CERTIFIED HEALTHCARE SAFETY PROFESSIONAL

CHSP Information

CERTIFEID HEALTHCARE SAFETY PROFESSIONAL (CHSP)

The Board of Certified Healthcare Safety Management founded the CHSP designation in 1978. More than 2,500 hospital and healthcare personnel have earned this prestigious designation since 1979. The program supports the systematic approach of managing healthcare safety hazards. The examination of 100-120 questions addresses risks or hazards found in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. The certification is officially recognized by the State of Pennsylvania. The American Society of Healthcare Risk Managers (ASHRM) lists the CHSP as one of the qualifying elements for their prestigious Risk Management Fellow Program. The CHSP exam covers the entire field of healthcare safety to include employee safety, infection control, safety management, hazardous materials, safety standards and codes, patient safety, risk & quality, and general facility safety.

Qualification to sit for the exam is based on experience and/or education. You do not have to hold a degree to qualify for the program at the Senior or Associate Levels. There are three levels of certification: Master, Senior and Associate. The level assigned is dependent upon relevant experience and formal education. The Master Level is the highest attainable status and certifies that the individual possesses the knowledge and skills to effectively manage comprehensive safety programs. Applicants who are initially certified at the Senior or Associate level will be counseled on the additional experience and education required to upgrade to the next level.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND BASIC APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

Master Level: Four (4) years experience and a Baccalaureate Degree.

Senior Level: Two (2) years experience and a Baccalaureate Degree, or four (4) years experience and an Associate Degree, or six (6) years experience (each year of college may be substituted for experience).

Associate Level: Three (3) years experience (each year of college 30 semester hours) may be substituted for experience.

Candidates must print and submit a Formal Application (Refer to PDF File on this website).

Candidates must print and submit two Reference Evaluation Forms from two persons who can attest to their expertise and job knowledge (Refer to PDF File on this website)

Candidates using education to qualify for the program must submit must hold degrees from accredited institutions or from an institution approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis. Degrees related directly to healthcare, medicine, hazard control, risk management, and safety disciplines will receive extra qualifying credit. Candidates must document degree by submitting official transcripts. All candidates must submit an Official Job Descriptions with the application.

The CHSP would be appropriate for safety directors, patient safety officers, security managers, maintenance or plant operations directors, support services executives, environment of care coordinators, environmental services directors, compliance coordinators, safe committee members, risk managers, quality coordinators, nursing supervisors, healthcare consultants, physicians, biomedical professionals, hazardous materials specialists, healthcare consultants, safety or insurance consultants, and other qualified healthcare professionals.

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Applications–The formal application is found here (Application). Print a copy and complete the entire form. All requested information must be entered. Check the CHSP in the upper right corner of page 1. Please mail the completed application to the Board’s mailing address at P.O. Box 1662, Pelham, AL 35124. Please attach all supporting documentation as outlined in the in the General Information section above. Enclose the $125.00 Application Fee with the formal application paperwork. The application fee is non-refundable.

Reference Evaluations–This form is here (Reference Forms). Print two copies and send to two people who can attest to your qualifications. Instruct those completing the forms to mail them to: BCHCM, P.O. Box 1662, Pelham, AL 35124.

Exam Preparation Information—Please contact for information Information@chcm-chsp.org

Annual Maintenance & Re-Certification—Each CHSP holder must renew their certification annually. The Board will invoice each candidate annually for $75.00 and include a new wallet card. When the annual renewal fee is received by the Board, your status will be updated and your certification will be current.

Due to rapid changes occurring in healthcare all CHSP holders must recertify every five years by documenting 75 contact hours of appropriate continuing education. The continuing education must address health care safety issues. Certified personnel will be notified when and how to submit documentation to achieve re-certification. Persons not submitting appropriate documentation will be dropped and must take the current exam to re-certify.