OSHA 30 Maritime exam-day guide
OSHA 30 Maritime · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring an unexpired driver's license, passport, or state ID. The name must match your registration exactly. If your registration name differs from your ID (for example, a nickname or a maiden name), confirm with the provider before test day how to correct it.
Provider registration confirmation
Bring the email or receipt showing your scheduled session, course title, and any confirmation or candidate number. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or a digital copy is accepted.
Know your exam format and time limit
Before test day, confirm with the provider whether the final exam is multiple choice, how many questions it contains, the passing score, the time limit, and whether it is open or closed book. These details vary by provider and are not set by this guide.
Confirm delivery method and platform requirements
Ask the provider whether the exam is taken in person, through a proctored online platform, or on paper. If online, confirm browser requirements, whether a webcam and microphone are needed, and whether a system check is available.
Confirm permitted reference materials
Ask explicitly whether you may use the OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1915, 1917, 1918), a calculator, or handwritten notes. Do not assume; bring only what the provider confirms is allowed.
Study focus: 29 CFR Part 1915 and related standards
Review shipyard employment requirements, including housekeeping, illumination, access and egress, confined and enclosed spaces, hot work, welding and cutting, fall protection, scaffolding, rigging, material handling, PPE, and health hazards. Also review the general-duty and recordkeeping concepts covered in your course.
Practice recalling key numbers
Memorize thresholds you were taught, such as oxygen content limits for entering confined spaces, permissible exposure limits, and scaffold and guardrail dimensions, but verify each figure against your course materials rather than relying on memory alone.
Plan your route and arrival time
For in-person testing, confirm the address, parking, and how early to arrive, and confirm with the provider whether late arrivals are admitted. For online testing, confirm the check-in window and log in early.
Rest and logistics the night before
Get a full night's sleep, eat before the exam, and charge devices. Keep water nearby if permitted. Confirm with the provider whether food, drink, or breaks are allowed during the session.
Backup contact for the provider
Save the provider's phone number and support email so you can resolve login or scheduling problems quickly on test day.
Plan the day
Re-read your course outline and the sections you scored weakest on. Take one or two full-length practice sets under timed conditions to build pacing. Review the standards you were taught, especially confined-space entry, hot work, fall protection, and PPE. Stop learning new material 24 hours out and consolidate what you already know.
Do a light review of key definitions and numbers only. Confirm your appointment time, location or platform, and ID requirements with the provider. Prepare your ID and confirmation documents, test your equipment if online, and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat a normal meal, arrive or log in early, and avoid last-minute cramming that raises anxiety. Have your ID and confirmation ready. If online, close other applications and silence notifications.
Read each question fully, watch for words like 'except' and 'not', and answer the easiest questions first if the platform allows navigation. Flag uncertain items and return to them. For scenario questions, identify the hazard, the applicable standard, and the control the standard requires. Manage your time so you can review flagged questions before the limit.
Rules to check
Bring valid, unexpired photo ID in the name used at registration, and be ready to show it at check-in.
Follow all proctor instructions. If online, stay in camera view, keep your workspace clear, and do not use unauthorized devices, notes, or materials.
Confirm with the provider in advance what materials, calculators, and references are permitted, and bring nothing else.
Confirm with the provider whether breaks are allowed, how they affect your time limit, and whether you may leave the testing area.
Answer every question unless the provider's scoring penalizes wrong answers; confirm the scoring method before the exam.
If you fail or need to retake, ask the provider about retake eligibility, waiting periods, and any fees before leaving.
Report technical problems or interruptions to the proctor or provider immediately so the issue is documented.
Do not share, record, or reproduce exam questions after the test; treat the content as confidential.