Forklift Certification Card and Certificate: What You Get and How to Verify It

When an operator passes the final exam after our self-paced online course, they receive two documents: a digital certificate they can download the moment they pass, and a printed wallet card mailed to them, typically within about a week.

Does OSHA issue forklift cards?

No. OSHA does not issue forklift licences or cards. The standard, 29 CFR 1910.178(l), puts the responsibility on the employer to train, evaluate and certify operators. A card or certificate from a training provider is proof of the formal instruction the operator completed. We explain this further in forklift certification is not a license.

The digital certificate

The certificate is created the moment the operator passes. It shows:

• The operator's name
• The course: self-paced online formal instruction for powered industrial truck classes 1–6
• The written exam score
• The issue date and the expiry date, three years later
• A unique certificate number
• Signature blocks for the operator and for the on-site evaluator (the employer)

The evaluator signature block is there because the employer still completes the practical evaluation in the workplace.

The printed wallet card

The wallet card carries the same certificate number, so the card in an operator's pocket and the certificate in your records point to the same record. A printed card holds up on a warehouse floor better than a sheet printed at home, and every operator's card uses the same layout, which makes a stack of them easy to check during an audit.

How to verify a card

Anyone can check a certificate on our verification page. A valid lookup shows the operator's name, the course and classes covered, the issue date, the expiry date and the certificate number. If a lookup fails, the page lists what to check next — re-entering the number, confirming who issued it, or emailing us to confirm the record manually.

Our lookup only covers certificates issued by OSHA Operator. For more on spotting problem cards, see forklift certification card fraud.

Get both documents

• One operator — $69
• A crew — team seats from $49

OSHA Operator is a private training provider and is not affiliated with OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor.