Certificate Program Occupational Health and Safety

part-time 8 courses + 3-8 seminars 2-3 years start anytime

Our certificate program is designed to help practitioners from many different backgrounds develop the competencies needed to be effective in the development, implementation, and evaluation of occupational health and safety programs and systems in a wide variety of occupational settings.

In cooperation with several professional associations who share, believe and encourage the philosophy of Continuing Professional Development, the University of Alberta, is pleased to honor individuals possessing the following professional designations and encourage them to apply for exemption credit and receive credit (details) in the OH&S Certificate Program:

• CSO (Construction Safety Officer) offered through the Alberta Construction Safety Association of Alberta [website]
• MSO (Manufacturing Safety Officer) offered through the Manufacturers’ Safety Association [website]
• QSR (Qualified Safety Representative) offered through the Alberta Association of Safety Partnerships [website]

The OH&S Certificate Program is also a proud partner with Alberta Employment and Immigration - Health and Safety [website].

application for admission course registration transcript request exemption credit request graduation application

Program objectives

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy and safe workplaces
• Enhance the professional practices of people responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of occupational health and safety programs, systems, procedures, and techniques
• Develop the professional competence of people who practice, or aspire to practice, as occupational health and safety professionals
• Develop an understanding of, and the ability to apply concepts, principles, and practices involved in the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, prevention, reduction, and elimination of hazards, accidents, injuries, diseases, and disabilities to people in on-the-job situations
• Help prepare you for registration as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) as granted by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).
• Assist Registered Occupational Hygienists maintain registration with the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists (CRBOH) and the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).

Student audience

Program is designed for part-time students working in the field. The program will normally take two to three years to complete and must be completed within six years. It consists of 329 credit hours (6 core courses, 2 electives plus 35 hours of enrichment seminars). Note that seminars may not be offered every semester.

Intended for: practicing occupational health and safety professionals or those who aspire for a career in health and safety in the workplace, including occupational and industrial health and safety technicians, technologists, officers, coordinators, supervisors, consultants, educators, trainers, and administrators

Career opportunities: students and graduates of the program include police and security officers, environmental health officers, public health inspectors, construction and production foremen and supervisors, maintenance superintendents, occupational health nurses, industrial hygienists, engineering and instrument technicians, chemical technologists from business firms, industrial associations, employee and labour groups and government agencies

Program components

This is a practice-oriented, research-based, multidisciplinary program based on an integration of engineering, physical, chemical, biological, social, and psychological knowledge with problems and challenges in practice.

Program requirement

To recognize the need to flexibility and accessibility the OH&S program offers courses in various formats: four-day, three-weekend, two-weekend and evenings. Students registering in a condensed format offering are expected to have a solid understanding of OH&S concepts in order to be successful. These courses have a pre-course work component to be completed prior to the class start date; this course work will be graded. The pre-course information will be emailed to students two weeks prior to course start date. Please ensure your email address is current.

Core Courses — complete all six

Elective Courses — Choose 2

Enrichment Seminars — 35 required hours

Edmonton and beyond

The University of Alberta is proud to offer the Occupational Health & Safety Certificate Program in affiliation with the following institutions. This allows the student to complete the program and courses throughout Alberta.

• Calgary:
  We are pleased to announce our partnership with Mount Royal College in Calgary. Courses are administered by University of Alberta Occupational Health & Safety Certificate Program and are noted as Calgary location in the course listings.
  Whereas many courses are scheduled at the MRC college, courses may be held at other locations: EHSP map (PDF). Please take careful note of the location printed on your course confirmation.
  Additional seminars offered by Mount Royal College may be taken and credited toward your program:
  
  Seminars

  
  

  

  The University of Alberta, Faculty of Extension, OH&S Certificate Program is pleased to announce our partnership with Mount Royal College in Calgary [view map]. Please take careful note of the location printed on your course confirmation and attached map for details.

  Students should take note of the following courses available through Mount Royal College which can be applied for credit towards the OH&S Certificate Program. Please note there will be a $75 exemption fee - Exemption Credit Request form.

  Call Mount Royal College at (403) 440-6013 for information about these courses, or (403) 440-3833 to register.

  Seminars

  • Effective Workplace Communication [info]
  • Understanding Leadership [info]
  • Human Resource Basics for Managers [info]
  • Organizational Effectiveness & Staffing [info]
  • Organizational Learning, Development & Training [info]
  • Diversity Management [info]
  • Employee Relations [info]
• Ft. McMurray: Keyano College
  Website, tel. (780) 791-4858
• Grande Prairie Regional College
  Website, tel. (780) 539-2799
• Medicine Hat College
  Website, tel. (403) 529-3849
• Red Deer College
  Website, tel. (403) 342-3517

Enrolling in the program

Admission requirements

You are eligible for admission into the program if you meet the specified requirements:

• High School Diploma and at least two years work experience

If you do not meet all the admission requirements, you are still invited to apply for admission.

Enrollment procedure

1. Submit a completed Application For Admission form.
2. Submit a one-time only, non-refundable $75.00 admission fee.
3. Submit a completed Course Registration form indicating course selection. The Application for Admission and the Course Registration may be submitted together.
4. All applications must be accompanied with a high school OR post-secondary education transcript. If you attended a high school in Alberta, transcripts may be ordered from Alberta Education at 427-5732; if you attended high school outside of Alberta, contact the provincial department of education.

Graduation

The Certificate Program Graduation is held in June to honour students who have completed the requirements for a University of Alberta Certificate by the conclusion of the winter term. When registering for your final course , please ensure you complete the Graduation Application and submit no later than March 1st. Students must complete and return the Application for Graduation form whether or not they plan on attending the annual graduation ceremony.

Students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 to earn a certificate. Students achieving a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher will graduate with distinction.

Students awards

Graduate Award

An annual award of $500 is provided by Alberta Employment and Immigration to the graduate with the highest grade point average in the OH&S Cerificate Program.

Dick Martin Scholarship Award

As a student of the Occupational Health & Safety Certificate Program, you may qualify for one of three $3000 awards. An application form and requirements for this award are posted on the CCOHS scholarship website. Deadline for application is January 31 each year.

Alberta Employment and Immigration
Health and Safety Division Award

An annual award of $500 is provided by Alberta Employment and Immigration to the graduate with the highest grade point average in the OH&S Cerificate Program.

Health and Safety Conference Society of Alberta (HSCSA)
Health and Safety Award

HSCSA awards a $500 cash award to the graduate with the second highest grade point average in the OH&S Certificate Program.

Pembina Pipeline Corporation
OH&S Bursary

Two awards of $500 are available to students of the OH&S Certificate Program at Keyano College. For information contact awards@keyano.ca or 780-791-4894.

Our Friends

Join the growing list of organizations who support their employees' continuing professional development: