Forklift technician certification (CFT)

Updated October 28, 2026.

The Certified Forklift Technician (CFT) is a national certification from MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association), developed with the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and aligned with ISO standards.^[1]

What it involves

• A required 55-hour online e-learning course.^[1]
• An online assessment of 92 multiple-choice questions. Passing it alone earns the Certified Forklift Associate (CFA) certificate.^[1]
• A hands-on assessment of 20 key activities, delivered at a forklift dealership or technical school. Completing all parts earns the CFT.^[1]

How to get it

The program is offered through MHEDA member companies that become authorized training centers, and through technical schools that partner with them.^[1] If you work for or apply to a forklift dealer, ask whether they run the CFT in-house. Many dealers also train on their own brand (Toyota, Hyster-Yale, Crown, Raymond and others).

Does it pay off?

In Modern Materials Handling's 2026 survey, 87% of respondents said certification leads to higher starting wages, 82% said their organization is more likely to hire certified candidates, and 81% said certified technicians are better prepared.^[2]

Note: OSHA forklift operator training is a separate requirement for drivers, not a technician certification.

Many dealers train new technicians: see apprentice roles and field service jobs.

Sources

1. MHEDA, Certified Forklift Technician (CFT) Program. https://www.mheda.org/certified-forklift-technician-cft-program/
2. Modern Materials Handling, "2026 MRO Survey: The workforce behind warehouse automation" (Mar 1, 2026). https://www.mmh.com/article/2026_mro_survey_the_workforce_behind_warehouse_automation