The Canadian Federation of Construction Safety Associations (CFCSA), which includes every provincial and territorial construction safety association in Canada, recently conducted a national survey and gathered feedback from stakeholders on the NCSO® and NHSA™ Designations. The results have guided several important changes aimed at strengthening consistency and maintaining credibility nationwide. These national credentials continue to evolve through collaboration and feedback from across the country, ensuring they remain consistent, credible, and representative of Canadian industry standards.
At this year’s NLCSA Conference, Glenn Richardson, Manager of NLCSA Programs, provided an update on the upcoming changes to the National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO®) and National Health & Safety Administrator (NHSA™) designations, including:
Updated Recertification Process
The recertification process has been refined to make timelines clearer and more consistent across jurisdictions.
Previously, certificate holders had a six-month grace period after expiry to complete recertification. This window has now been reduced to 90 days, reinforcing the importance of maintaining active certification.
Participants will continue to receive email reminders six months before expiry, along with regular updates to help them stay on track and meet recertification requirements on time.
Refined Field Experience Requirements (NCSO®)
Effective immediately, the NCSO® program will continue to emphasize real-world experience as a cornerstone of the designation. Candidates must have three years or 6,000 hours of construction field experience within the past ten years, with at least two of those years completed within Canada.
These requirements are designed to preserve the NCSO®’s credibility as a Canadian standard—ensuring that certification reflects meaningful, hands-on experience within our country’s construction environment.
No Additional COR® Audit Requirement
Following the national survey and extensive discussions by the CFCSA National NCSO®/NHSA™ Committee and CFCSA Heads of Delegation, it has been confirmed that candidates pursuing their initial NCSO® certification WILL NOT be required to complete an additional COR® audit after finishing their COR® training. The in-class assignment included in COR® training will satisfy the auditing requirement for initial certification, simplifying the process while maintaining a strong focus on applied learning and competency.
In addition, for recertification, NCSO® holders WILL NOT be required to complete a COR® audit or maintain active COR® Auditor status. This change helps streamline the recertification process while ensuring that the program remains credible, accessible, and aligned with national standards.
Online Proctored Exams Now Available
Exams for both the NCSO® and NHSA™ programs can now be completed through secure AI-proctored online testing. This enhancement improves accessibility for participants while maintaining exam integrity and security—supporting a more flexible, remote learning experience across Canada.
These national updates take effect on January 1, 2026 and the NLCSA remains committed to helping participants understand the changes and continue their professional development with confidence.For more information, visit www.nlcsa.com or contact Glenn Richardson at grichardson@nlcsa.com or (709) 739-7000.
