Two different things are both called health and safety training
The first kind is general awareness: an online course that explains hazards, risk assessment, manual handling or fire safety in plain terms. Alison, for example, says all of its courses are free to study and complete, and a certificate or diploma is an optional purchase afterwards. A course like this can help you understand a new workplace or prepare for an interview.
The second kind is named training: a specific card, test or course that a regulator, site operator, union or employer has written into its rules. Here the question is not whether the course was good but whether it is the exact credential the rule names, from a provider that rule recognises. A well-made free course can still be the wrong document.
Before choosing a course, find out which of the two you need. If a job advert, site induction email or union agreement names a card, you need that card.
United States: what OSHA says about 10-hour and 30-hour cards
OSHA's Outreach Training Program gives workers a 10-hour or 30-hour course completion card. OSHA describes the 10-hour class as hazard awareness for workers and the 30-hour class as more appropriate for supervisors or workers with some safety responsibility. Its FAQ is direct: the program is voluntary, OSHA does not require Outreach training, and the program does not meet the training requirements of any OSHA standard. None of the courses is considered a certification.
Some states, municipalities, employers and unions do require Outreach training. OSHA's FAQ says any decision about what will be accepted to meet a mandatory requirement must be made by the organization that mandates it. So the employer or site that asked for the card is the authority, not the course seller.
Online versions exist, but only through providers on OSHA's list of authorized online Outreach providers. OSHA states that it cannot validate training offered by vendors other than those listed. Cards are issued by the trainer or online provider, trainers have 90 days after completion to issue them, and OSHA does not keep its own class records. Construction, General Industry, Maritime and Disaster Site cards do not have an expiration date, though OSHA notes the program is an orientation and workers must still receive training on the specific hazards of their job.
Great Britain: employer duties and construction site cards
HSE's guidance for employers says health and safety training should take place during working hours and must be free for employees, and that staff need extra training when equipment or working practices change. If your employer needs you to complete safety training for your current job, the employer should arrange it. Paying for a certificate yourself is not the expected route.
Construction sites are a common exception where a worker-held card matters before you are hired. CSCS says that to apply for a card you must pass the appropriate level of the CITB Health, safety and environment test within the last two years, or an approved alternative, and hold a relevant qualification or proof of registration. The application fee shown on its page was 36 pounds, with apprentice cards free. CSCS says it does not provide tests, qualifications or courses, and that without the correct card for your role you may be refused entry to site.
A general online health and safety certificate is not listed by CSCS as a substitute for the CITB test. If a site has asked for a CSCS card, study for the named test and qualification instead.
Which proof fits which situation
This table is a summary of the official pages in the sources list, checked 30 October 2026. Rules vary by state, sector and employer, so treat it as a starting map rather than a ruling.
| Situation | Who decides what counts | What usually satisfies it | Where a free general course fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| US job advert asks for OSHA 10 or 30 | The state, city, employer or union that set the rule (per OSHA FAQ) | A card from an authorized trainer or an OSHA-authorized online provider | Background reading only; it is not an Outreach card |
| UK construction site asks for a CSCS card | CSCS card scheme and the site operator | CITB HS&E test passed within two years, or approved alternative, plus a qualification | Revision context only; CSCS names the CITB test or an approved alternative, not a general course certificate |
| Your current UK employer requires safety training | Your employer, under HSE guidance | Training the employer provides in working hours, free to you | Only if the employer chooses it as its training |
| You want general awareness for a career change | You, and any future employer who reads your CV | Any reputable course you finish | A good low-cost start; describe it as awareness training |
Checklist: confirm acceptance before you study
- Find the exact wording of the requirement: card name, level (for example 10-hour or 30-hour, Construction or General Industry) and any time limit such as a test passed within two years.
- Ask the person who will check it, in writing, whether a certificate from the course you are considering will be accepted. Quote the course title and provider.
- For OSHA Outreach online, confirm the provider appears on OSHA's authorized online provider list on the day you enrol.
- For UK construction, use the CSCS card finder to confirm which test level your occupation needs before booking.
- If you are already employed and the training is for your current job, ask your employer to arrange it; HSE says it should be free and in working hours.
- Keep the completion record, the date and the provider's contact details. OSHA does not hold class records; the trainer or online provider does.
Worked example: a warehouse applicant with two adverts (invented)
Sam is applying for two US warehouse roles. Advert A lists safety awareness as preferred. Advert B says OSHA 10 General Industry card required before start. A free general health and safety course with an optional paid certificate is a reasonable way to show initiative for Advert A, described on a resume as a safety awareness course.
For Advert B, the same certificate would not meet the stated requirement, because it is not an Outreach card. Sam emails the hiring contact to ask whether online Outreach is acceptable, then checks OSHA's authorized provider list before paying. The free course is not wasted, but it is not the purchase that unlocks Advert B.
How to describe a free safety course honestly
Name the course and provider, and use the words the provider uses. Alison says its courses are accredited by CPD UK following its publishing review process and asks learners to check their own organisation's guidelines; that is different from a regulator-issued card. A line such as Health and Safety awareness course, Alison, completed October 2026 is accurate. Calling the same course a certification or OSHA training would mislead an employer.
This guide summarizes official pages; we have not taken these courses or tested acceptance with employers. Sources accessed 30 October 2026.
Questions before you decide
Is OSHA 10 required by law for every worker?
No. OSHA's FAQ says the Outreach Training Program is voluntary and OSHA does not require it. Some states, municipalities, employers and unions do require it, and they decide what training they will accept.
Can I get an OSHA 10 card from any online course?
Only from providers on OSHA's list of authorized online Outreach providers. OSHA says it cannot validate training offered by vendors who are not on that list.
Should I pay for health and safety training my UK employer requires?
HSE guidance says health and safety training should take place during working hours and must be free for employees, so ask your employer to arrange it.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- OSHA: Outreach Training Program (10- and 30-hour cards) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- OSHA: Outreach Training Program FAQs Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- OSHA: OSHA-Authorized Online Outreach Training Providers Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- HSE: Decide what training and information you need Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CSCS: Applying for cards Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- CSCS: CITB Health, safety and environment test and alternatives Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: Are Alison courses CPD accredited/recognised? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Alison Help Center: How do I download my Learner Record? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.