OSHA 30 exam-day guide
OSHA 30 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
OSHA-authorized trainers are expected to verify each student's identity before issuing a completion card. Bring the ID you enrolled with, and confirm in advance which forms of ID your provider accepts - policies on expired IDs, digital IDs, and name mismatches vary by provider.
Enrollment confirmation and provider contact info
Bring your registration confirmation with the course title (30-Hour Construction or 30-Hour General Industry), dates, start time, and the trainer's phone number in case of a delay or location problem.
Confirmation of which 30-hour course you are in
Construction and General Industry are separate curricula. Verify your registration matches the card you need; switching tracks mid-course is generally not allowed.
Notebook and pen (or note-taking app)
Outreach courses are participation-based. Written notes help on any end-of-course assessment, and trainers often check engagement.
Any pre-course materials the provider sent
Some providers distribute reading, a syllabus, or pre-test links. Complete these before day one - confirm with the provider whether anything is required.
Exam format and passing score, confirmed in writing
There is no single national OSHA exam; the end-of-course test, if any, is set by the training provider. Ask ahead of time: number of questions, format, passing score, retake policy, and whether the exam is open-book.
Attendance/make-up policy, confirmed in writing
Outreach training requires full attendance across all 30 hours, and providers must document attendance. Ask how missed time is handled (make-up session, re-enrollment, fee) before you start.
Online-course tech check (if applicable)
For remote or online delivery, confirm the platform, whether camera/microphone is required, whether sessions are monitored, and whether you may join from a phone. Test your camera, mic, and internet the day before.
Language-of-instruction and accessibility needs
Ask whether instruction and any exam are in your preferred language and what accommodations are available. Arrange interpreters or accommodations in advance - do not assume they are available on the day.
Reschedule and refund terms
Know the provider's cutoff for rescheduling and whether fees are transferable, in case of illness or an emergency.
Card issuance timeline
Ask when and how your completion card will be issued (many trainers issue within a set window after course completion) and how to replace it if lost.
Means to stay comfortable for a long day
Thirty hours is typically spread over several days with limited hours per day. Plan for full-day sessions: water, snacks, and any medication you may need.
Plan the day
Re-confirm every logistics detail in writing: course track (Construction vs. General Industry), dates and daily start/end times, location or platform link, ID requirements, exam format and passing score, and attendance/make-up rules. Flag anything the provider cannot confirm.
Do a focused review of high-yield topics: the Focus Four hazard categories (falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, electrocution), PPE, hazard communication, ladders and scaffolds, excavation, electrical safety, and recordkeeping/reporting basics. Skim the table of contents of 29 CFR 1926 and/or 1910 so the citations feel familiar.
Resolve any conflict that could cost you attendance hours - travel, work shifts, childcare. Because attendance is documented hour by hour, an absence is harder to fix than a late arrival.
Pack your ID, confirmation, notebook, pen, charger, and any provider materials. Lay out clothes and plan your route or commute time.
If the course is online or remote-proctored, run a full tech rehearsal: log into the platform, test camera and microphone, confirm browser version, and identify a quiet, well-lit room with a stable connection.
Sleep a full night. Long-format training days reward attention more than last-minute cramming.
Eat a real meal, arrive or log in 15–30 minutes early for check-in and ID verification, and silence your phone.
Re-read your registration for the exact start time and room or link - do not rely on memory.
Attend every session and sign or check in as instructed. Note the daily break schedule and return on time; off-task minutes may not count toward the required hours.
Participate: ask questions, write down the trainer's answers to confusing points, and mark topics you want to review before any end-of-course test.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'always,' 'minimum,' 'employer,' and 'employee.' Many items turn on whether a duty falls on the employer or the worker.
Answer every question - an unanswered item is almost never better than a reasoned choice. Flag uncertain items, return to them if time allows, and confirm the passing score and retake policy before you submit.
Rules to check
Attendance is the core requirement: you must complete the full 30 hours of instruction. Partial attendance generally does not earn a card, and make-up of missed time is handled under the provider's policy - confirm it in writing before the course begins.
You must present acceptable government-issued photo ID, and the name on your completion card will generally match the name on that ID. Ask the provider about name-change or nickname issues in advance.
Do not have someone else attend, sign in, or take a test on your behalf, and do not share answers. Impersonation and cheating can result in denial of a completion card; online sessions are often monitored.
Breaks and lunch are set by the trainer. Leaving the room or the platform outside those times may reduce documented instructional hours - ask how the provider records time away.
Course completion cards are issued through the OSHA-authorized trainer who delivered the class, not directly by OSHA, and the 30-hour card documents training completion rather than certifying you as a 'certified' safety professional. Confirm issuance timing and replacement procedures with the provider.
Any end-of-course exam - its length, format, open- or closed-book status, passing score, and retake rules - is set by the training provider, not by a single national standard. Get those terms before test day rather than after.
Follow the provider's device and recording policy. Unless you are told otherwise, keep phones silent and do not photograph, record, or livestream instruction or exam content.
If a question on the exam seems to conflict with what you were taught, answer according to the course material and the cited OSHA standard, and raise the discrepancy with the trainer afterward rather than debating it during the test.