The Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) administers the Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) certification exam for organization leaders to help ensure safer and healthier workplaces.
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STS Exam Eligibility
To be eligible for the exam, you must have at least 30 hours of safety, health, and environmental training. You must also meet at least ONE of the following requirements:
- Have at least two years of supervisory experience.
- Have at least four years of work experience at a minimum of 18 hours per week in any industry.
- Have at least an associate degree in occupational safety, construction management, or risk management.
- Complete a two-year union or trade training program or apprenticeship.
STS Exam Outline
The STS exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and has a time limit of 2 hours.
The exam is split into six content domains, and the questions in each domain are split into two categories: Skills and Knowledge. All domains contain Knowledge questions, and two domains contain additional skills questions.
1. Safety Program Implementation and Management (20.3%)
The Knowledge questions in this domain evaluate the following:
- Safety training
- Energy isolation
- Job safety/hazard analysis
- Incident investigations, documentation, and corrective action
- Confined space
- Audits, inspections, and evaluations
- The Globally Harmonized System
- Personal protective equipment
- Equipment inspections
The Skills questions in this domain test your ability to manage hazards by pre-planning work, address changing conditions in the job safety analysis, communicate the results of audits/inspections, and take action on safety non-conformance.
2. Safety and Health Hazards (23.6%)
The Knowledge questions in this domain evaluate hazards associated with the following:
- Excavations
- Ladders
- Heavy equipment
- Pressurized systems
- Poor housekeeping
- Motor vehicle operations
- Hand tools
- Power tools
- Working at heights
- Hot work
- Cranes and lifting devices
- Elevated work platforms
- Compressed gas storage and use
- Moving parts and pinch points
- Industrial lifting vehicles
- Office environments
- Rigging and hoisting
- Walking surfaces
- Distractions
- Electrical work
There are no Skills questions in this domain.
3. Hazard Controls (20.3%)
The Knowledge questions in this domain evaluate the hierarchy of controls. Specifically, these question cover controls associated with the following:
- Excavations
- Safety systems
- Acute health hazards
- Compressed gas storage and use
- Industrial lifting vehicles
- Working at heights
- Chronic health hazards
- Motor vehicle operations
- Heavy equipment operations
The Skills questions in this domain test your ability to ensure hazardous materials/chemicals are handled and stored properly, apply energy isolation controls, and correct unsafe conditions or acts.
4. Basic Industrial Hygiene (11%)
The Knowledge questions in this domain evaluate the following:
- Post-incident procedures
- When to seek assistance with a hazard or situation
- Industrial hygiene
- Hazards associated with improper ergonomics
- Basic waste management
- Environmental conditions that impact health and safety
- Noise hazards
- Handling and storing hazardous materials/chemicals
There are no Skills questions in this domain.
5. Emergency Preparedness and Management (14.3%)
The Knowledge questions in this domain evaluate the following:
- Fire safety requirements
- Fire protection methods and classifications
- Emergency response plans and drills
There are no Skills questions in this domain.
6. Ethical Leadership (10.5%)
The Knowledge questions in this domain evaluate professional and organizational ethics. Specifically, these question cover the following aspects of the BSCP Code of Ethics:
- Principles
- Leadership
- Integrity
- Diversity and Bias
There are no Skills questions in this domain.
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STS Exam Registration
To register for the STS exam, you must first create an online BCSP account. Through your account, you can then select “STS” as your certification of choice and fill out the application. You will be asked to provide your contact information, proof of your BSCP-qualified credential, and your experience and education information.
Once the application is filled out, you will need to submit it along with the $120 application fee.
Once your application is approved, you will have a full year from the date of approval to register and sit for the exam. During registration, you will need to pay the $185 examination fee. You can schedule your exam at any time with Pearson VUE.
Test Day
You should arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center 15-30 minutes before the exam is scheduled to begin. Once you arrive, you must sign in and present your photo ID to the proctor. You will be photographed and asked to sign a roster and other rule forms.
Personal items are not allowed in the testing room, so they should be left at home or in your car. This includes all electrical devices, bags, books, notes, wallets, hats, and accessories.
Just before the exam starts, you will be given a brief tutorial on the testing system. You will also be given everything you need to work out any calculations by hand (no calculator will be provided).
How the STS Exam is Scored
BCSP uses the modified-Angoff method and the Bookmark Standard Setting method to establish the scores for the STS exam. These methods are used to ensure that your score is based entirely on your testing performance and does not rely on how well other test-takers performed.
You will get your results immediately after completing the exam. As long as you achieve the minimum cumulative score for the entire test, you will have passed, even if you did not pass all six domains individually.
Even though you don’t need to pass each individual domain, your score report will show you how you performed on each one. This is useful for understanding your strengths and weaknesses, especially if you did not pass and need to retake the exam. Currently, the minimum passing score is 70%.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the STS exam?
A
There are 100 multiple-choice questions on the exam.
Q
How long is the STS exam?
A
The time limit for the exam is 2 hours.
Q
What is the passing score for the STS exam?
A
To pass the exam, you must answer at least 70% of the questions correctly.
Q
How much does the STS exam cost?
A
The examination fee is $185, and there is an application fee of $120.
