Question: Do OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers offer certificate and degree programs?

Answer:

The parent organization for some of the OTI Education Centers offer certificate and college degree programs in occupational safety and health.  A listing of the certificate and degree programs can be found at http://www.osha.gov/dte/edcenters/certificate.html#certificates.

OSHA recently introduced the Public Sector Safety and Health Fundamentals Certificate Program to support OSHA’s mission by training public sector employees in occupational safety and health.  Participants have the opportunity to earn certificates in construction and general industry.  For more information on this certificate program refer to https://www.osha.gov/dte/public_sector/index.html.

Question: Will taking OSHA courses make me a 'Competent Person?'

Answer:

No, the OSHA courses offered through the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers will not qualify a student as a "Competent Person."  The "Competent Person" can only be selected or assigned by a person's employer. Please see the appropriate OSHA standard to determine what training, experience, and approvals are required to be a "Competent Person."

Question: What courses should I take if I am new to the safety profession?

Answer:

The OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers offer courses in a wide range of occupational safety and health topics in construction, general industry, and maritime. An appropriate initial course for those wanting to work as a safety professional is an occupational safety and health standards course in either construction, general industry, or maritime. These courses are the OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry, the OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry, and the OSHA #5410 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Maritime Industry.  Theseare standards-based courses that cover OSHA policies, procedures, and safety and health principles.  For a complete list of courses, certificate and degree programs, OTI Education Center locations, course descriptions, and other information refer to the OSHA Web site at http://www.osha.gov/dte/edcenters/index.html.

Question: Do OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers offer online courses?

Answer:

No, OTI Education Center courses are not offered online.

Question: What if I miss a day in an OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center course?

Answer:

One-hundred percent (100%) attendance is required at all OTI Education Center courses.  Course participants must attend all training sessions to be awarded a course completion certificate.

Question: What is the difference between the OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry and the 30-hour general industry Outreach training class?

Answer:

The OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course and the 30-hour general industry Outreach training class are not equivalent courses. The OSHA #511 covers OSHA standards, policies, and procedures in general industry and the 30-hour general industry Outreach training class focuses on workers' rights, employer responsibilities, how to file a complaint, as well as how to identify, abate, avoid and prevent job-related hazards in general industry.

The OSHA #511 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry course is offered through authorized OSHA Training Institute Education Centers. The OSHA #511 covers OSHA standards, policies, and procedures in general industry with special emphasis on those areas in general industry which are most hazardous.  Students that successfully complete the course receive a course completion certificate.

The 30-hour general industry Outreach training class is taught by OSHA authorized general industry Outreach trainers and is intended to provide a variety of training to workers with some safety responsibility.  Outreach training should emphasize general industry hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention, not OSHA standards.  Students that successfully complete this training will receive a 30-hour general industry Outreach training class completion card.

Question: What is the difference between the OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction course and the 30-hour construction industry Outreach training class?

Answer:

The OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction course and the 30-hour construction industry Outreach training class are not equivalent courses. The OSHA #510 course is based on OSHA construction standards while the 30-hour construction industry Outreach training class focuses on workers' rights, employer responsibilities, how to file a complaint, as well as how to identify, abate, avoid and prevent job-related hazards in the construction industry.

The OSHA #510 Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction course is offered through authorized OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers. The OSHA #510 covers OSHA standards, policies, and procedures in the construction industry, as well as construction safety and health principles.  Topics include scope and application of the OSHA construction standards. Special emphasis is placed on those areas that are the most hazardous, using OSHA standards as a guide.  Students that successfully complete the course receive a course completion certificate.

The 30-hour construction industry Outreach training class is taught by OSHA authorized construction industry Outreach trainers and is intended to provide a variety of training to workers with some safety responsibility.  Outreach training emphasizes construction hazard identification, avoidance, control, and prevention, not OSHA standards.  Students that successfully complete this training will receive a 30-hour construction industry Outreach training class completion card.

Question: How do I find OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center courses?

Answer:

A searchable course schedule including course dates, location, and fees is available at http://www.osha.gov/dte/ecd/course_otiec_search_public.html.

Question: Do OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers offer industry-specific courses?

Answer:

Yes, the OTI Education Centers offer industry-specific courses in the area of construction, general industry, and maritime including OSHA standards courses.  Some specific topics for construction include the OSHA #3015 Excavation, Trenching, and Soil Mechanics, the OSHA #7400 Noise in the Construction Industry, and the OSHA #7405 Fall Hazard Awareness for the Construction Industry. Some specific topics for general industry include the OSHA #2045 Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards, the OSHA #7005 Public Warehousing and Storage, and the OSHA #7105 Introduction to Evacuation and Emergency Planning.  The OTI Education Centers also have a course for the oil and gas industry, OSHA #5810 Hazards Recognition and Standards for On-Shore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, courses for the healthcare industry, OSHA #7000 OSHA Training Guidelines for Safe Patient Handling and OSHA #7200 Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control for Healthcare Facilities, and small businesses, OSHA #7510 Introduction to OSHA for Small Businesses.  For additional information on OTI Education Center locations, course descriptions, and a searchable course schedule refer to the OSHA Web site at http://www.osha.gov/dte/edcenters/index.html.

Question: What specific courses are offered at OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers?

Answer:

Course descriptions and prerequisite requirements for courses offered through authorized OTI Education Centers are located at http://www.osha.gov/dte/edcenters/course_description.html.