Forklift certification is not only legally required by many employers, it is also the ticket to a higher salary—a recent study showed that certified forklift operators earned more on average than those who were uncertified. Furthermore, forklift operator certification can save both employee and employer the hassle and expense of possible lawsuits, should there be an accident on the job.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act

The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), a sub-committee of the Department of Labor, monitors forklift certification in the U.S. through the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This Act requires that all forklift operators must be over the age of 18 and in good health, with excellent vision and no neurological disorders or serious physical ailments. It also stipulates that all potential operators must submit to instructional and hands-on training through a combination of lectures and practical, on-site training.

OSHA Forklift Certification Requirements

In order to achieve forklift certification, it is necessary to first complete a basic training course, which can be completed either at on on-site location or online, and typically culminates with a brief written test. Following successful completion of this course (which requires that the test taker receive nothing below a 70%), the OSHA dictates that all potential operators also complete a hands-on forklift training course, to be evaluated and documented by an official forklift trainer.  Otherwise, there is little oversight from the OSHA, which leaves the bulk of certification responsibility to the employer.

Online Forklift Certification

Online forklift training and forklift certification is available for as little as $50. These online programs are approved by the OSHA and are used by many reputable companies, including Harley-Davidson, U-Haul, Coca-Cola, and Fujifilm. The online certification process includes an hour-long online training program and a brief test, and can be completed in under 2 hours. However, forklift operators must still complete a hands-on site evaluation with a licensed forklift operator before certification is valid. Only when proof of this is submitted will the certificate be produced.

On-Site Forklift Certification

Many employers also offer forklift training and certification on the job. This is especially useful for forklift operators who are already employed but need to renew their certification, or those who have forklift experience but no certification. The basic safety instruction and written exam can be completed on breaks at work, and then the employer can evaluate and document the employee’s handling of equipment on-site. This documentation step is essential as it serves verification that the employee meets OSHA guidelines as a forklift operator.

Official Issuance of Certificate

Once a forklift operator passes the online or written basic instructional and safety test, either the online testing program or the on-site employer will provide a checklist to be completed for the practical training. Once this training has been documented by a trainer (who can be anyone with a forklift license), the certificate will either be presented in person (as in on-site cases) or sent to the operator within 5-7 days (as in the case of on-line programs).

Once successfully complete, forklift certification lasts for a duration of three years, at which point it needs to be renewed.  This can be done through a “refresher” course that is slightly less rigorous than the initial certification process.