A credential is also commonly termed as "certification": documentation of professional competence in a specific field. To get certified, you have to pass a test about regulations, competencies, task-directed skills, and commitment to self-improvement through continuing education. Some folks don't understand the enormous benefit of such an accomplishment.
The most important benefit is professional recognition. Certified employees are the true professionals in their field. They have been tested by their peers and have proven to possess both broad knowledge as well as skills and abilities in specialized tasks in their field of expertise.
When dealing with certified people, consumers, clients and other safety practitioners are assured of high-quality service. The organizations that provide certification, by regulating the quality of service, ensure that the entire body of affiliated practitioners perform at the same standard of competence.
Networking and marketing are also added benefits to affiliation in a professional organization. Most organizations publish a journal, which offers a platform for sharing ideas, updates in industry standards, and ideas for business opportunities and ventures. They also list job openings offered only for those with their specialty.
Certification can also mean higher pay, as certification is used as a factor for promotion or advancement in some agencies. Companies are more apt to hire certified people, give them more responsibility, and promote them to supervisory or managerial roles.
Personal satisfaction in achieving a coveted level of competence is also another benefit and is a significant career milestone. Much the same as completing a university bachelor's degree or higher education, certification provides the satisfaction of achieving the culmination of work experience by passing the arduous examination and selection process. Certifications are not just letters written behind someone's name. They are far more significant than just plain suffixes; they are proofs of distinction.
Credentialing or certifying bodies
Certifying bodies are organizations that provide regulatory control and certification of professional credentials. These are peer-regulated organizations, most of which are not-for-profit establishments run much like a corporation. They maintain the control of the certification process and the number of professionals admitted to the organization. They also preserve the level or quality of service through a continuing education program that ensures members are kept abreast of changes in technology and industry. As the need arises due to an industry change, a technological innovation or a paradigm shift, then these organizations adapt by enacting regulatory controls or design organizational changes to maintain parity with industry standards.
Although the following is not meant to be an exhaustive list of certifying organizations, it provides a good sampling of the premier
certificating groups within certain safety-related specialties:
| Certifying Body |
Credentials Awarded |
| American Board of Industrial Hygienists |
Certified Industrial Hygiene
(CIH) |
| Board Certification for Safety Professionals |
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) |
| National Environmental Health Association |
Registered Environmental Health Specialist
(REHS) |
| Texas Engineering Extension Service |
Certified Safety and Health Official
(CSHO) |
| Institute for Safety and Health Management |
Certified Safety and Health Manager
(CSHM) |
| Board of Healthcare Safety Safety Technologists |
Certified Healthcare Safety Professional
(CHSP) |
| Council on Health , Environmental and |
Certified Occupational Health and Safety Technologist
(COHST) |
| Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics |
Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) |
Army Safety and Occupational Health Interns who are trained under the Texas Engineering Extension Service are able to participate in the Certified Safety and Health Official certification Program. This program is funded by the United States Army. Connie DeWitte, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Safety, was a graduate of this competitive program.
Navy active-duty personnel may pay to take these certification examinations using their Montgomery G.I. Bill. The Department of Veterans Affairs allows funding for participation in certification examinations as they recognize the benefits that certification brings. Navy civilian personnel may fund these exams by using the SECNAV MEMO 3/21/03
According to Jimmy Culpepper, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) at PWC Norfolk, "My former boss and esteemed colleague George Hughes was a CSP, he provided me with mentorship and guidance even financial assistance to attend a preparatory course designed to prepare candidates for the CSP exams. I took the test upon finishing the review course and was fortunate to have passed the test right away. I feel that this is a great program."
Another testimonial comes from Cdr. Amilcar Villanueva, a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) at NAVAIRLANT in Norfolk, and the first Puerto Rican active-duty Navy person to obtain CIH designation. He recalled, "I obtained my certification very early in my career because it was an indication of professionalism. I wanted to keep abreast of what is current out there, and I had a strong desire for competence within the field."
While benefits and advantages to certification abound, the reasons for not obtaining it are just as plentiful. The statements below suggest lack of knowledge about the various programs, a lack of ambition, and apathy. Some are counter-intuitive:
- B.C. (Washington, D.C.) "I don't need it for my job."
- O.B. (Bremerton, Wash.) "I worked at this safety office for twenty years and I will retire in ten years, so who is going to tell me to get certified now?"
- C.S. (Portsmouth, Va.) "Certification won't increase my pay, so why get it?"
- J.D. (San Diego, Calif.) "I don't want to pay for the test, and what if I fail?"
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