Scaffolds · 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L
Scaffold Competent Person Training Online
Prices as shown on qsafetyacademy.com, October 16, 2026
Scaffold competent person training online prepares the person who inspects your scaffolds each shift and supervises erection and dismantling. Q Safety Academy offers a 4 hour OSHA course at $100, an 8 hour OSHA course at $150, and an 8 hour EM 385 course at $200.
The 4 hour course covers most construction sites. Federal work under EM 385-1-1 calls for the EM 385 version.
Competent Person Scaffold 4 Hour (OSHA) · $100 · 4 hours
Scaffold Competent Person Training Matches Two Duties in 1926.451
A competent person inspects each scaffold for visible defects before every work shift and after any event that could affect its integrity, under 1926.451(f)(3). Erecting, moving, dismantling, and altering a scaffold must happen under a competent person's supervision, under 1926.451(f)(7).
OSHA requires the employer to designate the competent person; a course supports that designation but does not confer it. The person also needs the authority to stop work and correct the hazard.
Competent Person Scaffold 4 Hour (OSHA)
Scaffold Competent Person 8 Hour Courses
Choose the EM 385 version only when your contract specifies EM 385-1-1. For other construction work, the OSHA version follows the 1926 standard.
Scaffold Competent Person Certification Is Your Written Designation
Each course issues a certificate of completion from Q Safety Academy. Keep it with the written designation, the scaffold types the person covers, and your notes on their site-specific instruction.
Under 1926.454(b), the people who erect, disassemble, move, or inspect scaffolds must be trained by a competent person. Workers who only use the scaffold get training from a qualified person under 1926.454(a).
Scaffold Competent Person Training Cost
| Course | Price | Length | Format | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competent Person Scaffold 4 Hour (OSHA) | $100 | 4 hours | Online | 1926.451 · 1926.454 |
| Competent Person Scaffold 8 Hour (OSHA) | $150 | 8 hours | Online | 1926.451 · 1926.454 |
| Competent Person Scaffold 8 Hour (EM 385) | $200 | 8 hours | Online | EM 385-1-1 |
For excavation, fall protection, confined space, and crane duties, see competent person training.
Related reading: Who Can Be a Scaffold Competent Person?.
Scaffold Competent Person Training FAQ
What does a scaffold competent person do?
Inspects scaffolds before each work shift under 1926.451(f)(3), supervises erection, moving, dismantling, and alteration under 1926.451(f)(7), and corrects hazards found.
Can you take scaffold competent person training online?
Yes. The employer still designates the competent person and should confirm they can apply the material on your scaffolds.
How long is scaffold competent person training?
Q Safety Academy offers 4 hour and 8 hour OSHA versions and an 8 hour EM 385 version.
How much does scaffold competent person training cost?
On October 16, 2026, Q Safety Academy listed the 4 hour OSHA course at $100, the 8 hour OSHA course at $150, and the 8 hour EM 385 course at $200.
Is there an OSHA scaffold competent person card?
No. The courses issue a certificate of completion from Q Safety Academy. The competent person status comes from your designation.