Occupational Safety and Health Workers

Certification or Licensing

Certification is offered by a number of professional organizations. Requirements typically include graduation from an accredited program, a certain amount of work experience, and passing a written exam. The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) reports that more than 90 percent of the employers advertising job openings in the magazine Professional Safety wanted job candidates to have a degree plus experience and more than half required the designation certified safety professional (CSP). In addition to offering the CSP designation, the BCSP also offers the safety management specialist, associate safety professional (ASP), safety trained supervisor (STS), and safety trained supervisor construction (STSC) certifications. Other organizations offering certification include the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly the American Board of Industrial Hygiene) and the National Fire Protection Association.

States require licensure for some occupational safety and health workers, depending on the job they do. For example, professional engineers must be licensed, although exact requirements may vary from state to state. In general, however, requirements include graduation from an accredited program, work experience, and the passing of written exams.