Certificate
in Occupational Health & Safety
Part-time, online/in-class blended study tailored for:
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professionals entering the field
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construction supervisors
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production supervisors
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health officers
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industrial hygienists
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occupational health nurses
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engineering technicians
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chemical technologists
“Being a student in the Faculty of Extension OH&S program was a very positive and rewarding experience that helped me with my career.”
Exposure to different areas in the OH&S field helped Ian in his role as Health and Safety strategist
For practitioners seeking an educational credential (CRST) recognized by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP), as well as those in other diverse occupational backgrounds aspiring to have an impactful career in workplace health and safety, this is an opportunity to establish oneself as a registered professional in this field.
Concern for health and safety in the workplace is increasing among workers and employers across all industries.
This certificate, one of the most advanced in Canada, is a cornerstone for safety in the province. Whether you are currently a practicing occupational health and safety professionals (our certificate is recognized by the Canadian Registered Safety Technician [CRST]), or someone who aspires for a career in health and safety, this program has been designed to help practitioners from many different backgrounds develop competencies necessary to create, implement, and evaluate health and safety programs in a wide variety of occupational settings.
Our students come from diverse sectors, including oil and gas, aviation, construction, education, health care, manufacturing, municipalities, mining, forestry, and government agencies.
Career opportunities
Our graduates are employed in a variety of positions in a wide range of industry sectors, including private businesses, government agencies, and labour groups.
Alumni from the program include environmental health officers, public health inspectors, construction and production foremen and supervisors, maintenance superintendents, industrial hygienists, occupational health nurses, engineering and instrument technicians, and chemical technologists.
Class locations
This part-time program is offered in flexible and accessible formats and taught by industry experts in downtown Edmonton. Students may also fulfill all program requirements through online courses.
- Online
UAlberta eClass - Edmonton
downtown at the University of Alberta’s Enterprise Square campus (780−492−3037 or 1−800−808−4784).
NEW: Important Updates to the Program
Effective July 1, 2020, updates are being made to our OHS certificate program requirements. These updates include increasing core course requirements while reducing required elective and enrichment seminar hours, which in turn may reduce the overall completion time for the program.
These changes continue to support and align seamlessly with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals’ CRSP accreditation requirements, meeting employer needs and helping our graduates build their health and safety careers.

The teachers were excellent and very helpful.
The instructors and the class materials were great. I particularly enjoyed interacting with a diverse group of individuals from so many work industries.

The UAlberta advantage: earn a credential from a Top 5 Canadian university that is recognized as a world leader in higher education.
Completion meets education requirement for CRST certification (BCRSP).
Courses qualify for the continuous professional development requirements of AMHSA, APEGA, BCRSP, CPHR, CRBOH, MHSA, and CSSE.
Online, face-to-face, or blended course delivery options. Possible to fulfill all program requirements through online courses.
Gain valuable networking opportunities and widen your circle of professional connections.
Classroom knowledge that is immediately applicable to everyday work places.
A note about COVID-19 measures
If you see a program on our website announced as an in-person or downtown Edmonton offering, please disregard the format—but not the program. Fall & Winter courses have been converted to remote delivery platforms. Register for a course online or apply to a program via email, and keep learning!
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University of Alberta parchment in as little as 1 year
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Pay as you go
Earn a Certificate
in Occupational Health & Safety
This program is currently open for enrolment—apply now
12+ courses needed to graduate with this UAlberta Certificate and become a UAlberta Associate Alumni.
Complete all 8
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EXOS 4622
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EXOS 4624
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EXOS 4620
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EXOS 4621
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EXMGT 5587
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EXOS 4640
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EXOS 4625
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EXOS 4609
Choose one option
Select 42 hours of enrichment seminars
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EXOS 4581
• 14 hrs -
EXOS 4578
• 14 hrs -
EXOS 4634
• 14 hrs -
EXOS 4579
• 14 hrs -
EXOS 4639
• 14 hrs -
EXOS 4633
• 7 hrs -
EXOS 4569
• 7 hrs
The requirements above apply to students enrolled on and after July 1, 2020. If you entered the OHS Certificate program prior to July 1, 2020, please refer to the requirements that apply to your credential.
You can register for a course without applying and enrolling in the program. If later you decide to apply for the full program, the course you’ve taken will be applied toward your Certificate.
Enrolling in the program is a requirement to earn the certificate. You may apply for admission as you start your studies or, if you prefer, after you have taken one or more courses.
Program applicants require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent) and two years of work experience. Those who do not meet these requirements may be admitted on a conditional basis (contact the program office at 780−492−3037 for details).
Individual courses are open for general studies, and may be completed without being admitted into the OHS certificate program.
If you have completed a course from a recognized post-secondary institution within the last five years that is applicable to the OHS program (view our list of transferable courses), you may request an exemption by completing the Transfer Credit Request form.
Exemptions are limited to a maximum of three courses or, in the case of students receiving 21 hours toward the “Enrichment Seminar” requirement, to a maximum of two courses plus the industry training credit.
Successful completion of the OHS Certificate program meets the OHS certificate requirement for students continuing on to take OHS Professional Diploma program.
The OHS Certificate program also meets the educational requirements for the CRST certification from the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.
Industry Training Recognition
The OHS Certificate program is pleased to honour your prior industry training (formal designations) through a transfer credit agreement.
Students who have obtained any one of the designations on this page within the past five years are encouraged to apply for transfer credit and receive 21 hours toward the 35 hours of the “Enrichment Seminar” requirement of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Certificate program.
Please note that this credit can only be obtained once. In other words, even if you hold multiple designations, 21 hours is the maximum number of hours allowed for industry training recognition.
To apply for transfer credit, complete the Transfer Credit Request form.
- CHSC (Certified Health & Safety Consultant), offered through the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
- NCSO (National Construction Safety Officer) and HSA (Health and Safety Administrator), both offered through the Alberta Construction Safety Association
- MSO (Manufacturing Safety Officer), offered through the Manufacturers’ Health and Safety Association
- QSR (Qualified Safety Representative), offered through the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships; maintenance requirements are as per the auditor program
- RMHSA (Recognized Municipal Health and Safety Advisor), offered through the Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association
The Occupational Health and Safety Certificate program is comprised of eight core courses, one elective, and 42 hours of enrichment seminars. Designed for part-time study, it can generally be completed within one to two years, but students have up to six years to fulfill their program requirements.
Formats and schedules are flexible and designed to accommodate the diverse needs of our students.
A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 is required to obtain the certificate (3.5 or higher earns a certificate with distinction).
While it is recommended that students begin their program with EXOS 4620 - Introduction to Health & Safety (foundation course), they can complete the courses in any order provided the noted prerequisite(s) have been met.
Once you are admitted, you can verify your program requirements by logging into the University of Alberta’s student portal, Bear Tracks, to view your Academic Advisement.
- An application fee of $100 is required for admission into the program.
- Tuition is paid on a course-by-course basis as you register for your classes.
- Courses are GST-exempt.
- Some courses require a textbook at an additional cost.
- Eligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant.
- Corporate multi-registration packages are available for most Extension courses. Contact us at excorp@ualberta.ca for preferred pricing.
Additional course materials for online, blended, and web-enhanced courses will be available in eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool, at no extra charge.
Bursaries and funding opportunities
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