OSHA Credentials
OSHA Forklift Certification
Forklifts, also known as powered industrial trucks, are vital tools used to lift and transport cargo in construction and a variety of other industries. OSHA requires employers to ensure that all operators are forklift certified through formal instruction, practical training and a performance evaluation.
Who Needs Forklift Training?
This training is designed for workers seeking OSHA-accepted forklift driver certification. You'll learn how to safely operate forklifts, also known as powered industrial trucks. To legally operate this machinery, you must be at least 18 years of age.
Our course provides certification to operate the following types of forklifts:
Class I: Electric motor rider trucks
Class II: Electric motor narrow aisle trucks
Class III: Electric motor hand trucks or hand/rider trucks
Class IV: Internal combustion engine trucks (solid/cushion tires)
Class V: Internal combustion engine trucks (pneumatic tires)
Class VI: Electric and internal combustion engine tractors
Class VII: Rough terrain forklift trucks
This course is appropriate for workers in construction or general industry. It does not apply to agriculture workers or workers who operate compressed air/nonflammable compressed gas-operated industrial trucks, farm vehicles or vehicles used primarily for earth moving over-the-road hauling.
Forklift Certification Testing Requirements
To earn your forklift certificate and certification card, you must complete each of the course's six lessons, pass six lesson quizzes and pass a comprehensive final exam. You have an unlimited number of attempts to pass each quiz and the final exam.
Lesson quizzes include five questions, and you must score at least 80% to pass. The final exam includes 20 questions and covers all course topics. You must score at least 70% to pass the exam.
After you successfully pass the final exam, OSHA requires you to receive hands-on training from your employer and complete an evaluation of operator performance in the workplace before you earn your official forklift license. You can download a Forklift Operator Evaluation Form that your employer can use to rate your proficiency in key operator tasks.
Your skills will be evaluated in the following areas:
- Forklift inspections
- Picking up a load
- Traveling
- Putting down a load
- Parking
- Fueling and battery recharging
Once you successfully pass your evaluation and your employer completes all required paperwork, you will be officially forklift certified.
Your forklift certification will remain valid for three years. Once it expires, you will be required to complete another employer performance evaluation. OSHA Education Center recommends that all forklift operators complete refresher training after their forklift certification expires.