In support of those seeking the benefits of higher education, BCSP offers several tools and programs designed to aid college students throughout the entire collegiate process. From those just beginning their college career, to those nearly ready to enter the workforce, BCSP aims to guide the future safety practitioners of the world in any way we can.
Chief among the benefits BCSP offers to college students is the Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) designation. The GSP is available to students graduating from degree programs which meet BCSP Qualified Academic Program (QAP) standards, it puts students on a path to achieving the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification. There is no fee to obtain the GSP, and it provides a heightened level of recognition for professional safety practice. It also gives the designation holder access the BCSP Career Center!
Laurin Harris GSP, CHST, STSC, a graduate from Purdue with a B.S. in Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene and a B.S. in Environmental Health, said the following regarding why she pursued the GSP designation: “I sat for the CHST and then began looking at all of the other certifications and designations. I was drawn to the GSP because it exempts me from taking the Associate Safety Professional (ASP) exam and puts me one step closer to the CSP.”
For reference, a QAP is a bachelors, masters, or PhD academic degree program in safety, health and the environment (SH&E) whose required course curriculum has been found to match the current Associate Safety Professional (ASP) examination blueprint. Additional information can be found on the QAP website. A list of all QAPs can be found here.
The CSP is the “gold standard” in safety certification. Obtaining the GSP, puts you on a path to earning the CSP and waives the requirement of needing to obtain the ASP in order to sit for the CSP exam. There are many benefits to obtaining the CSP including a greater base salary which you can determine using our Safety Salary Calculator. The CSP is also a requirement for many job listings. Advertisements for safety professionals often identify the CSP certification as a desired or required qualification.
BCSP also offers the BCSP Academic Database that contains program and contact information for SH&E programs, including QAPs, for more than 800 programs across the United States. BCSP accepts program submissions year-round and approves new programs on a quarterly basis in an effort to provide a path to professional certification for as many SH&E students as possible. In 2019 alone we added 19 new programs to the QAP list! So if you’re on the lookout for a QAP program at a school near you, or just a SH&E program, keep checking the list and database for updates!
If you are still unsure of the benefits of the GSP or any of the other services BCSP provides, or if you are are unsure of what it is BCSP does in general, download our booklet Safety Certifications: The Path to Success and learn about the benefits of professional safety certification. Exploring what it is we offer can get you started on the path to a brighter future in safety today!