Safety Professional Designations
If you are looking to develop safety management skills, build your credentials or play a significant role in an organization’s health and safety administration, become an NCSO® or NHSA™. These national designations are recognized by all provincial and territorial construction safety associations across Canada that are members of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA).
National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®)
NCSO® certification is designed to recognize the skills of those who regularly perform a safety function in the field or on the jobsite. Certification requires an applicant to possess a minimum of three years of construction field experience.
National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™)
NHSA™ certification is designed to recognize the skills of those who undertake safety functions for their company at an administrative level. They may manage claims, promote safety, ensure the company follows health and safety regulations, maintain safety records and compile safety statistics.
What’s the difference?
The NCSO® designation requires 3 years of proven on-site construction experience in residential, commercial or industrial construction sectors. You are required to submit a experience letter from your employer or trade union when you apply.
If you do not have 3 years of site experience, consider the equivalent NHSA™ designation instead.
Compulsory Training
- Safety Management
- Safety Auditor Fundamentals (with proficiency)
- Leadership for Safety Excellence (with proficiency)
- WHMIS 2015 Train the Trainer – 2020 Edition
- Effective Claims Management Training
- Construction Safety Administration
- Confined Space Monitoring and Entry Training
- Contractor Training
- Basic Training Techniques
- Safety Construction Orientation Training (SCOT®)
Some courses require recertification every three or five years.
Elective Courses (any two)
- SCSA Fall Protection & Prevention Training
- SCSA Ground Disturbance for Construction
- WorkSafe Saskatchewan Level 1 & 2 Occupational Health Committee Training
- Danatec Transportation of Dangerous Goods
- St. John's Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid/CPR
- Enform/Energy Safety Canada H2S Alive
- Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan Ground Disturbance Levels 1 & 2
Skills of an NCSO® or NHSA™
Assist management to implement, maintain and monitor a company’s health and safety system.
Review and identify various health and safety issues specific to the work site and company operations.
Communicate effectively with government, OHS officers, management and workers on all aspects of health and safety.
NCSO® & NHSA™ Exam Preparation
Exams can be written at any of Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s test centres in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Moose Jaw or through remote proctoring.
To verify your exam eligibility, please email ncso@scsaonoline.ca or nhsa@scsaonline.ca
All courses and proficiencies must be completed and maintained to be eligible to write the nationally recognized exam.
Proof of NCSO® or NHSA™ maintenance is required to be submitted every 3 years.
Program requirements and fees subject to change without notice.
Standards
NCSO®
Exam Details
The exam includes various content from the previous NCSO courses taken. You are expected to have the ability to self-study and register for the exam when you are prepared. The exam is offered through remote proctoring hosted by Saskatchewan Polytechnic and in person at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s test centres located in Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
Once you are eligible to challenge the National Exam, you have a 6 month period for your first attempt, and 24 months to successfully complete the exam.
Photo ID is required on the date of the exam. The cost is $125.00 plus GST. A non-refundable pre-payment is required at the time of registration. You must abide by the Exam Guidelines and NCSO Code of Ethics during the exam. Failure to do so will result in immediate removal from the exam and a further penalty to be determined by the SCSA Vice President or Manager of Operations.
The exam is only available in English. The weighting of section scoring will not be released. You have a maximum of two hours to complete the closed-book, multiple choice exam. The exam requires a passing score of 75%. However, only a pass or fail indication will be revealed to you by letter. Under no circumstances will you receive a score in % nor will you receive the exam back. Exam marking may take 4-6 weeks.
Upon failure of the NCSO exam a waiting period of 14 days will be enforced before you may rewrite the exam. Each attempt will cost $125.00 plus GST. A maximum of two rewrites will be allowed. Failure to achieve NCSO certification following a second rewrite will result in having to submit a new SCSA NCSO Application Form and experience letter(s) for consideration. Upon acceptance, you will be required to repeat all current compulsory courses (10) and elective courses (2) before being eligible to write the NCSO exam to achieve certification.
NCSO Certificate
The NCSO certificate is valid for a three-year period. You receive a wall certificate and wallet card with the NCSO logo to indicate you have achieved certification that meets the national standard.
Maintenance of NCSO Certification
You are solely responsible to maintain all compulsory courses and elective courses which expire, as well as maintaining a valid Safety Auditor Fundamentals with proficiency.
The following submission items are required before the NCSO certificate expiry date:
- copies of any valid certificates (proof of maintaining courses which expire)
- one personal maintenance audit during the three-year validity of the SCSA Safety Auditor Training. The audit must be conducted using the SCSA national standard audit document. Best practice is to submit the required audit to the SCSA no later than four months prior to your SCSA Safety Auditor Training expiry date to allow time for the audit review and possible corrections.
- Contact the SCSA office before your NCSO certificate expires to provide proof of maintenance requirements and be issued a new certificate.
NOTE: Maximum 90-day grace period past NCSO expiry date. Certificate renewal (with three-year expiry) will only be issued if all requirements are met.
Failure to Maintain NCSO Certification
Failure to meet the maintenance requirements before your certificate expires will result in having to reapply to the program, with updated experience letters. All NCSO training requirements must be met before you are eligible to write the NCSO exam again.
Equivalency of NCSO Certification
NCSOs benefit from the ease of transferability to other provinces. At a minimum, a component of a provincial legislation exam will be required per province via the local participating CFCSA members. Present your home province NCSO certificate and photo ID to the local participating CFCSA member in the province where you intend to work. Upon successful completion of the provincial legislation exam (and possible training to meet provincial legislation on-site requirements), an NCSO equivalency certificate will be issued. The local participating CFCSA member will match the certification expiry date of your home province NCSO certificate.
Equivalency Maintenance of NCSO Certification
You are solely responsible to provide a copy of your home province NCSO certificate each time it is renewed to maintain equivalency status in another province. A training transcript issued by your home province safety association may be requested for equivalency purposes to verify all courses are valid at the time of certificate issue. Possible training to meet provincial legislation on-site requirements may be applicable. Upon recertification, you receive an updated NCSO wall certificate and wallet card.
Failure to Maintain NCSO Equivalency Certification
NCSO equivalency certification is dependent on maintaining the NCSO standards required in your home province. Equivalency certification may be revoked for failing to provide a copy of your renewed certificate. Contact locations you obtained equivalency from for further information if you have expired.
If you have any further questions, email ncso@scsaonline.ca
NHSA™
Exam Details
The exam includes various content from the previous NHSA courses taken. You are expected to have the ability to self-study and register for the exam when you are prepared. The exam is offered through remote proctoring hosted by Saskatchewan Polytechnic and in person at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s test centres located in Regina, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
Once you are eligible to challenge the National Exam, you have a 6-month period for your first attempt, and 24 months to successfully complete the exam.
Photo ID is required on the date of the exam. The cost is $125.00 plus GST. A non-refundable pre-payment is required at the time of registration. You must abide by the Exam Guidelines and NHSA Code of Ethics during the exam. Failure to do so will result in immediate removal from the exam and a further penalty to be determined by the SCSA Vice President or Manager of Operations.
The exam is only available in English. The weighting of section scoring will not be released. You have a maximum of two hours to complete the closed-book, multiple choice exam. The exam requires a passing score of 75%. However, only a pass or fail indication will be revealed to you by letter. Under no circumstances will you receive a score in % nor will you receive the exam back. Exam marking may take 4-6 weeks.
Upon failure of the NHSA exam, a waiting period of 14 days will be enforced before you may rewrite the exam. Each attempt will cost $125.00 plus GST. A maximum of two rewrites will be allowed. Failure to achieve NHSA certification following a second rewrite will result in having to submit a new SCSA NHSA Application Form and you will be required to repeat all current compulsory courses (10) and elective courses (2) before being eligible to write the NHSA exam to achieve certification.
NHSA Certificate
The NHSA certificate is valid for a three-year period. You receive a wall certificate and wallet card with the NHSA logo to indicate you have achieved certification that meets the national standard.
Maintenance of NHSA Certification
- You are solely responsible to maintain all compulsory courses and elective courses which expire, as well as maintaining a valid Safety Auditor Fundamentals with proficiency.
The following submission items are required before the NHSA certificate expiry date:
- copies of any valid certificates (proof of maintaining courses which expire)
- one personal maintenance audit during the three-year validity of the SCSA Safety Auditor Training. The audit must be conducted using the SCSA national standard audit document. Best practice is to submit the required audit to the SCSA no later than four months prior to your SCSA Safety Auditor Training expiry date to allow time for the audit review and possible corrections.
- Contact the SCSA office before your NHSA certificate expires to provide proof of maintenance requirements and be issued a new certificate.
NOTE: Maximum 90-day grace period past NHSA expiry date. Certificate renewal (with three-year expiry) will only be issued if all requirements are met.
Failure to Maintain NHSA Certification
Failure to meet the maintenance requirements before expiry will result in having reapply to the program and write the NHSA exam to renew certification. All NHSA training requirements must be met before you are eligible to write the NHSA exam again.
Equivalency of NHSA Certification
NHSAs benefit from the ease of transferability to other provinces. At minimum, a component of a provincial legislation exam will be required per province via the local participating CFCSA members. Present your home province NHSA certificate and photo ID to the local participating CFCSA member in the province where you intend to work. Upon successful completion of the provincial legislation exam (and possible training to meet provincial legislation on-site requirements), an NHSA equivalency certificate will be issued. The local participating CFCSA member will match the certification expiry date of your home province NHSA certificate.
Equivalency Maintenance of NHSA Certification
You are solely responsible to provide a copy of your home province NHSA certificate each time it is renewed to maintain equivalency status in another province. A training transcript issued by your home province safety association may be requested for equivalency purposes to verify all courses are valid at the time of certificate issue. Possible training to meet provincial legislation on-site requirements may be applicable. Upon recertification, you receive an updated NHSA wall certificate and wallet card.
Failure to Maintain NHSA Equivalency Certification
NHSA equivalency certification depends on maintaining the NHSA standards required in your home province. Equivalency certification may be revoked for failing to provide a copy of your renewed certificate. Contact locations you obtained equivalency from for further information if you have expired.
If you have any further questions, email nhsa@scsaonline.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I become an NCSO or NHSA?
This is considered an entry-level certification for those interested in pursuing a career in health and safety. You may or may not have extensive safety experience, though NCSOs are required to have a minimum of 3 years of on-site construction experience. Achieving certification recognizes a combination of formal training in health and safety and verifies a nationally recognized level of competency. Many employers view NCSOs and NHSAs as valuable resources in the administration and implementation of a company’s health and safety management system.
What can you tell me about the exam?
Here are some brief details:
- Cost is $125.00 plus GST (non-refundable)
- Photo ID is required at the time of the exam
- Closed-book, multiple choice exam with a maximum of 2 hours to complete
- Score of 75% required to pass
- You only receive a result of successful or unsuccessful, not a %
- You will not receive the exam back
Why does certification expire and require maintenance for recertification?
Renewal/refresher training is best practice in the areas of compliance, safety, quality, processes and procedures. This ensures you stay current with construction health and safety standards. Conducting/submitting one audit in the three-year validity of your SCSA safety auditor training certification reinforces your knowledge and skills.
Are all provinces recognizing this NCSO/NHSA exam?
Nearly a dozen CFCSA members are recognizing the NCSO exam, with the exception of Quebec.
CFCSA members are recognizing the NHSA exam in those provinces that have an NHSA designation.
Do I have to write another NCSO/NHSA exam when working in another province?
No, if you are interested in obtaining certification in another province, the exam will be accepted by members of the CFCSA (with exception of Quebec for both, and NWT for the NHSA program). However, at minimum, a provincial legislation exam will be required per province and there may be additional training to meet provincial legislation on-site requirements.
Why is there an NHSA and NCSO exam?
The completion of a nationally recognized exam verifies that you have met the national standard. Certification truly supports the NCSO or NHSA, should you choose to transfer between provinces.
If I am unsuccessful (below 75%) on the exam, may I rewrite?
Yes, but there is a waiting period of 14 days before you may rewrite the exam. Each attempt costs $125.00 plus GST. A maximum of two rewrites are allowed. Failure to achieve certification following a second rewrite results in having to submit a new NCSO or NHSA application form. Upon acceptance, you are required to repeat all current compulsory courses (10) and elective courses (2) before being eligible to write the NCSO or NHSA exam to achieve certification.
If I pass the NCSO/NHSA exam how will my employer know I upgraded my certification to the most current standard?
You receive a wall certificate and wallet card with the nationally recognized logo and three-year expiry date. These are key indicators to employers that you have achieved NCSO/NHSA certification, meeting the national standard.
Does a previously certified HSA need to write the national exam?
HSAs certified before December 31, 2021 are not required to take the exam, however, the NHSA national standards were agreed upon at the CFCSA level, effective March 1, 2022. HSAs retain the designation, but it is strongly encouraged that you write the national NHSA exam, after ensuring all your training and certifications are valid.
Continuing Education Credits
Gold Seal Accreditation
The NCSO® and NHSA™ designation is an accredited program towards Gold Seal Certification through the Canadian Construction Association.
Blue Seal Credits
The NCSO® and NHSA™ designation is eligible for partial credits towards the Blue Seal Certificate through the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.
Apply Now
Apply for NCSO®
You are required to have at least three years of on-site construction experience. Submit the following proof with your application:
A letter from current/past employers and/or a letter from your construction trade union. See Experience Letter Criteria.
A copy of your construction tradesperson certificate.
At least two of the three required years of field-level construction experience must have been in Canada. One year of international experience may be accepted if it can be verified through your employer’s letter.