Occupational Health and Safety

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Employers nationwide, from natural resource companies to hospitals and schools to manufacturers and office-based businesses, must conform to occupational health and safety legislation. As legislation and standards become multifaceted, demand for qualified Occupational Health and Safety professionals grows.

Explore the career possibilities of Saskatchewan Polytechnic's Occupational Health and Safety certificate program. Our graduates work in various industries, advising employers on occupational health and safety issues.

The program provides knowledge relevant to all workplaces in:

• auditing safety management
• contractor safety management
• disability management
• emergency management
• ergonomics
• law and ethics
• incident investigation
• industrial hygiene
• risk management
• safety management systems

The program is offered in Saskatoon (on-campus courses are listed below in the Courses section), and online. For current information regarding Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) options, contact the program head John Hancock at john.hancock@saskpolytech.ca.

The Occupational Health and Safety certificate program consists of:

• 15 theory-based courses
• 5 electives (students are required to complete one of five)
• an 80-hour two-week practicum

The practicum provides a hands-on look at the day-to-day operations of a workplace, its safety management system and the role of Occupational Health and Safety professionals.

The Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) recognizes Sask Polytech Occupational Health and Safety certificate as meeting the formal education requirements for certification as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) and Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST).

For more information, see our frequently asked questions.

Career and salary information

Your career

Occupational Health and Safety professionals provide injury and disease prevention expertise in a wide variety of roles and workplaces. You could be part of a multidisciplinary team working on environmental or wellness initiatives, disability management, regulatory compliance and more.

Possible career opportunities include working with the federal, provincial or municipal government, in health care or educational institutions, with oil and gas companies, manufacturers, transportation firms, utilities, trades, construction and safety associations. For more information, contact Student Employment Services at Sask Polytech.

Potential careers

Part-time delivery

Admissions

Admission requirements

• Grade 12
• English Language Requirement

Note

• Accepted international students require a co-op work permit to complete the practicum requirements of this program. This is mandatory. Students who do not have a co-op work permit will not be allowed to participate in their practicums. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they have the required documentation to study in Canada and a co-op work permit to complete the practicum requirements of this program. 

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

• 250 Arithmetic
• 253 Reading
• 245 Writing

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2024-25 academic year

$15,030

International students

View tuition rates for international students.

Courses

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

• Candidate Guide
• More about PLAR

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Student awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

More about scholarships

Additional information

Have a question? Email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca or call 306-659-4418.