The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) offers
the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) certification to individuals who
demonstrate competency in the supervisory task of harm prevention. STS
certification can accelerate your career growth and increased salary.
Prerequisites
BCSP has established eligibility requirements for
individuals interested in taking the STS certification. The requirements
include 30 hours of safety, health, and environmental training, and two years
of supervisory experience or four years of work experience in any industry.
How to register
Once you have determined that you meet the requirements to
sit for the STS certification, you will apply online on BCSP’s website. The
application process includes submitting the required information and paying the
application fee of $120.00. The application fee includes your annual membership
fee, and it is separate from the testing fee. The annual membership fee after
the first year is $70.00.
Once your application is submitted and approved, you can
register for the STS certification. You have one year from the date your
application is approved to purchase your certification test. The exam’s
registration cost is $185.00 and is payable online via credit or debit card.
Test delivery method
and location
The Safety Trained Supervisor certification exam is
delivered by computer at testing centers located nationwide. Testing
appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30
p.m. Some locations may have Saturday appointments available, and test centers
may have different appointment availability.
Test design
The STS certification exam contains 100 multiple-choice
questions. Each question is followed by four possible answers with only one correct
response. If a formula is required to determine the solution, it is embedded
into the question.
Questions are developed from the following five domains:
- Safety program implementation – 13.8%
Knowledge and skills assessed in this
domain include job safety, hazard analysis, auditing, inspection protocols,
inspection requirements, investigation techniques, waste management, work and
cross-functional hazards, changing conditions, communication, and violations.
- Hazard identification and control – 47.1%
The skills and knowledge assessed in this
domain include hierarchy of controls, classification and labeling, energy
isolation procedures, handling and storing of hazardous materials, safety
systems, pressurized systems, confined space requirements, industrial equipment
and tools, certifications for heavy equipment, hazard control, safety
operations, personal protection, safe work practices, ergonomics, motor vehicle
operation, technology, and compressed gas storage.
- Health hazards and basic industrial hygiene –
9.2%
Your knowledge of chronic and acute health
hazards, hearing conservation, and environmental conditions are assessed in
this domain.
- Emergency preparedness and management – 11.5%
Preparedness and management including fire
protection methods and classifications, fire safety requirements, emergency
response plans and drills, basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
automated external defibrillator, and universal safety precautions.
- Leadership, communication, and training – 18.4%
This domain evaluates your knowledge and
skills with the Code of Ethics, conflict resolution techniques, safety
observations, training requirements, effective communication, effective
coaching and mentoring, corrective actions, motivational techniques, negative
reinforcement techniques and application, chain of command, management of
worker limitations and accommodations, and identification of relevant
compliance aspects.
The STS exam has a time limit for two hours, and you are
allowed to use a personal calculator as long as it meets the requirements
listed on the website. If you do not have an approved calculator, an on-screen
calculator is available for your use.
Test day
On the day of your exam, report to the testing center 15 to
30 minutes before your appointment. An early arrival gives you time to find
parking, secure your gear, and complete the pre-test activities. Your
identification is verified, and a test administrator escorts you to your
testing station. The exam is closed-book, and scratch paper is provided to you
at your station.
Before your time begins, you can take a short
familiarization tutorial. After you complete the tutorial, your exam begins.
Take care to answer every question, even if you have to guess. Immediately upon
completion of the exam, your status is reported to you. There are two possible
results – pass or fail.
Score report
Before you leave the testing center, your score report is provided. If you passed the exam, no other information is provided. If you did not pass, diagnostic information for each domain is provided. Of the 100 questions on the exam, 13 are used for validation and do not count toward your score. To pass the STS certification exam, you need to answer 61 questions correctly.
How Can I Prepare for the STS Test?
That’s a great question. We’ve broken down the answer into three parts.
- Do yourself a favor and study. Do not walk in unprepared. We have recommended prep materials below, but that only helps if you actually try. Plus, studying is actually proven to be the best antidote to test anxiety.
- Take care of yourself. Make sure you’re eating well, exercising, and sleeping. All of these things are scientifically linked to brain performance. If you take care of your body, you’ll be helping your grades.
- Get a study guide or set of flashcards. Some people study better a certain way. Find your study strengths and make the most of them. We’ve tried to make it easy for you by tracking down the best study guide and flashcard set for your exam. Below you’ll see links to both!