CCHEST Certifications

In addition to the Certified Safety Professional certification, BCSP administers certifications in safety and health for people working in technician and technologist positions. Some examples of occupational health and safety activities are making work site 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.

BCSP operates these certifications through their Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety Technologists, or CCHEST division. CCHEST, formerly the ABIH/BCSP Joint Committee, was started in 1985 and has operated the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST) program for over twenty years. In 1992, the Construction Divisions of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the National Safety Council (NSC) sought a similar credential for construction safety positions and for first-line supervisors in construction. From this initiative, the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) program was started in 1994 and the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) program in 1995.  In 2007, CCHEST began offering an experience-based certification for loss control practitioners, the Certified Loss Control Specialist (CLCS). CCHEST became a division of BCSP at the end of 2008.

These certification programs offer recognition among safety and health practitioners, demonstrate competence to employers and others, increase employee confidence in occupational health and safety programs, help improve company profitability through reduced incidents and losses, and enhance the company image. The CCHEST certifications are viewed by many in safety practice as a stepping stone toward career advancement along the path toward attaining the CSP credential.

If you want more information about these programs, contact CCHEST Customer Service or visit the CCHEST website.

The OHST/CLCS Para-Professional

The OHST certification, established in 1985, covers general health and safety practice. In 2007, the CLCS was added as a choice of examination and title. Both the OHST and CLCS examinations cover the same knowledge. Each is a four-hour, 200-item examination available every business day throughout the U.S. and Canada. Candidates for either must meet the same qualifications – five years of general experience in safety and health at a full-time or part-time (at least 35% of job duties) level. Academic education and approved certificate programs can substitute for part or all of the experience required.

Preliminary Designations

Candidates not yet meeting the experience requirement may take the OHST/CLCS examination. Upon passing the exam, candidates are awarded the Associate Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (AOHST) or Associate Certified Loss Control Specialist (ACLCS) designation. Both are temporary designations that denote progress toward the OHST/CLCS 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. ACLCSs may put "Associate Certified Loss Control Specialist" or "ACLCS" after their name and they also receive a wall certificate and press release announcement. AOHSTs/ACLCSs need not meet recertification requirements, but must pay an annual renewal fee. Once all OHST/CLCS experience qualifications are met, the AOHST is awarded the OHST certification or the ACLCS is awarded the CLCS certification.

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
  • 7 Steps to CSP
  • CSP Requirements
  • COC (Recertification)
  • Annual Renewal Fee
• Certifications and Designations
  • Certifications At A Glance
  • CSP
  • ASP
  • GSP
  • OHST/CLCS
  • CHST
  • STS
  • Recertification Quizzes
• Today's Safety Professional
  • Certification Shopping
  • The Ladder of Success
  • The Education Standard
  • 2009 Salary Survey
  • Hiring a CSP
  • BCSP Career Center
• Latest News
  • Social Media
  • FAQs
  • Academic Program Directory
  • Credential Holder Directory
  • Library of Safety Practice
  • Current Changes Index
• About BCSP
  • Staff Directory
  • Board of Directors
  • Careers with BCSP
  • Accreditation & Recognition
  • Scholarship Fund
  • Articles & Presentations
  • Mentoring
  • BCSP Store
  • W-9 Tax Id Form
  • CCHEST