What is OSHA Training Institute (OTI)?

The OSHA Training Institute (OTI) is the official training and education arm of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois, OTI develops and delivers occupational safety and health training materials, courses, and resources. Its primary role is to provide advanced training on OSHA standards and workplace safety practices and to extend this training nationwide through a network of OTI Education Centers (OTIECs).

What Do OTI Education Centers Offer?

To reach workers and employers across the country, OSHA partners with nonprofit organizations such as universities, colleges, and training institutions. These are known as OSHA Training Institute Education Centers (OTIECs). They are authorized to deliver OSHA standards-based training to workers, supervisors, and safety professionals in construction, general industry, and other sectors:

Specialized Training at OTI Education Centers:

• Hazardous Materials
• Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards
• Respiratory Protection
• Principles of Ergonomics
• Excavation, Trenching, and Soil Mechanics
• Principles of Scaffolding
• Electrical Standards
• Fall Protection
• Trainer Course in Maritime Industry Standards
• Disaster Site Worker Trainer Course
• OSHA Training Guidelines for Safe Patient Handling
• Public Warehousing and Storage
• Lockout/Tagout
• Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control
• Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
• Silica in Construction, Maritime, and General Industries
• Occupational Noise Exposure Hazards
• Introduction to Safety and Health Management
• Introduction to Incident Investigation
• Introduction to OSHA for Small Business

Do OTI Education Centers Issue OSHA 10 and 30 Cards?

A common misconception is that OTI Education Centers issue OSHA 10-Hour and 30-Hour Outreach Training cards. In reality, they do not. OSHA cards are issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Here’s how it works:

• Authorized Outreach Trainers (trained through OSHA 500/501 and updated via OSHA 502/503) deliver OSHA 10- and 30-hour courses.
• After course completion, the trainer submits student information to OSHA’s system
• The Department of Labor then prints and mails the official OSHA wallet card.

OTI Education Centers themselves do not print or issue OSHA cards. Their role is to authorize trainers who can then deliver OSHA Outreach courses.

Conclusion

OSHA Training Institute (OTI) in Illinois develops workplace safety and health courses that are delivered through OSHA Training Institute Education Centers (OTIECs) across the United States. These centers provide OSHA standards-based training, instructor courses, and specialized programs for industries such as construction, healthcare, maritime, and general industry. By training workers, supervisors, and safety professionals, OTIECs play a key role in improving compliance with OSHA requirements and creating a safer job sites. Their efforts equip organizations with practical skills that improve safety, protect health, and increase productivity.