To obtain a forklift license in the US, operators must undergo classroom and hands-on training and recertify every three years. OSHA oversees training and offers two options: employer-provided or third-party certification. Different types of forklifts require specific training, and employer-provided training is site-specific. Third-party training must meet OSHA standards, and employers are responsible for ensuring quality training. Forklift safety requirements vary by industry, and additional requirements exist for marine and offshore operations.
Obtaining a forklift license or certification in the United States involves classroom and hands-on training, as well as requirements for recertification every three years. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, oversees and establishes regulatory control over the training of industrial truck operators, or the licensing and certification of forklift trucks. OSHA offers two options for operators to obtain a license: employer-administered training or third-party certification. Both options must meet OSHA requirements for training, testing, and recertification.
Industrial power trucks, the umbrella term for all forklift trucks and similar equipment, include a variety of sit and lift options, fuel usage types, sizes and industrial applications. As such, an operator licensed to use a gas-powered forklift in a warehouse does not necessarily have sufficient knowledge to operate a propane, heavy-duty foot lift in a shipyard. Different types of forklifts are used in different types of industrial settings, which makes it difficult for OSHA to provide universal licensing requirements to suit all equipment and industries. Therefore, it is understandable that most OSHA standards focus on the results of individual training programs rather than the detailed program requirements.
The most common method for industrial truck operators to receive their forklift license or certification is through employer-provided training. With this method of certification, the employer provides classroom learning opportunities in addition to hands-on training on specific equipment within the facility. Classroom education includes proper safety procedures, principles of forklift operation based on the equipment each company uses, company policies, vehicle maintenance schedules, and training for site-specific topics such as hazardous conditions or materials within the installation. Hands-on training includes hands-on instructions to teach each operator how to safely use and operate each type of lift truck on the job site.
Employers can choose to train operators on each vehicle type separately or opt for comprehensive training on all equipment combined. Since OSHA requires site-specific training to be provided by each employer, earning a forklift license through employer-provided training allows the operator to run a forklift only for that employer. Such certifications do not transfer from one employer to another. For an experienced operator, a new employer may credit previous experience and certifications toward completing the new certification, but only after ensuring the operator meets OSHA compliance criteria.
Third party training, per OSHA standards, must meet the same requirements as training provided by the employer. If an employer accepts an operator with third-party training or requests assistance from a third-party training provider for forklift operators on staff, the employer remains responsible for the quality of operator training in accordance with OSHA guidelines. Every operator must have a forklift license or certification based on training that meets OSHA standards. It is the employer’s responsibility to bridge any gaps between third-party training and specific workplace knowledge.
Forklift safety, one of the main criteria of OSHA’s forklift license training requirements, varies from equipment to equipment, employer to employer and industry to industry. Where appropriate, such as in the marine industries and offshore industrial operations, OSHA regulations specifically address additional requirements for training provided by employers and third-party vendors. Even with these additional requirements, from an operator’s perspective, obtaining a forklift license involves the same two options: on-the-job training or certification through a third-party vendor, with additional employer training on site specifications.
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