National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) & National Health & Safety Administrator (NHSA™)
Here at the Alberta Construction Safety Association, we offer a path to earning one of two construction safety designations: National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) and National Health & Safety Administrator (NHSA™). These designations indicate that the individual has knowledge in various construction-related health & safety management skills and principles. When a person completes these programs, they are ready to begin the career-long process of becoming a leader in construction safety.
The distinguishing difference between the designations is the requirement for three (3) years of ‘field experience’ to be eligible for the NCSO® as opposed to the NHSA™.
The construction field is defined and established as working directly and actively in the construction field (i.e: residential, commercial, industrial, road building, pipeline construction, mobile equipment operations, etc.); or, an individual who is directly and actively engaged in safety (i.e: Site Safety Coordinator) or responsible for the supervision (i.e: Site Superintendent) of the construction worker, who also works directly and actively in the construction field on a full time basis.
Important Changes to Your NHSA™ Designation
Effective April 2023, those with or working towards their provincial National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) designation can receive their National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) designation. The NHSA™ is accepted across Canada.
Learn more on the NHSA™ page.
Requirements for NCSO® & NHSA™
Below is a comparison chart outlining the differences in obtaining the NCSO® designation from the NHSA™ designation (bullets indicate requirements).
NCSO |
NHSA |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Successful certification in the eleven compulsory courses | • | • | ||
| Successful completion in certification of two elective courses | • | • | ||
| Letter of experience verifying a minimum of 3 years of field experience in the construction industry | • | |||
| LSE Proficiency Package | • | • | ||
| Final Exam | • | • |
To register for the NCSO® program, please go to the NCSO® Information page .
To register for the NHSA™ program, please go to the NHSA™ Information page.
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Revised: April 1, 2023
