By Safety-Video · Published Prices as shown on qsafetyacademy.com, October 14, 2026
Competent person training online gives the person your employer designates the knowledge each construction standard expects. OSHA requires the employer to designate the competent person; a course supports that designation but does not confer it. Under 29 CFR 1926.32(f), the competent person can identify existing and predictable hazards and has the authority to correct them promptly.
Q Safety Academy sells a separate course for each competent-person duty. Pick the course that matches the hazard on your site, then document the designation, the site-specific instruction, and your evaluation of the person.
Competent Person Fall Protection 4 Hour (OSHA) · $100 · 4 hours
Each course ends with a certificate of completion from Q Safety Academy. The certificate documents the training; the competent person designation still comes from your employer. Keep the certificate with the written designation, your notes on site-specific instruction, and your evaluation of the person on the job.
An online course does not replace the hands-on and site-specific evaluation your employer still has to perform.
Choose an EM 385 version only when your contract specifies EM 385-1-1. For other construction work, the OSHA version matches the 1926 standard.
Train Competent Persons In-House
If you designate competent persons across several sites, a train-the-trainer course lets your own trainer deliver the material. Compare the train-the-trainer courses.
Competent Person Training FAQ
Does competent person training make someone a competent person?
No. OSHA requires the employer to designate the competent person. The course covers the hazard and the standard; your designation, site-specific instruction, and evaluation complete the process.
Is competent person certification an OSHA card?
No. These courses issue a certificate of completion from Q Safety Academy. They are not OSHA Outreach courses and do not issue a Department of Labor card.
Can you take competent person training online?
Yes. An online course covers the standard and the hazards. The employer still confirms on site that the person can recognize the hazards and correct them.
Do trenching and excavation need a separate competent person course?
Yes. Each standard assigns its own competent person duties, so excavation, scaffold, fall protection, and confined space each have a separate course. One person can hold several designations when trained for each.
Should I buy the 4-hour or the 8-hour course?
Buy the 8-hour EM 385 course when your contract specifies EM 385-1-1. Otherwise, the 4-hour OSHA course is the lower-cost choice; pick the 8-hour OSHA version when you want more seat time for the same standard.