSHA 10.
Key takeaways
- OSHA 10 = workers. OSHA 30 = supervisors, foremen, and safety leads.
- Both are voluntary at the federal level, but many states, cities, unions, and contractors require them.
- You do not need OSHA 10 before OSHA 30.
- Both come in Construction and General Industry versions. Pick the one that matches your workplace.
- Only an OSHA-authorized trainer or OSHA-accepted online provider can issue a real DOL card.
The short version
I get this question more than any other, usually from someone who's just been told by a foreman or a GC that they "need their OSHA card." The answer depends on one thing: are you responsible for other people's safety on the job?
- If you're a laborer, apprentice, new hire, warehouse associate, or tradesperson doing the work yourself, OSHA 10 is the standard.
- If you're a foreman, superintendent, crew lead, safety coordinator, project manager, or business owner, OSHA 30 is the right fit.
OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30 side by side
| OSHA 10 | OSHA 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Designed for | Entry-level workers | Supervisors and workers with safety responsibility |
| Length | 10 contact hours | 30 contact hours |
| Minimum days | 2 (7.5-hour daily cap) | 4 (7.5-hour daily cap) |
| Focus | Recognizing and avoiding common hazards, worker rights | Same foundation in more depth, plus more standards and managing safety |
| Prerequisite | None | None (OSHA 10 not required first) |
| Card | DOL 10-Hour wallet card | DOL 30-Hour wallet card |
| Versions | Construction, General Industry, Maritime | Construction, General Industry, Maritime |
What OSHA 10 covers
OSHA 10 is built to give a worker the vocabulary and awareness to spot hazards and speak up. In the Construction version, most of the required time goes to:
- Introduction to OSHA: your rights, employer responsibilities, how to file a complaint, and how inspections work.
- The Focus Four hazards: falls, struck-by, caught-in or between, and electrocution, which together cause most construction deaths. (Read more in our Focus Four guide.)
- PPE and health hazards: hard hats, eye and hearing protection, silica, noise, and chemicals.
- Electives: topics like scaffolds, ladders, stairways, materials handling, and excavation, chosen by the trainer to fit the group.
The General Industry version follows the same idea with topics like walking-working surfaces, emergency action plans, electrical safety, and hazard communication.
What OSHA 30 adds
OSHA 30 is not just "OSHA 10, three times longer." The extra 20 hours go into topics a supervisor needs to plan and run safe work:
- Deeper coverage of fall protection, excavations and trenching, scaffolding, and electrical systems.
- Cranes, rigging, concrete and masonry, and steel erection (Construction), or lockout/tagout, confined spaces, and powered industrial trucks (General Industry).
- Safety and health programs, hazard prevention planning, and managing subcontractors.
- Recordkeeping basics and what happens during and after an OSHA inspection.
From the field: The supervisors who get the most out of OSHA 30 are the ones who bring real problems from their own site. Bring your questions about that one ladder setup or trench that always worries you. That's what the class is for.
Who requires which card?
Federal OSHA does not require workers to hold an Outreach card. But plenty of others do:
- States: Several states, including New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, require OSHA 10 for certain construction work, especially public projects. Some require OSHA 30 for supervisors.
- Cities: New York City, for example, has its own Site Safety Training requirements that build on OSHA courses.
- Contractors and owners: Many general contractors, school districts, hospitals, and large facilities require OSHA 10 for everyone on site and OSHA 30 for supervisors.
- Unions and employers: Many build Outreach training into apprenticeships and onboarding.
If you're in Illinois, see our guide to OSHA training in Illinois.
How much do OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 cost?
Pricing varies by format, provider, and group size, and OSHA 30 costs more than OSHA 10 because it's three times as long. In-person classes are often priced per group, which can make on-site training cost-effective for a crew, especially once you count the value of hands-on discussion and a trainer who can answer questions about your actual site. Request a group quote for on-site pricing.
How to choose for your crew
For employers, the most common setup I see works well:
- Put every field worker through OSHA 10 in the version that matches your work.
- Put foremen, leads, and anyone who signs off on work through OSHA 30.
- Back it up with regular toolbox talks and task-specific training, since OSHA standards require training on specific hazards (like fall protection or forklifts) that an Outreach course alone does not satisfy.
Frequently asked questions
Is OSHA 30 better than OSHA 10?
Not better, just deeper. OSHA 30 covers more topics in more detail and is aimed at people with safety responsibility. For an entry-level worker, OSHA 10 is usually what an employer or job site asks for.
Do I need OSHA 10 before I can take OSHA 30?
No. OSHA 30 is a standalone course. You can go straight into OSHA 30, and it satisfies any requirement for a 10-hour card in the same industry.
Does an OSHA 30 card count if a job requires OSHA 10?
In almost every case, yes. OSHA 30 includes everything in OSHA 10 for the same industry. Check the specific requirement if it's a state law or contract, but a 30-hour card is generally accepted wherever a 10-hour card is required.
How long is each course?
OSHA 10 is 10 contact hours and OSHA 30 is 30 contact hours. Because OSHA limits Outreach training to 7.5 hours per day, OSHA 10 takes at least two days and OSHA 30 takes at least four.
Is OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 a certification?
Technically, neither is a certification. OSHA calls the card proof of completing Outreach training. It shows you took the course; it does not certify you to operate equipment or perform specific tasks.