Which forklift rules apply in your state?
Quick answer: In 22 states and territories, an OSHA-approved state plan enforces forklift rules for private and public employers. Seven more have plans that cover only public-sector workers, and in every other state federal OSHA covers private employers (OSHA State Plans). The training itself is the same three parts everywhere: formal instruction, practical training and a workplace evaluation.
Last reviewed: October 2026
| Key fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Federal forklift rule | 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| State plans covering private employers | 22 (AK, AZ, CA, HI, IN, IA, KY, MD, MI, MN, NV, NM, NC, OR, PR, SC, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WY) |
| Public-sector-only plans | CT, IL, ME, MA, NJ, NY, USVI |
| States with their own forklift rule text we verified | California (Title 8 §3668), Washington (WAC 296-863), Michigan (Part 21 permit) |
| Who certifies the operator | The employer (OSHA eTool) |
| Can formal instruction be online? | Yes — OSHA lists "interactive computer learning" (OSHA eTool) |
What is an OSHA state plan?
A state plan is a workplace safety program run by a state and approved by federal OSHA. Where a state plan covers private employers, the state agency — not federal OSHA — inspects workplaces, issues citations and adopts the standards. A state plan must be at least as effective as federal OSHA, and some states write their own rules.
There are three situations, and it matters which one you are in:
- State plan covering private and public employers. The state agency enforces. Examples: Cal/OSHA in California, L&I DOSH in Washington, MIOSHA in Michigan, TOSHA in Tennessee, ADOSH in Arizona.
- State plan covering public employees only. Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and the US Virgin Islands. Federal OSHA still covers private employers there.
- No state plan. Federal OSHA covers private employers. Examples: Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Missouri.
All of this comes from OSHA's own list (OSHA State Plans).
Which forklift rule applies in each state?
The table lists who enforces for private employers in all 50 states, and the forklift rule where we checked the state's own text. Where we did not verify a separate state rule, we only list the enforcer. "Federal 29 CFR 1910.178" means federal OSHA enforces the federal rule directly.
| State | Who enforces for private employers | Forklift rule (where verified) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Alaska | State plan | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Arizona | State plan (ADOSH) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Arkansas | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| California | State plan (Cal/OSHA) | Title 8 §3668 |
| Colorado | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Connecticut | Federal OSHA (state plan is public-sector only) | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Delaware | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Florida | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Georgia | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Hawaii | State plan | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Idaho | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Illinois | Federal OSHA (state plan is public-sector only) | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Indiana | State plan (IOSHA) | Adopts federal standards except a unique excavations rule (OSHA) |
| Iowa | State plan | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Kansas | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Kentucky | State plan (KY OSH) | 803 KAR 2:313 adopts 1910.178 |
| Louisiana | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Maine | Federal OSHA (state plan is public-sector only) | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Maryland | State plan (MOSH) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Massachusetts | Federal OSHA (state plan is public-sector only) | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Michigan | State plan (MIOSHA) | Part 21 — employer-issued operator permit |
| Minnesota | State plan (MNOSHA) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Mississippi | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Missouri | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Montana | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Nebraska | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Nevada | State plan (Nevada OSHA) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| New Hampshire | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| New Jersey | Federal OSHA (state plan is public-sector only) | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| New Mexico | State plan | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| New York | Federal OSHA (state plan is public-sector only) | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| North Carolina | State plan (NC DOL OSH) | Adopts 29 CFR 1910 verbatim (NC DOL) |
| North Dakota | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Ohio | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Oklahoma | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Oregon | State plan (Oregon OSHA) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Pennsylvania | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Rhode Island | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| South Carolina | State plan (SC OSHA) | 1910.178 with only (m)(12) reserved (SC OSHA) |
| South Dakota | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Tennessee | State plan (TOSHA) | Same as federal 1910.178 (TN) |
| Texas | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Utah | State plan (UOSH) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Vermont | State plan | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Virginia | State plan (VA DOLI) | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
| Washington | State plan (L&I DOSH) | WAC 296-863-60005 |
| West Virginia | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Wisconsin | Federal OSHA | Federal 29 CFR 1910.178 |
| Wyoming | State plan | State plan enforcer; rule not separately verified |
Sources: OSHA State Plans; state links in the table.
Which states have their own forklift rules?
California: Title 8 §3668
California's rule is Title 8 §3668, "Powered Industrial Truck Operator Training". Like the federal rule, it requires formal instruction, practical training and an evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace. Evaluations happen at least once every three years, and the employer certifies training and evaluation with the operator's name, the training date, the evaluation date and the name of the trainer or evaluator. Read more in our California Title 8 §3668 guide.
Washington: WAC 296-863
Washington's rule is WAC 296-863-60005: formal instruction, practical training, an evaluation and written records. Washington L&I also states: "There is no license requirement for forklift operators" (L&I). For aerial lifts, WAC 296-869-500 requires authorization, model-specific training and records. See our Washington WAC 296-863 guide.
Michigan: MIOSHA Part 21 permit
Michigan is the clearest exception. Under MIOSHA General Industry Part 21, operators must be trained and tested, and the employer issues a written operator permit listing the truck type, restrictions, and issue and expiration dates. The permit is valid only with the issuing employer, for up to 3 years, and the operator must carry it. Trainees may operate for up to 30 days without one. Details: Michigan forklift permit rules.
States that adopt the federal rule
Several state-plan states adopt the federal rule rather than writing their own:
- Kentucky: 803 KAR 2:313 adopts 29 CFR 1910.178.
- Tennessee: TOSHA's 1910.178 is the same as federal (TN Dept. of Labor).
- North Carolina: adopts 29 CFR 1910 verbatim (NC DOL).
- Indiana: adopts all OSHA standards except a unique excavations standard (OSHA).
- South Carolina: reserves only 1910.178(m)(12), on lifting people; training is unchanged (SC OSHA).
Does a state plan change what training I need?
Usually not in substance. The federal rule, 29 CFR 1910.178(l), requires formal instruction, practical training and an evaluation of each operator's performance in the workplace, plus re-evaluation at least every three years. The states above either copy that rule or write one with the same three parts. What changes is who inspects you, and in Michigan, the extra step of the employer-issued permit.
Can I take forklift training online in a state-plan state?
Yes, for the formal instruction part. OSHA says formal instruction may include "interactive computer learning," and that employers "must certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated" (OSHA eTool). The practical training and evaluation must happen at the workplace with the employer. Our online course covers formal instruction for $69, and our certificate is recognized in all 50 states as proof of formal instruction.
How do I find my state's page?
Every state has a page with its enforcer and rule, and major metros have city pages. Start at Locations, or jump to Texas, California, Florida, Michigan or Washington.
Frequently asked questions
How many OSHA state plans are there?
OSHA lists 22 state plans that cover both private and public employers, plus plans in Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and the US Virgin Islands that cover only public-sector workers (OSHA State Plans).
Is Texas a state-plan state?
No. Texas has no OSHA-approved state plan, so federal OSHA covers private employers in Texas and the federal rule, 29 CFR 1910.178, applies.
Does New York or New Jersey have its own forklift rule for private employers?
No. Both states' plans cover public-sector workers only, so federal OSHA covers private employers there.
Which state requires a forklift permit?
Michigan. Under MIOSHA Part 21, the employer issues each trained and tested operator a written permit valid only with that employer, for up to 3 years.
Does any state issue a forklift license?
We did not find a state-issued forklift license in the states we checked. Washington L&I says there is no license requirement, and in Michigan it is the employer who issues the permit. See Do you need a forklift license?
Is online forklift training accepted in California?
Online training can cover formal instruction. Title 8 §3668 also requires practical training and a workplace evaluation, which the employer completes and certifies.
Sources
- OSHA — State Plans
- OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178
- OSHA Powered Industrial Trucks eTool — Training
- Cal/OSHA Title 8 §3668
- WAC 296-863-60005 · L&I F417-031-000 · WAC 296-869-500
- MIOSHA Part 21
- 803 KAR 2:313 (Kentucky) · Tennessee TOSHA differences · North Carolina · Indiana · South Carolina
Last reviewed: October 2026. OSHA Operator is a private online training provider and is not affiliated with OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor. Our course provides formal instruction; your employer remains responsible for the workplace-specific practical evaluation required by 29 CFR 1910.178(l).
Self-paced forklift training — $69
OSHA-compliant training for classes 1–6, at your own pace. Complete the course and pass the final exam.