School of Applied Sciences and Technology

Occupational Health and Safety

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Over 10,000 employees are injured at work in Alberta every year. Some are seriously injured, even killed.

As a result, organizations across the province continue to invest more time and resources to better train and equip their personnel, identify potential dangers and develop strategies and policies that keep employees safe.

The NAIT Occupational Health & Safety (OHSD) diploma program will prepare you to fill essential health and safety roles in industry to meet the growing demands of government regulations.

Our 2-year program focuses on real-world issues and practical skills and is the only program in the province that offers full-time OHS training. We are recognized by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals, and our graduates meet the educational requirements for Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) certification, the most recognizable designation for safety professionals in Canada.

Over 5 terms, you’ll be provided with classroom and lab instruction, as well as applied learning opportunities in a variety of workplace settings.

Sep 01, 2023

Quick Facts

Credential: Diploma

Diplomas are credit programs that take 2 to 3 years and lead to government approved and industry-recognized credentials.

Campus: Main

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Main Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Options:

  • Both On-Campus and Virtual - Some of your coursework will be in-person, on campus and some will be done online.

Length: 2 Years

With a typical full-time course load, this program will take 2 Years to complete.

Open Studies: Not Available

This program does not currently have any courses available for Open Studies.

International Students: Accepted

This program accepts international students, however, program availability may be limited. Check program availability for this term. This program also meets the eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program. Each student is responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.

Grad Employment Rate

Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.

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Median Starting Salary: $60,000

Salaries are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and are not a guarantee of future income.

View Career Outcomes

Work Integrated Learning: Co-op

This program has Work Integrated Learning (WIL). WIL is a form of experiential learning that integrates academic studies with relevant work-based learning. Experiences are directly tied to curriculum and part of an approved program of study.

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Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

Our program will give you the knowledge and technical skills required to develop, implement and evaluate corporate OHS systems and programs that keep people safe on the job and maintain operational equipment.

Our advanced curriculum builds strong technical skills and provides exposure to many different facets of the OHS profession, including:

  • hazard anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control
  • risk management
  • ergonomics
  • occupational hygiene
  • construction safety
  • emergency management
  • incident investigation
  • WHMIS standards and compliance

You’ll also gain important soft skills, including how to:

  • work independently and in teams
  • write effectively
  • present oral reports
  • calculate, interpret and analyze data
OHS Green hat

By focusing on real-world issues and practical training, students learn to manage the impact of biological, physical, chemical and ergonomic hazards. Specific examples include:

  • performing a workplace inspection in an automotive or heavy equipment shop
  • fit testing a respirator to ensure workers are protected from airborne contaminants
  • investigating a workplace incident and recommending corrective action

Career Outcomes

More and more employers are recognizing the importance of integrating OHS into everyday work. Our graduates are in high demand and find employment across a variety of industries.

“The skill set I have developed through the 2-year OHS program has been adaptable to a variety of occupational health and safety careers. With the assistance and direction of the instructors, program chair and administrative support staff, I was able to obtain my goal and graduate with academic honours, an accomplishment I’m very proud of.”

Kim Bettencourt
Occupational Health and Safety Graduate

Build your resume before you even graduate

Explore work experience opportunities that help grads get hired even sooner.

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Work Experience Placements

Courses and Advanced Credit

Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.

Advanced Credit

You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).

Transfer Credit

In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:

  • You must have completed the course or program no more than 7 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
  • You must have a minimum mark of C in the course(s) or program

Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR)

Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.

Courses

Expand each course below to see details about credits, requisites, scheduling, and more.

Tuition & Fees

Scholarships & Awards

The following scholarships and/or bursaries are available to you as a student in this program. To access your opportunities, visit the Student Portal.

Admission Requirements

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions. If you are a current or recently admitted student you can find program and course information as well as contact details for your program on the My Program page on the MyNAIT Portal.

General inquiries

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Program-specific questions

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal



The personal information on this form is being collected under the authority of the Post-secondary Learning Act and section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP). The information will be protected by the provisions of FOIP, and will be used for the purpose of registration and administration of the event. If you have any questions or concerns about the collection, use, security or disclosure of the personal information, please contact General Council at 780.471.7664 or legal@nait.ca.

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