Occupational Health and Safety Technologist
Quick Jumps: Preliminary Designations + OHST Certificate Programs + OHST Review and Study Sources + OHST Retired Status
The Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
Occupational Health and Safety Technologists are persons who perform occupational health and safety activities on a full-time or part-time basis as part of their job duties. Some examples of occupational health and safety activities (also performed by loss control specialists) are making worksite assessments to determine risks, potential hazards and controls, evaluating risks and hazard control measures, investigating incidents, maintaining and evaluating incident and loss records, and preparing emergency response plans.
OHST candidates:
- May work part-time or full-time in occupational health or safety (35% is the minimum)
- Have duties that require technical skills and knowledge in occupational health or safety
- Must have five years of experience in occupational health or safety
- Must pass the OHST examination
Candidates may substitute college courses in health and safety or an associate degree or higher in certain disciplines for some or all of the experience requirement. Degrees that may be substituted for experience are noted in BCSP's education standards. Students in associate or higher degree programs in occupational safety and health may sit for the examination during their last semester.
To retain the OHST certification, individuals must:
- Pay an annual renewal fee
- Meet Recertification requirements
The OHST program is nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Interim Designations
Candidates not yet meeting the experience requirement may take the OHST examination. Upon passing the exam, candidates are awarded the Associate Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (AOHST) designation, a temporary designation that denotes progress toward the OHST certification.
AOHSTs may put "Associate Occupational Health and Safety Technologist" or "AOHST" after their name and they receive a wall certificate to display and a press release announcement. AOHSTs need not meet recertification requirements, but must pay an annual renewal fee (prorated the first year). Once all OHST experience qualifications are met, the AOHST is awarded the OHST certification.
BCSP will no longer award new AOHST designations after December 31, 2013.
OHST Certificate Programs
Candidates for the OHST may waive some of the experience requirement by completing a certificate program in safety and health recognized by BCSP. Certificate programs can be operated by either an academic institution or by a private or governmental organization.
Here is a list of certificate programs that qualify for credit toward the OHST certification:
- Central Maine Community College - Occupational Health and Safety Technologist Certificate (1 1/4 year)
- Texas Engineering Extension Service - Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)- Certified Safety and Health Official™ - (1 year)
- Keene State College - Region 1 Certified Safety and Health Official (1/2 year)
OHST Review and Study Sources
Because candidates for BCSP examinations often ask where to locate review courses and study materials, BCSP maintains a list strictly as a courtesy. For a detailed list, click on the Review and Study Sources page. Additionally, BCSP has created a Library of Safety Practice containing the most up-to-date source material for every domain on the exams.
OHST Retired Status
This status means a person is no longer active as a health and safety practitioner on a part-time or full-time basis. It does not necessarily mean that someone is retired from active employment in general.
Retired Status will be discontinued on December 31, 2013. To return to Active Status, Retired Status holders can reinstate before that date or reapply.
PDF Library - Application Forms
OHST Application Checklist OHST Candidate Handbook OHST Application Form OHST Experience Form OHST Reference Form OHST Experience Update FormPDF Library - Professional Development Assistance
Application Fee Waiver Brochure Department of Veterans Affairs Pays the Costs of a License or Certification TestPDF Library - Blueprints & Study Guides
OHST Exam Blueprint OHST Blueprint References Examination Reference Certificate Program Credit RequestPDF Library - Test Assistance
Self-Assessment Brochure and Examinations Order Form Computer-delivered Examinations through Pearson VUE Understanding and Interpreting Your Examination ScorePDF Library - Recertification
Recertification Guide (CM) PDF Library - Community
Certificate Replacement Order Form Retired Election Form BCSP Professional Advancement Mentor Form Literature/Tabletop Order Form BCSP Code of Ethics Criminal Conviction PolicyIf you would like to use BCSP certification logos, see our guidelines on BCSP Logo Use.
The Value of Safety
If you represent an organization that would like to use BCSP certification to foster an effective, efficient, and engaging safety culture in your work, please visit our Business Development page The Value of Safety.
