Learn About Certification for Safety Professionals

Written by Staff Writer | Edited by Michael Purser

If you have some level of safe workplace training and want to make a career move toward becoming a full-time expert on the subject, taking an advanced safety exam could be the logical next step. ASP certification puts you on a clear path toward becoming a dependable and certified workplace pro.

Even if you are just curious about the possibility of making the workplace safer as an ASP, it can be helpful to know what certifications (often called certs) are available and which are preferred for those in this industry.

Not sure what this certification entails? Want to make your worksite safer, but don't know where to start? Read on and get your digital certificate today!

What Is the ASP Certification and What Are Its Requirements?

The Associate Safety Professional (ASP) certification is a credential offered by bodies like the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) or the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). As one of the largest and most respected safe workplace accreditation organizations, the BCSP offers a variety of certs for different experience levels and career paths. The organization’s goal is to help workers like you achieve a standardized level of mastery in major workplace safety and compliance topics. Make your jobsite a safer place while advancing your career and earning more. Ready to learn more?

ASP Certification

According to the BCSP, “The ASP is for safety practitioners who have proven knowledge of safety, health and environmental (SH&E) fundamentals. Earning your ASP shows others you are serious about safety, confirms your knowledge and skills and advances your career.”

This is considered an entry-level cert, typically pursued by practitioners at the beginning of their careers or more experienced workers who are looking to formalize their knowledge of safe workplace practices.

Certification and Accreditation Bodies that Issue Industry-Standard Credentials

Let's learn about some of the most important and well-known organizations that issue these important credentials.

• ASSP: For more than 100 years, the ASSP has supported professionals who seek to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. It provides educational opportunities, participates in advocacy and assists in developing industry standards. It also provides career advancement opportunities through the various certifications it offers, including Risk Management, OHSMS and more.
• BCSP: The BCSP is a not-for-profit organization that has focused on helping safe workplace professionals since 1969. Since then, the organization has given over 100,000 credentials to help professionals protect workers. Its available programs include CSP, SMP, CHST and more.

Requirements

Although this program is designed for those earlier in their careers, it is not intended for those with no professional experience.

The requirements to take the exam for this cert include:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in any field or an associate’s degree in safety, health or the environment. An associate’s degree must meet minimum credit requirements in SH&E topics.
• One year of safety experience at the professional level including sufficient depth and breadth of safety duties. At least 50% of that experience must include preventive safety.

Do you have the skills, experience and education needed to start an ASP program?

Exam Prep and Employment

Preparation

Instead of cramming the night before test day, build a blueprint for success with a multi-step prep plan. Here are some tips:

Look for Ways to Increase Your Knowledge Early and Often

Take every opportunity to improve your knowledge of safe workplace practices. If you’re early in the planning process, you still have time to take additional courses, training and workshops. Additional education will help you build a foundation you can rely on.

Enroll in Specific Test Prep Courses

Some organizations offer test prep courses for various certs, including the ASP. These programs typically include study guides, reviews of test subjects and test-taking strategies so you can be as ready as possible to take your test.

Take Practice Exams

Various online platforms offer practice tests, which allow you to answer questions similar to those on the exam in an environment that closely mimics the testing experience.

Join Study Groups

You’re not alone in your goal. Many other aspiring test takers are looking for friends and support. Consider joining a study group or forum so you can interact with them for mutual support and encouragement.

Give Yourself Enough Time to Prepare

This is such an important step in your career. Don’t rush it. Hurrying your test preparation and taking the test before you are ready might lead to unnecessary frustration.

Familiarize Yourself with the Application Process

Before you apply, make sure you meet all the requirements to take the ASP exam. Double-check the education and work background requirements, file your paperwork and prep your computer for the test software.

Job Opportunities

Workers with ASP credentials are in high demand. Many businesses need a staff of dedicated personnel to satisfy compliance regulations. These positions are crucial in diverse industries across the country, leading to a vibrant job market for those with the skills to take advantage of it.

Potential career paths include:

• Health inspection
• Environmental management
• Risk control
• Hazard control
• Recycling
• Industrial hygiene
• And many more…

You may already be working in an industry that requires workplace safety specialists. If that’s the case, you may want to improve your credentials to advance in your current industry — climbing the ladder rather than seeking a new job. If you are interested in shifting to a different industry, there are plenty of opportunities once you have the right certs. Get started today!

Online Education Programs

You can never be too safe. You also can’t ever be too knowledgeable about safety compliance and best practices. Keeping a jobsite safe requires ongoing diligence and education, which is why so many jobs require hazard training or other coursework even for entry-level positions.

At OSHA Education Center, we provide the best in safe workplace education in a convenient online format — which makes it easier and more efficient for workers to get the education they want and need.

We offer a wide range of courses that can help bolster your expertise and prepare you for your career. Programs range from competent person training to national Outreach programs like OSHA 10 and OSHA 30, which meet OSHA requirements for an official Department of Labor (DOL) card.

Some of our most popular courses include:

OSHA 10

The OSHA 10-Hour course explores important concepts necessary to understand safe workplace standards in construction or general industry roles. It is an introductory course, ideal for those who want to start building a safer workplace. Some local laws or employers require an OSHA 10 card as a condition of employment, so you may be required to take this course for your job.

OSHA 30

The OSHA 30-Hour course goes beyond the basics and offers a more comprehensive education on hazard awareness and mitigation. Many supervisors take this course because it provides a firm foundation in correct practices to keep their teams safe in potentially hazardous work environments.

OSHA 1910 and 1926 Standards Training

These comprehensive and in-depth courses teach the important legal requirements behind OSHA’s standards. The 1910 training is designed for general industry, while the 1926 training is intended for those in construction.

Benefits of OSHA Education Center

We focus on making education easier for busy professionals. That’s one of the reasons why we are the preferred resource for online safety training.

You may not have time to sit in a classroom to get your education. Fortunately, you don’t have to. With our courses, you can study and test on your own time using the device of your choice.

Some of the advantages of choosing our courses include:

• Fully online courses — no need to go into a classroom
• Access lessons from your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone
• Study at any time, day or night
• We automatically save your progress so you can start and stop when you need to
• Instantly download your Certificate of Completion when you finish

We can help you achieve your career goals. Ready to take safety to the next level? Register for one of our courses today!