NCSO® and NHSA™

Construction Safety Nova Scotia is excited to announce the launch of two health and safety designations: National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) and National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™).

National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®)

The National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) program and designation provides formal, entry-level training to individuals who have a minimum of three years’ field experience in the construction industry. The NCSO® designation meets the national standard requirements and verifies that a person has met the training, practical application, years of experience, and written performance measurements set out by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA). Persons who achieve the NCSO® designation are a valuable resource to management in the administration and implementation of a company’s health and safety program. This entry level certification indicates a practical knowledge in various construction safety management skills and principles.

Construction field experience is defined as: A construction worker (labourer or skilled construction tradesperson) 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) the construction worker, who also works directly and actively in the construction field. 

 

National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™)

The National Health and Safety Administrator (NHSA™) program and designation provides formal, entry-level training to individuals who are active in the administration of their company’s health and safety program but do not currently possess a minimum of three (3) years of construction safety-related field experience in the last 10 years. The NHSA™ certification meets the national standard requirements and verifies that a person has met the training, practical application, and written performance measurements set out by the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA). Persons who achieve the NHSA™ designation are a valuable resource who offers administrative support to both the company and its NCSO® in implementing and maintaining the company’s health and safety management system.

Benefits of NCSO® and NHSA™

The following are a few benefits of these designations:

  • Nationally recognized and meet the requirements of the Canadian Federation of Construction Safety associations.
  • Construction-focused programs that enable designates to provide sound health and safety management and administration services to their companies or clients in the construction industry.
  • Provide a foundation in occupational health and safety theory and practice.
  • Assist in demonstrating OHS competence to potential employers or clients.
  • Provide designates with the skills and knowledge to build and assess health and safety programs and management systems.

The NCSO® and NHSA™ designations expire every three (3) years. Professional development activities, along with required fees must be submitted every three (3) years to maintain good standing.

FAQs

Click here to access a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

How to apply

The application for NCSO® can be found here.

Persons who presently hold the Construction Safety Supervisor (CSS) designation can apply via the application found here.

The application for NHSA™ can be found here. To learn more or to submit your completed application, please email the program administrators at ncso@constructionsafetyns.ca.

Fees – NCSO® and NHSA™

  • Application fee for new NCSO® and NHSA™ and those presently holding NCSO® and NHSA™ from another province: $100 + HST (does not include exam fee)
  • Individuals with the CSS designation: No charge to apply
  • Exam fee for all: $75 + HST
  • Exam re-write fee: $75 + HST (can write exam a total of three (3) times before needing to re-apply)
  • Three-year maintenance fee: $100 + HST

Required courses – NCSO® and NHSA™

11 required courses, two (2) electives, two (2) exams, and three (3) practical exercises

These courses are to be completed first:

These courses need to be completed in this order:

These courses can be completed in any order:

Required two elective courses:

Required exams

• Provincial NCSO®/ NHSA™ Exam
• National NCSO®/ NHSA™ Exam

Practical exercises

• Toolbox talk
• Comprehensive hazard assessment
• COR® evaluation