OSHA 10 Construction exam-day guide
OSHA 10 Construction · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID. The name on it should match your course registration exactly. Some providers do not require ID at all, so verify the requirement when you register (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Registration confirmation and login credentials
Have your username, password, and any course or student ID number written down or saved somewhere you can reach without leaving the exam screen. Test the login before exam day.
A reliable computer with working camera and microphone (online courses)
If you are taking the course online, use a laptop or desktop rather than a phone or tablet. Webcam and microphone may be required for identity verification or proctoring; check your provider's technical requirements list (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Stable internet plus a backup connection
Know how to tether to your phone's hotspot if your home connection drops. Avoid public Wi-Fi for a timed test.
Power cord or charger
A 10-hour course means a long session; do not rely on battery alone.
A quiet, private, well-lit room with a clear desk
Remove phones, smartwatches, second monitors, papers, and other people from the area. Some online programs use time-tracking and require you to stay on the page.
Confirmed exam format details
Before exam day, find out how many questions there are, the passing score, the time limit, and the retake policy. These vary by provider; a common format for the OSHA 10-hour construction final quiz is about 20 multiple-choice questions with a 70% pass mark, but confirm the specifics for your course (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Confirmed start time and time zone
Write down the exact start time in your local time. For in-person classes, know the address, parking, and arrival instructions.
Provider's technical support or instructor contact number
Save it in your phone before you start so a frozen screen does not cost you the attempt.
Study notes on the Focus Four hazards
Falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution are the highest-yield topics on the final quiz, along with PPE, ladders and scaffolds, excavations, and hazard communication. Review these in the days before, not the hour before.
Clarification on notes and open-book policy
Some online courses allow you to consult your own notes or course material during the quiz; some do not. Ask in advance rather than assuming (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
A plan for staying alert through the full course
The 10-hour course requires completing the full instructional time, often with built-in breaks. If you are taking it online in a single sitting, plan water, snacks, and stretch breaks between modules rather than during a quiz.
Plan the day
Re-read your module notes and the Focus Four hazards. Confirm your registration, login, exam format, passing score, retake policy, and whether notes are allowed. Log in to the course platform and verify that video, audio, and your browser work.
Do a practice pass through module quizzes if your provider offers them. Write down the specific numbers and rules you keep missing (ladder angle, scaffold clearance, excavation depths, PPE requirements) and review only those.
Light review only; do not try to learn new material. Charge your laptop and phone, set out your ID, confirm your start time in your local time zone, clear your desk, and tell the people you live with that you need quiet. Get a full night's sleep.
Eat a real meal. Log in 15–20 minutes early to deal with password resets or browser updates. Close every other tab and application, silence your phone, and put your ID and login details within reach. Use the restroom before you start a timed section.
Read each question completely before answering, and watch for words like EXCEPT, NOT, and BEST. Answer every question - there is usually no penalty for guessing. If the format lets you flag items, mark the ones you are unsure of and return to them after finishing the rest. Keep an eye on the clock and do not spend more than about a minute on any single question.
Note your score and, if you did not pass, immediately check the retake procedure and any waiting period. Confirm how and when your completion card or certificate will be issued.
Rules to check
Complete all required instructional hours. The OSHA 10-hour course requires the full 10 hours of instruction (7.5 hours for online versions, which build in break time). Partial attendance generally means no completion card, regardless of quiz score (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Online courses typically track time and activity. Do not leave the screen idle or switch away from the course for long periods; inactivity prompts may pause or void your time. Do not refresh, close, or navigate away from an active quiz, or you may lose your answers and your attempt.
Bring the ID your provider requires, and make sure the name matches your registration. If you have a name change or a nickname on your account, resolve it with the provider before exam day, not during it.
Use only the resources your provider allows. Unauthorized notes, a second device, another person in the room, or someone else answering for you can void your completion and may be reported. Ask in advance whether the quiz is open-book (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Breaks are generally permitted between modules but not during a timed quiz. If you need an accommodation for a disability or language issue, request it from the provider well before the exam date.
Scoring is typically a percentage of correct answers with a passing threshold around 70%, and some providers limit the number of retakes or require the entire course to be repeated after a set number of failures. Confirm your course's exact scoring and retake rules before you begin (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Your completion card is issued by the training provider through the OSHA Outreach Training Program. Keep the card and any certificate; employers and some job sites may ask for it, and replacement procedures and fees are set by the provider.