OSHA forklift certification is valid for three years. The rule (29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii)) requires employers to evaluate each operator’s performance at least once every three years, and most employers treat that evaluation date as the expiration date on the card.
Certification can also expire early. OSHA requires refresher training and a new evaluation any time an operator is seen operating unsafely, is involved in an accident or near-miss, fails an evaluation, is assigned a different type of truck, or when conditions in the workplace change in a way that affects safe operation.
Renewing works the same way as certifying the first time: complete the formal training, pass the test, and have your employer do the hands-on evaluation. With US Forklift Certification the renewal course is the same $58 online course, most people finish it in under an hour, and your new certificate and wallet card download instantly.
See all questions in the Forklift Certification FAQ.
Ready to get certified? Start the $58 online forklift certification course. Certifying a crew? See the Train and Certify kit for employers.