Accreditation of OHS Post-Secondary Education Programs
In 2018, a task force was created through an initial collaboration of BCRSP and CSSE to develop a framework for occupational health and safety program accreditation, including standards, processes, structure, and priorities.
In 2021, BCRSP contracted with Facilitated Improvement for Corporate Success, Inc. to facilitate the development of the accreditation program. An accreditation program will benefit the profession in a vital way by increasing the credibility of the Occupational Health and Safety profession and by increasing the consistency of Occupational Health and Safety education across the country.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is the time-limited approval granted by a non-governmental agency of an educational program or institution offering services according to defined standards.
What is the OHS Education Accreditation Standard?
- The standard includes requirements that demonstrate the delivery of a quality OHS education program.
- Standard requirements allow education programs to evaluate the quality and credibility of their education.
- With respect to the independence and competence of OHS education programs, the standard is not prescriptive, it is flexible and allows for uniqueness between programs.
- Requirements indicate what needs to be in place to achieve quality learning outcomes and it is up to education programs to determine how they will arrive at those outcomes.
- The draft standard includes eight foundational sections concerning:
- Leadership and administration
- Program Information and Admissions
- Facilities and Learning Resources
- Student Services and Support
- Human Resources
- Curriculum
- Student Assessment
- Quality improvement and Evaluation
- When an education program is accredited, it will mean that they have shown us that they meet the standard.
- Students can be assured that they will receive a quality education in an accredited program.
What is the National Consultation?
The National Consultation is a process whereby we listened to your suggestions concerning the standard, and incorporate your good ideas into the requirements. The national consultation closed in November of 2021, and the standard is in the process of being updated based on the feedback.
Assessor Selection and Training
BCRSP is seeking volunteer assessors for its new accreditation program. If your background and experience qualify you for this work, then please consider applying to become one of BCRSP’s first assessors for their new accreditation of Occupational Health and Safety Education programs.
Over the course of the past year, BCRSP has worked closely with a standard advisory committee representative of OHS educators and professionals from across the country to establish criteria that must be met for an OHS education program (certificate, diploma or degree) to become accredited by BCRSP. Our assessors will conduct in-person and online reviews of OHS education programs across the country, when they will gather evidence that determines how, and to what extent, the education programs meet accreditation requirements.
To do this work, an Assessor must
- Be currently employed as a faculty member in a post secondary OHS education program that intends to become accredited by BCRSP and/or currently employed and certified as a CRSP in an OHS position
- Have in-depth knowledge of BCRSP CRSP and CRST competencies as outlined in the BCRSP Blueprints
- Have extensive experience working in a teaching or administrative capacity in an OHS education program or extensive experience working as a certified OHS professional
- Have excellent communication and critical thinking skills
- Be a collaborative team member
- Have demonstrated interviewing, recording, and reporting skills
- Be computer literate in word processing, online reporting tools, and email
- Be comfortable with long and short distance travel
- Understand and commit to the time-requirements of collecting a lot of information in a short period of time
- Demonstrate highly developed interpersonal skills, including listening skills, warmth and flexibility
- Be impartial and fair, not influenced by emotions
- Be flexible and capable of dealing with ambiguity
- Have strong organizational skills
To apply for this volunteer position, send us your resume or curriculum vitae, the application form, and a letter outlining how you meet the criteria listed above and include the names and contact information for three current work references. Send your email to FICS.
BCRSP assessors are highly valued champions of Occupational Health and Safety Education. If you think you are a good fit for this position, then please apply by July 29th, 2022 at 5:00PM ET.
We look forward to hearing from you!