Forklift certification in Texas

12 forklift programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these forklift programs, and Texas has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did. One school runs 7 of these 12 programs, so the typical figures lean heavily on its prices and results.

Forklift operators drive industrial trucks with a lifting mechanism and forks to move heavy and large loads around warehouses, storage yards and other worksites. No formal education is usually required, and a forklift may take only a few days to learn; training covers safety rules, many of them set by OSHA, and employers must certify that each operator has been properly trained.¹

In Texas, 9 of the 12 programs take students without a high school diploma and 3 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

All 12 are the same kind of program: forklift certification course.

See the 12 programs

How much does forklift certification cost in Texas?

$340 to $4,362 is what most forklift programs in Texas cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 12 programs with a price. All of them: $145 to $8,874

In the typical program

Finished the program: 94%
Working 6 months later: 59%
Earned a year, estimated: about $28,300
Length: 1 week

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Texas may also offer forklift training. How these figures are made

Is there free forklift training in Texas?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 13 people at 2 of the 12 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. Most forklift programs in Texas cost $340 to $4,362. Prices on this page run from $145 to $8,874.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 12 forklift programs in Texas approved for WIOA funding

12 programs

Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Forklift Certification
On-Target Supplies & Logistics Ltd. dba ReadyToWork
Dallas
No diploma needed
On-Target Supplies & Logistics Ltd. dba ReadyToWork, DallasForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$350
Program website, Forklift Certification at On-Target Supplies & Logistics Ltd. dba ReadyToWork
More details about Forklift Certification at On-Target Supplies & Logistics Ltd. dba ReadyToWork
Finished
98%
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 18 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
1,559
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$350
Program website, Forklift Certification at On-Target Supplies & Logistics Ltd. dba ReadyToWork
Forklift certification courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Forklift
North Texas Institute for Career Development
Fort Worth
High school diploma or equivalent
North Texas Institute for Career Development, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$23,900
Price if you pay yourself$2,574
Program website, Forklift at North Texas Institute for Career Development
More details about Forklift at North Texas Institute for Career Development
Finished
95%
Working at 6 months
58%
Earned in a quarter
$5,964
Length
1 week, 4 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
397
Earned a year, estimated
$23,900
Price if you pay yourself
$2,574
Program website, Forklift at North Texas Institute for Career Development
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Sit Down Counterbalance
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$28,300
Price if you pay yourself$6,656
School website, Sit Down Counterbalance at The Hope Center
More details about Sit Down Counterbalance at The Hope Center
Finished
97%
Working at 6 months
68%
Earned in a quarter
$7,063
Length
1 week, 12 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
130
Earned a year, estimated
$28,300
Price if you pay yourself
$6,656
School website, Sit Down Counterbalance at The Hope Center
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Package of 4 Forklifts
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$26,500
Price if you pay yourself$8,327
7 students trained with WIOA funding
School website, Package of 4 Forklifts at The Hope Center
More details about Package of 4 Forklifts at The Hope Center
Finished
89%
Working at 6 months
57%
Earned in a quarter
$6,614
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
119
Earned a year, estimated
$26,500
Price if you pay yourself
$8,327
students trained with WIOA funding
7
School website, Package of 4 Forklifts at The Hope Center
Forklift certification courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
OSHA Compliant Forklift Training Program
CLC Incorporated
Fort Worth
High school diploma or equivalent
CLC Incorporated, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$21,200
Price if you pay yourself$750
6 students trained with WIOA funding
Program website, OSHA Compliant Forklift Training Program at CLC Incorporated
More details about OSHA Compliant Forklift Training Program at CLC Incorporated
Finished
93%
Working at 6 months
67%
Earned in a quarter
$5,305
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
85
Earned a year, estimated
$21,200
Price if you pay yourself
$750
students trained with WIOA funding
6
Program website, OSHA Compliant Forklift Training Program at CLC Incorporated
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Forklift Operator
Angelina College
Lufkin
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Angelina College, LufkinForklift certification course · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$30,900
Price if you pay yourself$145
Program website, Forklift Operator at Angelina College
More details about Forklift Operator at Angelina College
Finished
86%
Working at 6 months
58%
Earned in a quarter
$7,726
Length
1 week, 8 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
65
Earned a year, estimated
$30,900
Price if you pay yourself
$145
Program website, Forklift Operator at Angelina College
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Order Picker Forklift
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$32,600
Price if you pay yourself$3,598
School website, Order Picker Forklift at The Hope Center
More details about Order Picker Forklift at The Hope Center
Finished
88%
Working at 6 months
58%
Earned in a quarter
$8,142
Length
1 week, 6 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
24
Earned a year, estimated
$32,600
Price if you pay yourself
$3,598
School website, Order Picker Forklift at The Hope Center
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Walkie/Rider Pallet Jack
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$40,500
Price if you pay yourself$2,680
School website, Walkie/Rider Pallet Jack at The Hope Center
More details about Walkie/Rider Pallet Jack at The Hope Center
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
70%
Earned in a quarter
$10,117
Length
1 week, 6 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
16
Earned a year, estimated
$40,500
Price if you pay yourself
$2,680
School website, Walkie/Rider Pallet Jack at The Hope Center
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Walkie/ Stacker Pallet Jack
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$150
School website, Walkie/ Stacker Pallet Jack at The Hope Center
More details about Walkie/ Stacker Pallet Jack at The Hope Center
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 6 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$150
School website, Walkie/ Stacker Pallet Jack at The Hope Center
Forklift certification courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Forklift Operator Certification Cesa
Dallas College
Dallas
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Dallas College, DallasForklift certification course · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$312
Program website, Forklift Operator Certification Cesa at Dallas College
More details about Forklift Operator Certification Cesa at Dallas College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 32 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$312
Program website, Forklift Operator Certification Cesa at Dallas College
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Package of 6 Forklifts
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$700
School website, Package of 6 Forklifts at The Hope Center
More details about Package of 6 Forklifts at The Hope Center
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$700
School website, Package of 6 Forklifts at The Hope Center
Forklift certification courseIn personNo diploma needed
Clamp Truck (Sit Down w/Clamp)
The Hope Center
Fort Worth
No diploma needed
The Hope Center, Fort WorthForklift certification courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$8,874
School website, Clamp Truck (Sit Down w/Clamp) at The Hope Center
More details about Clamp Truck (Sit Down w/Clamp) at The Hope Center
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
1 week, 18 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$8,874
School website, Clamp Truck (Sit Down w/Clamp) at The Hope Center

How to pay for forklift training in Texas

WIOA funding can pay for forklift training in Texas

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for forklift training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for forklift training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Forklift certification in Texas

programs with a price cost under $1,000: 6 of 12
most forklift programs of any state, after North Carolina and Washington: 3rd

State comparisons use the same figures as the forklift training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Forklift certification in Dallas, Lufkin and other Texas cities

Dallas area11

Areas with 10 or more programs have a page of their own. Choosing another area filters the program list above.

Other training in Texas

How forklift training compares with the rest of transportation and logistics: Transportation and logistics training in Texas

Where the Texas forklift program numbers come from

Which Texas forklift programs are on this list?

These are the forklift programs Texas approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Texas offers.

How the prices and results of Texas forklift programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about forklift training in Texas

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Forklift certification in Texas

How much does forklift certification cost in Texas?

Is there free forklift training in Texas?

All 12 forklift programs in Texas approved for WIOA funding