Forklift Operator Certification: What Is It and How to Get Certified

You can earn your forklift operator certification by taking an OSHA-approved course either in person or online. Many people choose to attend ... FindjobsCompanyreviewsFindsalariesUploadyourresumeSigninSigninEmployers/PostJobStartofmaincontent CareerGuideCoronavirusJobResourcesFindingaJobMoreResumes&CoverLettersInterviewingStartingaNewJobResumeSamplesPay&SalaryCareerDevelopmentCareerPathsCoverLetterSamplesCoronavirusJobResourcesFindingaJobResumes&CoverLettersInterviewingStartingaNewJobMoreResumeSamplesPay&SalaryCareerDevelopmentCareerPathsCoverLetterSamplesCareerDevelopmentForkliftOperatorCertification:WhatIsItandHowtoGetCertifiedForkliftOperatorCertification:WhatIsItandHowtoGetCertifiedByIndeedEditorialTeamFebruary10,2022TwitterLinkedInFacebookEmailCopytoClipboardForkliftoperatorsuseindustrialtruckstoliftandcarryheavyloads.Todriveaforklift,however,youmustbecertified.Thiscertificationinvolvesseveraldaysofclassroomandhands-ontraining,pluspassinganexam.Inthisarticle,wedescribethestepstobecomecertifiedandanswercommonquestionsabouttheprocess.Whatisaforkliftoperator?Aforkliftoperatorisaprofessionalwhoisresponsiblefortransportingheavymaterialsusingindustrialmachinery.Forkliftoperatorstypicallyworkunderthesupervisionofwarehousemanagers,supplychainmanagersorforemenatconstructionsites.Manyorganizationsrelyonforkliftdriverstomovelargeorheavyobjectssafely.Whatisaforkliftoperatorcertification?TheOccupationalSafetyHealthAdministration(OSHA)requiresforkliftoperatorstobecertifiedbeforeoperatingalifttruck,forkliftorwarehouseproduct.Forkliftcertificationismandatorytohelpreducethenumberofinjuriesduetounsafeoperationofequipmentintheworkplace.Whyisforkliftoperatorcertificationimportant?Companiesuseforklifts,alsoknownas“poweredindustrialtrucks”or“lifttrucks,”tomovelargeorheavyobjectsaroundwarehouses,storagefacilitiesandconstructionsites.Sincethesemachinescarrysuchlargeloads,safetyforthedriverandotheremployeesisimportant.Focusedandtrainedoperatorshelppreventaccidentssuchasoverturnedforkliftsandworkerinjuries.Togetajobasaforkliftoperator,youmustbecertifiedbyOSHAsoyouknowhowtoproperlyrunthemachineandreducetherisksassociatedwithit.Simplyput,youcannotlegallyoperateaforkliftifyou’recertified.Whenyouearncertification,youhelpyourselfby:ReducingtheriskofinjuryBeingwelltrainedonvariousequipmentContributingtojobstabilityandpossiblepromotionsOSHArequiresforkliftoperatorstogetcertifiedtopreventunsafedrivingandinjuries.Byensuringtheiroperatorsarecertified,employerscanbenefitfrom:SaferworkplacesLessequipmentandpropertydamageMoreproductivityandlesstimeandmoneylostduetomistakesandaccidentsGoodemployeemoralebecausetheemployercaresaboutitsworkers'well-beingLowerinsuranceratesReducedriskoflawsuitsForkliftoperatorcertificationalsoincludesequipmentinspectiontrainingandbasicrepairs,whichcanhelppreventforkliftmalfunctionandextendthetruck'slifespan.IfOSHAdiscoversaforkliftoperatorisnotcertified,itcanimposelargefinesontheemployerforeachunlicensedforkliftoperator.Related:LearnAboutBeingaForkliftOperatorHowtoearnforkliftoperatorcertificationYoucanearnyourforkliftoperatorcertificationbytakinganOSHA-approvedcourseeitherinpersonoronline.Manypeoplechoosetoattendtraininginpersonthroughavocationalschooloralocalcompany.Thesecoursesincludeclassroomwork,awrittentestandhands-ontrainingandevaluation.Herearethestepstotakeifyouarewanttobeacertifiedforkliftoperator:1.DeterminethetypeofforkliftcertificationYoushouldreceivetrainingfromyouremployerrelatedtothetruckyouwillbeoperating.TherearesevenclassesofpoweredindustrialtrucksasdefinedbyOSHA:Class1:Electricmotor,sit-downrider,counterbalancedtrucks(solidandpneumatictires)Class2:Electricmotornarrowaisletrucks(solidtires)Class3:Electricmotorhandtrucksorhand/ridertrucks(solidtires)Class4:Internalcombustionenginetrucks(solidtires)Class5:Internalcombustionenginetrucks(pneumatictires)Class6:Electricandinternalcombustionenginetractors(solidandpneumatictires)Class7:Roughterrainforklift(pneumatictires)Related:12DifferentTypesofForkliftsandWhenToUseThem2.SignupforacertificationcourseFindanOSHA-approvedtrainingprograminyourarea.Youcanfindthesethroughyouremployer,forkliftdealersandlocalcommunitycollegesorvocationalschools.Therearetwophasestocertification:classroom-styletrainingandhands-onevaluation.3.TakeclassesThefirstpartofforkliftoperatortrainingiscourseworkthatincludessafety,OSHArules,drivingtechniquesandforkliftmaintenance.ThetrainingclassmustmeetOSHAstandards.Theseclassestypicallylastatotalofsixtoeighthours.Theymightincludelectures,videosorwritteneducationalmaterials.4.PasstheexamAfteryouhavefinishedyourclasswork,youwilltakeawrittenexam.Studentstypicallyneedtoscoreatleast75%tocontinueintheirtraining.5.Completehands-ontrainingOnceyoupasstheexam,youwillneedtodemonstrateyourforkliftskillsthroughtrainingandpracticingonforkliftequipment.Thismightincludeforkliftinspection,loadingmaterials,liftingloads,navigatingtightspacesandworkingoninclines.Thetrainerwillgradeyoubasedonyourskills,safetyandefficiency.Ifyoualreadyworkforacompanythatusesforklifts,thistrainingmightoccuratyourworkplaceandyouremployermightbetheonetoevaluateyourabilities.Related:HowToBecomeaForkliftTrainer6.ReceiveafinalevaluationTheinstructorwillevaluateyouroverallperformancebasedonyourdrivingratingandwrittenexamscore.Ifbotharesatisfactory,youcanbecomecertified.Notethatonlyyouremployeroraqualifiedtrainerwillmakethefinaldeterminationtocertifyyoutooperateaforklift.Oncecertified,youwillreceiveaforkliftlicenseyoucanshowemployerswhenapplyingforjobs.Thiscertificatewillincludeyourname,yourtrainingandevaluationdateandthepersonwhotrainedandevaluatedyou.ForkliftcertificationFAQsHereareanswerstofrequentlyaskedquestionsyoumighthaveaboutgettingyourforkliftoperatorcertification:Howmuchdoesforkliftoperatorcertificationcost?Trainingandcertificationcostsvarydependingontheprogram.In-persontrainingtypicallycostsbetween$150and$200,whileonlinecoursescancostaslittleas$50.Sinceemployersarerequiredtohavecertifiedforkliftoperators,somecompaniesmightpayforyourtraining.Howlongdoesforkliftoperatorcertificationtaketocomplete?Youcanusuallycompletebothyourclassroomandhands-ontrainingandcertificationwithinonetotwodays.Aredifferentcertificationsneededfordifferentforklifttypes?Thewrittenexamcoversalltypesofequipment.Itistheemployer’sresponsibilitytoensureoperatorsareproperlytrainedandcapableofoperatingtheequipmentspecifictoeachcompany.WherecanIgetcertified?Ifyouarecurrentlyemployedandneedtobecomeforkliftcertified,itisyouremployer'sresponsibilitytoprovideyouwiththeappropriatetraining.Otherwise,youcanfindOSHA-certifiedprogramsatalocalcommunitycollege,vocationalschoolorforkliftdealer.Howlongdoesmycertificationlast?OSHArequiresforkliftoperatorstoberecertifiedeverythreeyears.Youalsowillhavetobere-evaluatedif:Youareinvolvedinanaccidentornear-missincident.Youareobservedoperatingtheequipmentunsafely.Youhaveadeficiencyinyourevaluation.YouareassignedtoadifferenttypeofforkliftYouremployeemakeschangestotheworkplacethatmightaffectsafeoperation.DoIneedadriver’slicense?No,itisnotarequirementunderfederalOSHAlawstohaveavaliddriver’slicensetooperateaforklift.Aforkliftoperatorcertificationisentirelyseparatefromadriver’slicense.DoIneedtopassahearingorvisiontest?Whileforkliftoperatorsdonotneedtotakehearingandvisiontests,itistheemployer'sresponsibilitytomakesuretheoperatorcandrivethetrucksafely.Ifanemployerknowsaforkliftoperatorisvisuallyimpaired,deaforhardofhearingandstillallowsthemtooperatetheequipment,theycangetfinedbyOSHAforhavinghazardousworkconditions.DoIneedongoingeducationortraining?Youonlyneedtogetretrainingorrefreshertraining,whichtheemployertypicallyprovides,if:Youhavebeenoperatingaforkliftdangerously.Youhavebeeninvolvedin(oralmostinvolvedin)aforkliftaccident.Youneedtooperateadifferenttypeofforklift.Yourtypeofworkplacehaschanged.Youreceiveapoorevaluationfromyouremployeratthethree-yearmark.Inanyofthesecircumstances,OSHArequirestheemployertoprovidetheretrainingtooperatelegally.Related:WhatAretheDifferentTypesofWorkplaceTraining?Doforkliftoperatorrequirementsvarybystate?Whileallforkliftoperatorsmustbecertified,differentstateshavedifferentOSHAsafetyandhealthprogramswithmoreorlessstringentrules.Differentstatesmightalsohavedifferentemployerrequirementsandworkerrights.Tolearnmore,contactyourlocalOSHAoffice.Howmuchdoforkliftoperatorsearn?Workingasaforkliftdrivercanbeahighlyfulfillingendeavorforprospectivecandidateswhowanttopursuearoleinindustrieslikemanufacturing,constructionordistribution.Theaveragebasesalaryforaforkliftoperatoris$36,328peryear.Toworkasaforkliftoperator,youmustbe18yearsofageorolder,possessahighschooldiplomaorequivalentandbecertifiedasaforkliftoperatorunderOSHArequirements.Related:HowToWriteaResumeasaForkliftOperatorBrowsemorearticles8ReasonsToStudyDigitalMarketing(PlusJobsYouCanPursue)CorporateSponsorshipofNonprofits:HowDoesItWork?Wireframevs.Mockup:What'stheDifference?WhatIsSocialBookmarking?ADefinitiveGuideWhatIsCybersecurityDataScience?DefinitionandApplicationsWhatIsContractinginIT?(WithBenefits,ChallengesandTips)WhatIsaCorporateStrategy?Definition,TypesandExamplesWorkweeksinaYear:WhyTheyMatterandHowToCalculateThemWhatIsUXDesign?WhatIsGraduateSchool?WhyApply?WhatIsOperationsManagement?WhatIsScrum?ADefinitiveGuide