Featured Courses
2026 8 Hour HAZWOPER Refresher

2026 8 Hour HAZWOPER Refresher

This convenient Hazwoper Refresher Course is updated annually to reflect any changes in regulation and...
Lithium Battery Safety

Lithium Battery Safety

Fires. Explosions. Environmental cleanups. Lithium battery failures are dangerous but often preventable. This new online...

View All OSHA Courses

image
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L
Accepted Nationwide
50,000+ Workers Certified
Instant Certificate

Scaffolding Competent Person Training

What Is eTraining's Scaffolding for the Competent Person Course?

100% Online
Self-Paced
Certificate Included
Mobile Friendly

eTraining’s Scaffolding for the Competent Person course is a comprehensive 5-hour online training program that covers all the important training that a competent person in this potentially dangerous area of work needs to have. The course covers OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451, the standard for scaffolding safety in construction, and goes beyond the basic awareness level of introductory courses into the details necessary for creating a safe working environment for those you may be responsible for.

In 2010 alone, OSHA reported 7,069 scaffolding violations in job sites across America, with 37 workers dying in scaffold-related incidents. This makes scaffolding the second-most cited violation behind fall protection, demonstrating the critical need for proper safety training. About 65 percent (2.3 million) of all construction workers in the United States depend on competent and safe scaffold erection, assembly, and safety training.

An OSHA competent person is a necessity on every job site and is someone who has sufficient experience and knowledge to recognize scaffold hazards, correct unsafe conditions, and has the ability to shut down the worksite until any hazards are corrected. The competent person should be the most knowledgeable person about scaffold safety on site.

The course emphasizes the importance of using a person fall arrest system as part of the safety protocols covered. The course is 100% online, fully self-paced, and accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

If your needs do not require a full, competent person-level course, we also offer a Scaffolding Awareness Course.

$49.00
Per person • No subscription required
Enroll Now
Topics Covered
  • Identifying and mitigating predictable hazards in the workplace
  • Hazard Recognition/Control for both existing and predictable hazards
  • Definitions
  • Scaffold Types
  • Scaffold Requirements
  • Safe Practice Usage
  • Fall Protection
  • Inspections
  • Emergency Response/Rescue
30-Day Satisfaction Guarantee • No Hidden Fees
50K+
Workers Certified
4.9★
Average Rating
100%
OSHA Compliant
Course Information

Everything You Need to Know
About This Course

01

Course Details at a Glance

Key facts before you enroll.

02

Who Should Take This Course?

Find out if this training applies to you.

03

Industries That Require This Training

See which sectors depend on this training.

04

What's Included

Everything that comes with your enrollment.

05

Try It Free

5-minute interactive course preview.

Course Overview

Watch a 90-second overview of the Scaffolding Competent Person Training — no login required.

Course overview video not available.

Enroll Now — $49.00

Try It Free — 5-Minute Interactive Preview

Experience the first 5 minutes of the course right here. No account or payment required.

Interactive Course Preview

5-minute preview of Module 1 — Scaffolding Competent Person Training
No login or payment required

Enroll Now — $49.00

What You Get When You Enroll

Everything included with your Scaffolding Competent Person Training training.

  • Approximately 5-Hour Online TrainingComplete online training covering OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 and scaffold types and inspection and competent person responsibilities.
  • Instructor Email SupportEmail an instructor at questions@etraintoday.com and receive a guaranteed response within 24 hours.
  • Downloadable Safety ProgramDownload a written Scaffolding Safety Program for consistent application of safety policies at your worksite.
  • Knowledge Check QuizzesComplete interactive knowledge checks throughout 6 main units to prepare for the final exam.
  • Self-Paced FormatTrain at your own pace with interactive exercises and video content.
  • Instant certificate of completionPrintable PDF, ready immediately after passing
  • Mobile-friendly platformTrain on desktop, tablet, or smartphone
  • Progress saved automaticallyStop and restart without losing your place
  • 30-day satisfaction guaranteeFull refund if you're not satisfied
Enroll Now — $49.00

Course Details at a Glance

Everything you need to know before enrolling in the Scaffolding Competent Person Training.

Detail
Information
OSHA Standard
OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L
Course Duration
Approximately 5 hours
Format
100% online, narrated with photos, video, and interactivity
Passing Score
70% on final exam
Certificate
Personalized certificate, printable immediately upon passing
Languages
English and Spanish
Device Compatibility
Desktop, tablet, and smartphone
Accepted
Our courses meet federal standards, but state requirements may vary. Please verify before purchase.
Price Match
eTraining will beat any competitor’s price; send proof and your order number, and we’ll refund the difference + $10.
Enroll Now — $49.00

Who Should Take the Scaffolding Competent Person Training?

Find out if this training applies to your role, your job site, or your employer's compliance requirements, and whether it matches the certification you need.

  • Scaffolding erectors and dismantlers with supervisory responsibilities
  • Construction supervisors and foremen on sites using scaffolding
  • Designated competent persons for scaffold operations
  • Safety officers overseeing scaffold erection and use
  • Project managers on construction sites with elevated work platforms
  • Workers responsible for inspecting scaffolds
  • Employers needing to designate qualified competent persons for scaffolding
  • Workers seeking advanced scaffold safety knowledge and certification
Enroll Now — $49.00

Industries That Require Scaffolding Competent Person Training

Employers across a wide range of industries use this course to meet federal, state, and site-specific safety training requirements for their workforce.

  • Commercial and residential construction
  • Industrial construction and maintenance
  • Bridge and highway construction
  • Building renovation and restoration
  • Painting and finishing contractors
  • Masonry and bricklaying
  • Roofing contractors
  • Structural steel erection
  • Shipbuilding and ship repair
  • Petrochemical and refinery maintenance
Enroll Now — $49.00
Why eTraining

Better Training.
Better Outcomes.

Over 50,000 workers trained. Here's what makes us the trusted choice for OSHA compliance.

OSHA Citation Printed on Every Certificate
Every certificate shows OSHA citation — so your employer and site safety officer can verify compliance at a glance.
No Setup. No LMS. Train in Minutes.
Pay once, get instant access — no account setup, no app downloads, no IT required. Works on any browser.
Built for Field Workers, Not Classrooms
Content is grounded in real hazardous waste site operations — not recycled classroom slides. Scenarios reflect the work your crew actually does.
Trusted by Safety Managers & Contractors
Used by EHS managers, general contractors, and federal site supervisors to keep crews certified on time, every year.
Certificate of Completion Preview
Instant PDF
Print-Ready
Shareable
Need Group Training?
Business accounts save 20%+ for teams of 20 or more
Learn More
Student Reviews

What Our Students Are Saying

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the Scaffolding Competent Person Training.

   Scaffolding for the Competent Person training is an OSHA-compliant safety program covering 29 CFR 1926.451. It provides approximately 5 hours of instruction on scaffold types, erection and dismantling procedures, inspection requirements, fall protection including person fall arrest systems, OSHA’s five most serious scaffold hazards (falling objects, falls, unsafe access, scaffold collapse, and electrocutions), and comprehensive competent person responsibilities. The course goes beyond basic awareness to provide detailed knowledge necessary to create safe working environments. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate of completion.
  OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 requires that a competent person be present on every job site where scaffolding is erected, used, or dismantled. Workers who need this training include designated competent persons for scaffold operations, construction supervisors and foremen overseeing scaffold work, scaffolding erectors and dismantlers with supervisory responsibilities, safety officers responsible for scaffold inspection and safety programs, and workers responsible for training others on scaffold safety. About 65 percent of all construction workers (2.3 million workers) in the United States depend on safe scaffold operations. The competent person must have sufficient experience and knowledge to recognize scaffold hazards, correct unsafe conditions, and has the ability to shut down the worksite until hazards are corrected.
  The course requires approximately 5 hours of instruction time. Because it is self-paced, most students complete it within one to two weeks. You can complete the training over multiple sessions at your convenience. Progress is saved automatically, so you can stop and resume on the same device at any time.
  In 2010 alone, OSHA reported 7,069 scaffolding violations in job sites across America with 37 workers dying in scaffold-related incidents. This makes scaffolding the second-most cited OSHA violation behind fall protection, demonstrating the critical need for proper safety training. Scaffolding hazards can result in serious injuries or fatalities from falls, falling objects, scaffold collapse, electrocution from contact with power lines, and unsafe access. About 2.3 million construction workers depend on competent and safe scaffold operations. Proper competent person training is essential to prevent these incidents and protect workers.
According to OSHA, the five most serious scaffold hazards are falling objects that can strike workers below the scaffold, falls from scaffold platforms due to lack of fall protection or guardrails, unsafe access to scaffold platforms including improper ladders or climbing methods, scaffold collapse due to improper erection, unstable foundations, or overloading, and electrocutions from scaffold contact with overhead power lines. This course covers all five hazards in detail and provides strategies for recognizing and controlling each hazard. The competent person must be knowledgeable about all five hazard categories.
  The course covers scaffold types and classifications, erection and dismantling procedures, inspection requirements and procedures, fall protection requirements including guardrails and personal fall arrest systems, access and egress requirements, capacity and load requirements, scaffold stability and foundation requirements, falling object protection, overhead power line safety and clearances, weather-related considerations, OSHA’s five most serious scaffold hazards in detail, competent person duties and responsibilities including inspection procedures, hazard recognition, training oversight, and enforcement authority, written scaffolding safety program development and implementation, and recordkeeping requirements. The course is divided into 6 main units with comprehensive coverage and includes downloadable templates for implementing a scaffolding safety program.
  You must score at least 70% on the final exam to pass the course. Knowledge check quizzes throughout the 6 units help prepare you for the final exam but do not count toward your grade. If you do not pass on the first attempt, you can review the material and retake the exam.
  Yes. While taking the Scaffolding for the Competent Person course, you have access to an instructor via email. Any questions you have about the material covered throughout the course can be emailed directly to questions@etraintoday.com and an instructor response is guaranteed within 24 hours. Instructors can help clarify safety rules related to scaffolding and OSHA regulations.
  Yes. As part of the training, you have access to a downloadable written Scaffolding Safety Program that provides for uniform, consistent application of policies. This template can be customized for your specific workplace and helps ensure compliance with OSHA recordkeeping and program requirements. The downloadable program is a valuable resource for implementing competent person responsibilities.
  A: Yes. eTraining offers the complete Scaffolding for the Competent Person course in Spanish. The Spanish version covers identical content including all scaffold types, OSHA’s five most serious hazards, inspection procedures, fall protection, and competent person responsibilities, meets the same OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 requirements, includes the same instructor access and downloadable materials, and results in the same certificate of completion upon passing. immediately, and maintaining inspection and training records. The competent person must be the most knowledgeable person about scaffold safety on the work site.
   Yes. The Scaffolding for the Competent Person course works on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Your progress is saved automatically on the same device, allowing you to pick up where you left off.
Enroll Today

Stay Compliant.
Stay Safe.

Complete your Scaffolding Competent Person Training online — at your own pace, on any device, with an instant certificate when you're done.

🇪🇸 Español
Desbloqueado

Completa los módulos en cualquier orden. Curso completo en español.

$49.00
Inscribirse

Your go-to source for workplace safety updates.

Join our monthly newsletter covering industry stories, news & timely updates, and get a free 110-page OSHA manual covering the latest training requirements.

no-img

eTraining and the eTraining logo copyright 2026 eTraining, Inc. All Rights Reserved.