CHST Certification: Construction Health & Safety Technician Guide (2026)

The CHST was built for people who’ve been doing construction safety, not people who studied it in a classroom. That’s what makes it different from almost every other BCSP credential.

Most safety certifications require a degree first and then add experience on top. The CHST flips that. If you’ve spent five years managing safety on construction sites, you can sit for the exam without any college degree at all. That’s a rare path, and it matters for a lot of workers in the trades.

If you’re in construction safety and wondering whether the CHST is worth your time, the answer is almost always yes.

What the CHST Actually Is

The Construction Health and Safety Technician credential is issued by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). It’s ANSI/ISO 17024 accredited, which means it’s a genuine third-party certification, not a pay-to-play certificate. Major general contractors and specialty subcontractors recognize it. So do most federal agencies that work with construction projects.

It sits below the CSP in the BCSP ladder but above entry-level credentials like the OSHA 30. For construction safety specifically, the CHST carries real weight on a resume. Many safety managers on large construction projects hold the CHST without ever pursuing the CSP, and that’s a completely viable career path.

The CHST covers construction-specific hazards: fall protection, scaffolding, excavation, struck-by incidents, electrical hazards. It’s not a general safety credential. If you want to work in manufacturing or healthcare safety, the CHST isn’t the right call. The OHST (Occupational Health and Safety Technologist) is the broader equivalent.

Eligibility Requirements

BCSP offers three paths to sit for the CHST exam. Each one has different experience requirements depending on your education level.

Path 1: Experience Only

Five years of construction safety experience. No degree required. This is the path most construction workers take. The catch: BCSP defines “construction safety experience” specifically. It means time spent on construction-specific hazards with safety duties making up at least 50% of your job time. Doing general administrative work on a job site doesn’t count. Conducting safety audits, leading toolbox talks, doing hazard assessments, managing fall protection programs, and investigating incidents all count.

Path 2: Bachelor’s Degree

Three years of construction safety experience plus a bachelor’s degree or higher in safety, health, or a closely related field. If you have a safety-related degree, this gets you to the exam two years faster.

Path 3: Associate’s Degree

Four years of construction safety experience plus an associate’s degree in safety or health. This middle path exists for people who have some college but not a four-year degree.

For all three paths, BCSP verifies your experience through supervisor sign-off. You’ll submit documentation showing your job duties and the nature of your safety work. It’s not an honor system. BCSP can and does reject applications when the experience doesn’t match the construction safety definition.

One thing to watch: “construction safety” in BCSP’s definition means experience with construction-specific hazards. General industry safety experience doesn’t transfer here, even if your job title had “safety” in it. Scaffolding inspections, fall protection plans, excavation safety, and OSHA 1926 work count. Office safety audits and ergonomics programs do not.

The CHST Exam

The exam is 200 multiple-choice questions taken at a Pearson VUE testing center. You get 5.5 hours total, which is enough time for most candidates. Most people finish in 3.5 to 4.5 hours.

BCSP provides a built-in calculator. The exam includes some basic math questions around hazard calculations, but nothing that requires advanced math. Understanding ventilation calculations, noise exposure formulas, and basic percentage math is enough.

The exam blueprint breaks down by domain:

• Construction site hazards: 40% of the exam
• Safety management: 25%
• OSHA regulations: 20%
• Environmental and health: 15%

The construction hazards section is the bulk of the exam, and it tests you on the hazards that kill construction workers. Fall protection is the biggest topic. In 2024, falls accounted for roughly 36% of all construction fatalities per OSHA’s data. BCSP knows this and tests accordingly.

Know 29 CFR 1926.502 (fall protection systems), 1926.451 (scaffolding), and 1926.651 (excavations) cold. If you’ve been doing construction safety for five years, you’ve dealt with all three. But the exam tests whether you know the specific regulatory requirements, not just general awareness.

CHST vs. CSP: The Real Comparison

This is the question most construction safety workers ask. The honest answer: it depends on where you want your career to go.

The CHST is construction-specific. The CSP covers all industries and requires a more academic background. Here’s how they actually compare:

The CHST lets you in without a degree if you have five years of experience. The CSP requires an associate’s degree at minimum, and practically speaking, most CSP candidates have a bachelor’s. If you don’t have a degree and you’ve been in construction safety for five-plus years, the CHST is your faster path to a credential with real industry recognition.

The CSP carries a higher salary premium. The 2020 SH&E Salary Survey (the most recent comprehensive BCSP-aligned salary data available at time of writing, verify current figures at assp.org) reported CSP holders at a median around $110,000. CHST holders typically earn less, with medians generally in the $75,000 to $90,000 range depending on experience, location, and employer, per ASSP salary survey data. That gap is real.

But the CHST isn’t a ceiling. It’s a career builder. Most serious construction safety professionals eventually pursue the CSP after earning the CHST. The CHST builds the resume and opens doors. The CSP adds the salary premium and broadens your options to corporate and multi-industry roles.

Both credentials are ANSI/ISO 17024 accredited. Both are recognized by major contractors. If a job posting requires one or the other, those are two different levels of role.

If you work in manufacturing, general industry, or healthcare, don’t get the CHST. It’s construction-specific and won’t carry weight outside of construction environments. Get the OHST instead.

If you’re building a construction safety career, the CHST is the right credential to pursue now. Add the CSP later. For the full career progression that leads to roles like Construction Safety Director, see our safety career path guide.

CHST Salary Expectations

Per ASSP salary survey data and BLS OEWS figures for occupational health and safety specialists, CHST holders working in construction safety typically earn between $75,000 and $92,000 annually, with significant variation based on region, employer size, and years of experience. Senior construction safety managers in large metropolitan areas or on major infrastructure projects can earn above that range.

For comparison, BLS OEWS data for occupational health and safety specialists in construction (as of May 2024 data) shows mean wages around $85,000 for the sector. That’s the middle of the pack across industries. Oil and gas pays significantly more. Healthcare pays less.

The CHST doesn’t cap your earnings. It opens the door to roles that pay more than entry-level safety positions without the credential. And it gives you more pull when moving between contractors or into project management roles where safety oversight is part of the job.

Verify current salary data at bls.gov/oes as BLS updates figures annually.

How to Study for the CHST

If you’ve been doing construction safety for five years, you already know a lot of this material in practice. The exam tests whether you know it systematically and can apply it to question formats.

Start with the BCSP exam blueprint. Download it from bcsp.org. It lists every domain and subdomain the exam covers. Use it to identify gaps in your knowledge, not to study everything from scratch.

BCSP sells an official practice exam. Buy it. It’s the closest approximation of actual exam question style and difficulty. Don’t try to pass the CHST without working through the practice exam at least once.

ASSP also offers prep materials. Their Construction Safety study resources are worth reviewing, especially if your experience has been concentrated in one type of construction work and you’re less familiar with other hazard categories.

Most CHST candidates study for two to four months. If you’ve been in construction safety for five years and you’ve dealt with fall protection, scaffolding, and excavation regularly, you’ll spend less time than someone who’s been doing mostly administrative safety work.

Focus your study time on 29 CFR Part 1926 in full. Know the specific requirements for:

• Fall protection (Subpart M, 1926.502)
• Scaffolding (Subpart L, 1926.451)
• Excavation (Subpart P, 1926.651)
• Personal protective equipment (Subpart E)
• Electrical (Subpart K)

The safety management section tests concepts like hierarchy of controls, safety program development, and incident investigation methods. If you’ve managed a safety program, this section should feel familiar.

One practical tip: BCSP’s exam is scenario-based. Questions describe a situation and ask what you’d do. They’re not pure memorization questions. Practice applying the regulations to realistic scenarios, not just reciting the requirements.

Costs and Fees

The CHST exam fee and application fee together run approximately $350, though fees do change. Verify current fees at bcsp.org before you apply, as BCSP adjusts them periodically.

Many construction contractors and general contractors will pay the CHST exam fee for their safety staff. If you’re employed by a contractor and pursuing the CHST to advance in your role, ask HR about education reimbursement before you pay out of pocket. It’s more common than candidates realize.

Study materials add cost on top of the exam fee. The BCSP practice exam, ASSP study guides, and any prep courses you take will vary. Budget $100 to $300 for study materials, depending on what you buy.

Recertification

The CHST requires renewal every five years. You need 30 recertification points to renew.

BCSP assigns points for professional development activities: safety conferences, training courses, webinars, teaching safety classes, publishing safety-related content, and completing additional certifications. The ASSP annual conference alone typically provides enough points to cover a significant portion of the recertification requirement.

Most working safety professionals accumulate recertification points without trying. Attending industry events, taking code updates, and completing employer-required training all count. The five-year cycle gives you plenty of runway.

If you let your CHST lapse, reinstatement requires meeting current eligibility requirements and passing the exam again. Don’t let it lapse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the CHST without a degree?

Yes. Path 1 requires five years of construction safety experience with no degree requirement. This is the path most construction workers take. BCSP verifies your experience through supervisor documentation, so the experience needs to be real and documented.

How hard is the CHST exam?

The pass rate for the CHST is not publicly published by BCSP, but candidates with genuine construction safety experience and two to three months of focused study generally report passing on the first attempt. The exam tests application, not just memorization. If you understand why fall protection requirements exist, not just what they require, you’re in good shape.

Should I get the CHST or CSP first?

If you don’t have a degree and you’re in construction safety, get the CHST first. It’s the faster, more accessible path. If you have a degree and five or more years of general safety experience, the CSP path may be more efficient for your career goals.

How long does it take to get the CHST?

The application and approval process takes several weeks. Study time adds two to four months for most candidates. From decision to credential, plan for three to six months total.

Does the CHST count as the ASP prerequisite for the CSP?

No. The Associate Safety Professional (ASP) is a separate credential on the CSP path. The CHST doesn’t replace or satisfy ASP requirements. If you’re pursuing the CSP eventually, you’ll need to follow the CSP eligibility path separately. That said, holding the CHST demonstrates significant experience, which helps with CSP eligibility documentation.

What’s the difference between CHST and OHST?

The CHST is construction-specific. The OHST (Occupational Health and Safety Technologist) is the broader credential for general industry. If you work in manufacturing, healthcare, or general industry, get the OHST. If you’re in construction, get the CHST. The experience requirements are similar, but the exam content differs significantly.

How many people hold the CHST?

BCSP doesn’t publish a current total. The CHST is one of BCSP’s most active certifications in the construction sector. It’s widely recognized among specialty contractors, general contractors, and construction management firms.

---

The CHST is the credential that says you’ve done the work. Not studied it. Done it. For construction safety professionals without a degree who want to move into management, it’s the clearest path available. Get the experience documented, study the exam blueprint, and sit for it. The CSP can come later.

Sources: BCSP (bcsp.org/chst), OSHA Construction Safety Standards (osha.gov/construction), BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists (bls.gov/ooh). Exam fees and recertification requirements: verify current details at bcsp.org.