WORK ZONE TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING

4-Hour Flagger Training

Learn the signals, equipment and positioning rules in Part 6 of the MUTCD, and how to find out what the job you are sent to requires. Online and self-paced.

Online, self-paced
4 hours
English

Course at a glance

Format: Online, self-paced
Length: 4 hours of instruction (240 minutes)
Assessment: Knowledge checks after each module and a final exam. You need 70% to pass.
Credential: A certificate of completion showing you finished flagger training. It is a training record, not a state certification or license, and it is not SST credit.

Flagger Training in New York: What This Course Covers

This 4-hour course trains you to work as a flagger in a temporary traffic control zone. It is built on Part 6 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the federal manual that sets out how flaggers are dressed and equipped, where they stand and how they signal. For construction work, OSHA's rule at 29 CFR 1926.201(a) requires flagging to follow Part 6.

There is no federal flagger card. Whether you need a card, and which training counts, is decided by the road authority, the contract or permit for the job, and your employer. In New York, state DOT contracts carry their own flagger requirements, and work on city streets may be governed differently. This course does not claim to meet any specific state or agency certification. Before you rely on it for a job, ask your employer what the contract requires.

You learn the four areas of a work zone and where you stand in them, the high-visibility apparel you must wear, and the stop, proceed and slow signals with a STOP/SLOW paddle and with a flag. You learn how to pick a station that gives drivers room to stop and gives you a way out, how two flaggers run a one-lane two-way operation, and what changes at night and in bad weather. The last module covers dealing with angry drivers and keeping your training record current.

The course is online and self-paced, with narrated slides and MUTCD figures in 12 modules. Each module ends with a knowledge check, and a final exam closes the course. You need 70% to pass. Seat time is tracked, so the course takes at least 4 hours. You will be asked to verify your identity.

What you'll learn

Built on Part 6 of the MUTCD.

Explain why there is no federal flagger card, and who decides what training counts on a job: the road authority, the contract and your employer.
Identify the four areas of a temporary traffic control zone and where the flagger stands in them.
State the high-visibility apparel class required in a work zone and what changes for a flagger at night.
Give the stop, proceed and slow signals with a STOP/SLOW paddle as MUTCD Section 6D.05 describes them, and know why a flag is never used to signal proceed.
Choose a flagger station that gives drivers room to stop and gives you a clear escape route.
Run a one-lane two-way operation with a second flagger without releasing opposing traffic into each other.

Course topics

Every module in the course, grouped by topic.

Part 1 · Who governs the work
- What a flagger is responsible for, and what this course does and does not qualify you to do
- Why there is no federal certification, and where card requirements come from
- What 29 CFR 1926.201(a) requires
- MUTCD Standard, Guidance, Option and Support
Part 2 · The work zone and you
- The four areas of a temporary traffic control zone
- Work space versus buffer space, and what the advance warning area tells a driver
- The abilities Section 6D.01 says a flagger should have, and what rules you out on a given day
- High-visibility apparel classes and colors, day and night
Part 3 · Devices and signals
- The three hand-signaling devices, and the flag's color and size
- Stop, proceed and slow with the STOP/SLOW paddle, and what the free hand does
- When hand movements alone are prohibited
- Flag signals, the signal that does not exist, and emergency-only use
Part 4 · Position, operations and the public
- Station position, escape routes and standing apart from the crew
- One-lane two-way control, flagger-to-flagger communication and pilot vehicles
- Lighting, weather and stopping distance
- Hostile drivers, training records and renewal

Credit & certificate

This course is not an NYC DOB Site Safety Training (SST) course. It does not count toward a new SST card or an SST card renewal. DOB's SST catalog has its own 1-hour Flag Person specialized elective.
It gives you a training record to show an employer. Whether it is accepted for a particular job depends on the road authority and the contract.

A certificate of completion showing you finished flagger training. It is a training record, not a state certification or license, and it is not SST credit.

Who it's for

Construction and utility workers who will be assigned to flag traffic around a work zone.
New flaggers whose employer or contract requires flagger training before they take a station.
Experienced flaggers who want a refresher on MUTCD Part 6 signals and positioning.
Foremen who set up flagger stations and need to know what Part 6 expects.

Before you buy

Format and schedule: Online and self-paced. Start any time after purchase; no class dates or location.
Certificate and credential: When you finish, Training Directory issues a course certificate.
Identity verification: No identity verification or proctoring is required for this course.

Questions

Is there a federal flagger card?

No. There is no federal flagger certification. Card and training requirements come from a state, a road authority or the contract for the job.

Is this a New York State flagger certification?

No. This course does not claim to meet any state certification. On New York jobs, the road authority and the contract decide which training is accepted, so check with your employer before you rely on it.

Does this course count toward my NYC SST card?

No. It is not an NYC DOB SST course. DOB's SST catalog lists a separate 1-hour Flag Person specialized elective for SST credit.

What is this course based on?

Part 6 of the MUTCD, 11th Edition, which covers temporary traffic control, and OSHA's construction rule at 29 CFR 1926.201(a), which requires flagging on construction work to follow Part 6.

Will I practice with a real paddle?

No. The course is online and teaches each signal using the MUTCD figures. Your employer may want to watch you give the signals before putting you on a station, and you should practice before your first shift.

What do I get when I finish?

A certificate of completion with your name, the course and the date. Keep a photo of it and give your employer a copy.

How long is my training good for?

There is no national expiration date for flagger training. The renewal interval comes from whichever agency or contract requires the training, so check the job's requirements.

Can I finish faster than 4 hours?

No. You can work at your own pace, but seat time is tracked and the course cannot be completed in less than 4 hours.

Need help choosing a course?

We're here to help you find the right training for your needs.

Ready to start?

Start as soon as your order is confirmed, and work at your own pace.