Private OSHA-aligned training provider · Not affiliated with OSHA

Can You Get Forklift Certified Online?

U.S.-based training company · Instant digital certificate

What online forklift training can cover

Online forklift training covers everything OSHA classifies as formal instruction in 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(2)(ii)(A). That includes lectures, video, computer-based modules, and written material on the truck-related and workplace-related topics OSHA lists in 1910.178(l)(3):

• Operating instructions, warnings, and precautions
• Differences between trucks and automobiles
• Truck controls and instrumentation
• Engine or motor operation
• Steering and maneuvering
• Visibility, including restrictions due to loading
• Fork and attachment use, adaptation, operation, and limitations
• Vehicle capacity and stability
• Pre-shift inspection and routine maintenance
• Refueling or recharging batteries
• Surface conditions, pedestrian traffic, and narrow aisles
• Hazardous (classified) locations, ramps, and sloped surfaces

For the full topic list, see our OSHA forklift training requirements guide.

What online training cannot complete by itself

An online course is a knowledge-transfer tool. It cannot watch an operator drive a real truck on a real loading dock. OSHA explicitly requires two things that have to happen at the workplace:

That's why every online course you find, including ours, produces an employer evaluation form. The form is how the workplace step gets documented.

OSHA's three-part forklift training requirement

Under 29 CFR 1910.178(l), an operator can only be authorized to drive after all three of these are complete:

1. 1. Formal instruction

   Lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video, or written material on the topics in 1910.178(l)(3). This is the part you can do online.

2. 2. Practical training

   Demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee on the actual truck the operator will use.

3. 3. Evaluation

   Evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace by a person who has the knowledge, training, and experience to evaluate operators.

Who performs the hands-on evaluation?

OSHA puts that duty on the employer. The evaluation must be done by a person who has the knowledge, training, and experience to evaluate the operator's competence. That person can be:

• A supervisor or manager already trained on that truck class
• A safety officer or experienced forklift operator at the site
• A third-party qualified evaluator the employer hires

We supply the structured evaluation form, name, date, truck type, evaluator, and pass criteria, so it can be filed in the operator's certification record.

Can a new employer accept previous forklift training?

Partly. Formal instruction topics generally transfer between employers, operators don't need to re-learn truck physics every time they switch jobs. However, the new employer must still evaluate the operator on their specific equipment and worksite before authorizing them to drive. Workplace conditions, equipment, and hazards differ.

Operators also need refresher training at least every 3 years, after any incident, when a new truck type is assigned, or when conditions in the workplace change.

What certificate do you get?

• A digital forklift certificate of completion (PDF)
• A printable forklift certification card sized for a wallet
• A pre-filled employer evaluation form for the workplace step
• A certification record template for the employer's files

All four are issued instantly when you finish the course. There is no waiting period and no shipping delay.

What employers need to document

Per 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6), the employer must keep a written certification record that contains:

• The name of the operator
• The date of the training
• The date of the evaluation
• The identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation

If you're certifying a team, the forklift training for employers page has bulk pricing and an admin dashboard that stores these records for you.

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