Forklift License in Alaska: Cost of Taking the Training & Salary

Obtaining a forklift license in Alaska has become tight and stringent. Operators and employers could be heavily fined if accidents involving forklift will occur at the workplace.

Alaska imposes the legislation and rules for forklifts operation governing industrial workplace safety and health. The AKOSH enforces the law for compliance of everyone at the workplace performing work using powered truck such as the forklift.

To get forklift job in Alaska, you need to be certified and here’s what you need to do to get a forklift license:

If you are searching a career as a forklift operator. these guides can help you on your journey:

• Finding Jobs as Forklift Operator with No Prior Experience
• Is Operating Forklifts the Right Job For Your
• How to Turn Your Job into a Lifetime Career
• Shifting to Another Job as Forklift Driver 
• What You Need to Know When Choosing Your Career
• When to Shift to a New Job
  

How to Get a Forklift License

1. Contact a certified trainer or accredited schools that provide OSHA-standard certification course. The course usually takes 1-2 days. Refer to below list of training schools in Alaska.

2. If you are an employer and desiring that the certification course be conducted at your company premises, the trainer or school can provide an on-site training course. This is ideal because they can suit the training curriculum to match the level of competency your operators have and an actual working environment they worked in.

3. Comply with the requirements. The minimum requirements to undertake the certification course: the students must be at least 18 years and above, a high school graduate or completed GED certificate, must be physically fit. Enroll in the schedule and attend the classroom and actual forklift operation on-site. 

4. During classroom presentation, trainers teach topics on safety measures, laws pertaining to forklift standards, OSHA rules and regulations, hazard analysis, risk coverage, emergency preparation, basic first aid, load calculation, hazardous material handling, warehouse inventory.

5. There will be questions and answers part of the course, and at the end of the lectures, students will undertake a written examination.The on-site actual forklift operation course follows. The on-site class covers many of the important topics, as students will gain more knowledge attending this part. It covers pre-operation inspection, safety driving, load calculation, safety tips, basic troubleshooting, lifting loads to bring at height, moving loads from one location to the next, post-operation procedure. The students must apply they gained from the classroom lectures and demonstrate actual operational competency driving two or more types of forklift trucks.

6. Upon completion of the course, and the student has been assessed, they will be given certification. You can take the certification with you when applying for a forklift driver position, certainly, you will have an edge getting accepted. If you are company-sponsored, getting certified will give you the chance to become their on-site trainer.

7. The forklift license or certification has a validity of 3 years.

READ these guides to assist you in taking the required forklift training:

• How to Become OSHA Certified
• Where You Can Go to Get Trained and Certified Operating the Forklifts
• 8 Mindful Tips to Help You Choose Forklift Training School
• Requirements Forklift Operators Must Have Before Taking a Training Course
• How Much Does It Cost to Become OSHA Certified
• How Long Does It Take to Get Certified
• How to Renew the Forklift Certification
• Is Online Certification Right For You
• When to Take Retraining
• Fines and Penalties
• What are Your Job Descriptions and Responsibilities as Forklift Operator

Forklift Training Schools in Alaska

New operators and employers alike hire a third party company to supply them the training. These companies have the facilities and competent trainers to comply with OSHA standard. Therefore, enrolling for a forklift training being scheduled by the training companies are the best way to suit your need. Here are companies in Alaska:

Forklift Certification Cost

Schools or trainers who provide OSHA and Alaska compliant forklift training course usually accepts company sponsored or walk-in applicants.

To name a few, here are some of the forklift training schools in Alaska: US Forklift Certification, Alaska Warehouse Specialist, Inc., IVES Training Group.

I take for example of IVES Training Group; they can provide certification course in many parts of Alaska, whether you’re in Fairbanks, Juneau, Anchorage, Bethel, Kodiak, Wasilla, Ketchikan, Kenai, Sitka or anywhere in Alaska, conducting the training program at employer’s site location tends to cost more.

However, for an absolute beginner, taking 1-2 days training program, could cost you $150 to $250 to attend the course. Recertification costs much less.

Forklift Operator Salary in Alaska

According to Salary.com, as of October 31, 2018, the salary of forklift operators working in different cities of Alaska are as follows:

There’s good chance that you can flourish your career driving forklift in this state because the demand is huge. Aside from that, overtime pay may exceed your daily earning due to high work volume. 

Alaska is the highest paying state for forklift operators. To check salary of other states and cities, check this out:

Do You Know How Much An Operator Makes (by city and state)?

• Salary of Forklift Operators by State/City
  

Governing Agencies

For policies, rules, legislation and workplace safety matters, you may contact the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health and OSHA Alaska https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/stateprogs/alaska.html.

You can personally visit the DOL at this address:

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
1111 W. 8th Street, Room 304
Juneau, Alaska 99801-1149
(907) 465-2700

Municipalities of AK

Anchorage, municipality, Fairbanks, Juneau, and, borough, Sitka and borough, Ketchikan, Wasilla, Kenai, Kodiak, Bethel, Palmer, Homer, Unalaska, Barrow, Soldotna, Valdez, Nome, Kotzebue, Petersburg, Seward, Wrangelland, borough, Dillingham, Cordova, North, Pole, Houston, Craig, Hooper Bay, Akutan, Sand, Point, Delta, Junction, Chevak, King, Cove, Selawik, Togiak, Mountain, Village, Emmonak, Hoonah, Klawock, Kwethluk, Unalakleet, Gambell, Alakanuk, Point, Hope, Savoonga, Quinhagak, Noorvik, Toksook, Bay, Fort, Yukon, Kotlik, Pilot, Station, Shishmaref, Kake, Stebbins, Wainwright, New, Stuyahok, St., Mary's, Aniak, Nunapitchuk, St., Paul, Scammon, Bay, Thorne, Bay, Galena, Angoon, Gustavus, Manokotak, Chefornak, Buckland, Marshall, Saxman, Napaskiak, Nuiqsut, St.Michael,