COC (Recertification)
Ongoing Professional Development
The COC (Recertification) program for those holding the CSP addresses continuing professional development. CSPs must earn 25 points every five years from activities in ten categories detailed in the COC Guide and Worksheet on the right. Activities in these categories emphasize staying current in the profession through continued education and learning.
Schedule
COC (Recertification) cycles normally extend five years, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31. For those just achieving the CSP certification, the first COC (Recertification) cycle is longer than five years. It begins the day you become certified and ends on December 31 of the fifth full year following the start of your cycle. Those who fill out a COC (Recertification) Worksheet for their first cycle (over five years) can claim points from all activities during that cycle, but must abide by maximum points allowed in each category.
This 5-year cycle is based on the rate at which CSP practice changes. BCSP has determined that 5 years is a reasonable period to measure the activities in which a certificant engages to remain up-to-date with current trends in practice.
Tracking COC (Recertification) Points
You are responsible for keeping track of your own activities and COC (Recertification) points with supporting documentation.
Create a file for all COC (Recertification) materials. It is very important to establish a personal procedure for tracking COC (Recertification) points. At least once a year you should review and update your records. A good time to check your records is when you receive the annual notice for your certification. You may prefer a file folder, pocket folder or a three-ring binder. You should keep the COC (Recertification) Guide, supporting documents for activities and a running list of COC (Recertification) points earned in your file. You want to record your points on a COC (Recertification) Worksheet as you earn them.
Retain original documentation supporting your claims for points. You will be required to submit supporting documentation if you are selected for audit and BCSP requests verification of activities and points claimed.
Evaluation of Continuing Education Courses
For many continuing education courses, the providers ensure that they comply with national standards established by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (www.iacet.org). Only courses complying with IACET standards (of 1 CEU = 10 hours of instruction) can award Continuing Education Units (CEUs). One CEU equals one COC (Recertification) point for students and instructors.
BCSP does not evaluate courses for CEU credit or award CEUs. BCSP relies on compliance with IACET standards to help ensure quality in the educational offering and recognizes the CEU as a measure of course credit. If the course does not offer CEU's you may still claim points according to the requirements under Category 7 of the COC Guide.
As a rule, BCSP does not pre-approve courses or seminars for COC (Recertification) credit. Our criterion is the content should be safety-related. Basically, that means anything that appears on the blueprint for the exams. For additional information, please download the COC Guide.
Certification Alignment
Because many CSPs also hold Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) or Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) certification, BCSP has created a policy to align BCSP COC (Recertification) and American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) Certification Maintenance (CM) and BCSP COC (Recertification) and Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM) Recertification. The policy is:
• Once a CSP has been asked to report at the end of his/her COC (Recertification) cycle, he/she may submit the most recent, official letter of compliance from ABIH or IHMM in place of a COC (Recertification) Worksheet (BCSP recommends including your current contact information and CSP number with this letter). BCSP will accept this as meeting COC (Recertification) requirements. BCSP then adjusts the dates of the COC (Recertification) cycle when the initial alignment is made. However, subsequent COC (Recertification) and ABIH CM or IHMM COC (Recertification) cycles will be aligned to the same five-year cycle. Future COC (Recertification) reporting may continue to be made with the official letter of compliance from ABIH or IHMM.
• Even if a CSP submits an official letter of compliance from ABIH or IHMM in place of a COC (Recertification) Worksheet, the CSP is still subject to the possibility of audit. If audited, the CSP is required to submit all supporting documentation along with an ABIH CM Worksheet, IHMM Recertification Assessment Form or a COC (Recertification) Worksheet in order to meet the audit requirements. If the CSP was also audited on their most recent ABIH CM Worksheet or IHMM Recertification Assessment Form, then BCSP will accept proof of meeting an ABIH or IHMM audit as proof of meeting a BCSP audit. Once the COC (Recertification) audit requirements are met, BCSP will align the COC (Recertification) cycle to the most recent ABIH CM or IHMM Recertification cycle as stated above.
• If a CSP encounters a hardship situation and requests in writing either a Leave of Absence or Extension to their COC (Recertification) cycle, a COC (Recertification) Worksheet is required.
• Finally, all CSPs are still subject to COC (Recertification) rules and procedures even if they hold dual certification. If a CSP fails to report or meet COC (Recertification) requirements, then the CSPs certification will become invalid as stated in the COC Guide. If there are any questions regarding the alignment of COC (Recertification) and ABIH CM or IHMM Recertification cycles, please contact BCSP Customer Service for further clarification.
