Safety Certifications You Can Get Without a College Degree (2026)

Yes, you can build a real safety career without a college degree. But the path looks different, the ceiling is real, and you should know exactly where it is before you start planning your next move.

Some of the most respected safety professionals on job sites never finished a four-year degree. They came up through the trades, learned the work, moved into safety roles, and earned credentials that matched their experience. That track is still open.

What’s changed is that the top-paying safety roles, the ones above $100,000, almost always require the CSP. And the CSP requires a degree. That’s a wall you’ll eventually hit if you don’t plan for it.

Here’s the honest picture of what you can get, what it costs you, and what you can earn with each.

Certifications That Require No Degree at All

These are open to anyone who meets the experience or training requirements. No college needed. No transcripts. No enrollment proof.

OSHA 10-Hour Training

The OSHA 10-hour card is the floor-level credential in construction and general industry. It covers hazard recognition basics, general OSHA standards, and workers’ rights. You complete the training, you get the card.

Per OSHA’s Outreach Training Program, there are no prerequisites. You don’t need a GED, a high school diploma, or any prior training to take the course. A 10-hour card won’t get you a safety job on its own, but many sites require it for all workers. Some union contracts require it as a condition of employment.

Construction and general industry each have their own version. If you work in construction, get the construction version. The OSHA 10 Construction page has details on what’s covered and how to find an authorized trainer.

Cost is typically $100 to $200 through a Authorized Outreach Trainer. Verify current fees with your chosen trainer as prices vary.

OSHA 30-Hour Training

Same concept, more depth. The OSHA 30 Construction and OSHA 30 General Industry courses are 30 contact hours of training covering regulations, hazard identification, and incident documentation.

No degree required. No experience required. You complete the training and OSHA issues the card.

The 30-hour card is what most employers actually want to see on a safety professional’s resume at the entry level. If you’re serious about a safety career and you only get one OSHA credential, get the 30-hour in your industry.

Cost runs $200 to $400 for an in-person course. Online courses through OSHA-authorized providers cost less. Verify current pricing with your chosen provider.

Forklift Certification

Technically not a certification in the credential sense, but employers recognize it and some require it for safety roles in warehouse and distribution environments. Per OSHA’s powered industrial truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178), forklift training is employer-administered. The employer evaluates and certifies the operator.

No degree. No external exam. The forklift certification page explains what OSHA requires for compliant training programs.

HAZWOPER 40-Hour

The 40-hour HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response) training, required by OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.120, prepares workers to identify and handle hazardous substances. No degree required. No experience required to take the initial training, though the refresher courses require annual renewal.

This credential is particularly valuable if you’re working toward safety roles in environmental remediation, chemical manufacturing, or emergency response. Employers in those industries often require it regardless of your other credentials.

Confined Space and Fall Protection Training

These are task-specific authorizations rather than national credentials, but they matter on job sites. OSHA requires that authorized entrants and attendants for permit-required confined spaces receive documented training (29 CFR 1910.146 for general industry, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA for construction).

No degree required. Training is typically employer-administered or through a third-party safety trainer.

Same applies to fall protection. OSHA requires competent person and qualified person designations for fall protection planning, and that designation comes through demonstrated training and experience, not a degree.

STS: Safety Trained Supervisor

The STS (Safety Trained Supervisor) from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals is the highest no-degree credential most field safety workers can realistically target. It’s also the one that gets the least attention because it sits below the ASP and CSP in the BCSP credential ladder.

Requirements: two years of safety and health experience. No degree required. You apply, submit experience documentation, and pass the exam.

The STS signals that you’ve taken safety seriously enough to sit for a proctored exam and that you’ve verified field experience. For a worker without a degree who’s moving from a crew into a site safety role, the STS is a credible step up.

There’s also the STSC (Safety Trained Supervisor Construction), which has the same no-degree requirement and focuses specifically on construction environments.

Verify current exam fees with BCSP as fees change. Per BCSP’s credential overview, both credentials require ongoing continuing education for renewal.

Certifications With Modified Requirements for Workers Without Degrees

These credentials technically accommodate workers without four-year degrees, but they require more experience to compensate.

CHST: Construction Health and Safety Technician

The CHST is a BCSP credential aimed at construction safety professionals. With a bachelor’s degree, you need three years of construction safety experience to apply. Without a degree, you need five years of construction safety experience.

No degree, more experience. That’s the trade-off.

The CHST is a legitimate, nationally recognized credential. It shows up in job postings for construction safety roles paying $75,000 to $95,000. It’s not as widely recognized as the CSP, but in construction specifically, employers know it.

If you’re five or more years into construction safety without a degree, this is probably the most strategic credential to pursue next. It validates your experience in a way that OSHA cards don’t.

Verify current exam fees with BCSP before applying.

OHST: Occupational Health and Safety Technician

The OHST follows the same model as the CHST but applies across industries rather than just construction. With a degree, you need three years of safety experience. Without a degree, you need five years.

The OHST is well recognized in manufacturing, utilities, and general industry environments. It signals a level of commitment and knowledge that separates you from workers who only hold OSHA cards.

Per BLS OEWS May 2024 data, occupational health and safety specialists earned a median annual wage of $83,910. Workers holding the OHST without a degree typically fall in the middle range of that distribution, with higher earnings possible in high-hazard industries. Verify current figures at bls.gov/oes as this data updates annually.

Both the CHST and OHST require continuing education for renewal. Build that into your planning from the start.

Certifications That Require a Degree (Be Honest About This)

Some credentials are simply not available to you without completing college. That’s not a judgment. It’s the requirement.

ASP: Associate Safety Professional

The ASP is BCSP’s stepping-stone credential toward the CSP. The eligibility requirements include a bachelor’s degree as a baseline. An associate’s degree (two-year) counts, but you’ll need more experience to compensate. No degree at all means you can’t sit for the exam.

This is a firm requirement from BCSP, not a preference.

If you’re close to finishing an associate’s degree, it’s worth completing. A two-year degree plus the ASP puts you on the path to the CSP in a way that the STS or CHST doesn’t.

CSP: Certified Safety Professional

The CSP is the credential that matters most for mid-to-senior safety roles. Employers paying $100,000 and above list it as required or strongly preferred in the vast majority of job postings.

The requirement: a bachelor’s degree minimum. You cannot sit for the CSP exam without one.

The ASSP’s 2023 salary survey found that CSP holders earn substantially more than holders of other safety credentials at comparable experience levels. That gap is largest at the senior and director levels.

This isn’t a credential you can get around. If you want CSP-level earnings, you need a degree.

CIH: Certified Industrial Hygienist

The CIH, administered by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, requires a bachelor’s degree in industrial hygiene or a related science. No path exists to the CIH without completing a four-year degree.

Industrial hygienists specializing in chemical hazards, noise, and air quality often earn above $90,000 per BLS OEWS data. But the CIH is not a realistic target without completing college.

The Practical Path Without a Degree

Start with the OSHA 30 in your industry. Get it done. It costs a few hundred dollars and signals baseline seriousness to any employer.

From there, build field experience intentionally. Don’t just show up, do incident reports and leave. Get involved in audits, near-miss investigations, safety committee work, and training delivery. Document what you do. Keep a record of the sites you’ve worked, the hazards you’ve managed, and the programs you’ve contributed to.

At the two-year mark, look at the STS. At the five-year mark, look at the CHST or OHST depending on your industry.

While you’re doing all of that, seriously consider finishing a degree online. Western Illinois University, Columbia Southern University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University all offer ABET-accredited online safety management programs. These can be completed while you’re working. They unlock the ASP and CSP eligibility that puts the $100,000-plus roles within reach.

The honest advice: finish the degree. Field credibility matters and will always matter, but the degree opens doors that OSHA cards and even the OHST can’t.

Salary Reality Without a Degree

The OHST and CHST are the ceiling if you don’t get a degree, in most industries. Not a low ceiling. But a ceiling.

OHST and CHST holders without degrees in high-hazard industries can reach $75,000 to $95,000 in field safety roles, per BLS OEWS 2023 data. Some workers in oil and gas, mining, or large-scale construction earn above that in supervisor roles with strong field credentials. Verify current BLS data at BLS.gov as wages change annually.

CSP-level earnings, the $110,000-plus range that shows up in director and senior manager postings, generally require completing the degree and passing the CSP exam. The math on finishing a degree online often makes sense when you run those salary numbers.

Read the safety career path roadmap for a full breakdown of what certifications you need at each career level and what salaries look like at each stage.

Also check the safety certifications salary boost guide for data on how each credential affects earnings in your industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a safety job with just an OSHA 30?

Yes, at the entry level. The OSHA 30 card plus relevant field experience is enough to land a safety technician or coordinator role at many companies. Don’t expect to start above $55,000 to $65,000 in most markets, but it’s a real starting point.

What’s the best safety certification if I don’t have a degree?

The OSHA 30 to start, then the STS after two years of experience, then the CHST or OHST after five years. If you’re in construction, the CHST is the most relevant. For other industries, the OHST carries more weight.

Is the STS respected by employers?

It depends on the employer and the industry. In construction and manufacturing, the STS from BCSP is recognized as a legitimate credential. It’s not as well-known as the CSP, but it signals that you’ve passed a proctored exam and verified your experience. For a worker without a degree, it’s a meaningful differentiator.

Can I get the ASP without a four-year degree?

An associate’s degree (two-year) does meet the minimum education requirement for the ASP, though you’ll need more experience to compensate. No degree at all means you can’t apply. If you want to pursue the ASP, finishing a two-year program is the minimum you need.

How much can I earn with the CHST or OHST without a degree?

In most markets, $75,000 to $95,000 is the realistic range for mid-career professionals holding these credentials without a degree, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. Some high-hazard industries and large metro markets pay above this range. Verify current BLS data as wages shift annually.

What’s the difference between the CHST and OHST?

The CHST (Construction Health and Safety Technician) is specific to construction environments. The OHST (Occupational Health and Safety Technician) covers general industry. If you work in construction, get the CHST. If you’re in manufacturing, warehousing, utilities, or a mix of industries, the OHST is the better fit.

Do I need a degree to take HAZWOPER training?

No. HAZWOPER training has no degree requirement. It’s available to any worker who needs it for their job. Some employers require it for safety roles in chemical or environmental environments regardless of your other credentials.

Is finishing a degree online worth it for a safety career?

Almost always yes, if you plan to advance past the $90,000 range. The online ABET-accredited programs at Western Illinois, Columbia Southern, and Embry-Riddle are built for working adults. Completing one of those programs unlocks ASP and CSP eligibility, which is what the top-paying safety roles actually require. The salary difference between a CHST holder and a CSP holder at the senior level is often $25,000 to $40,000 per year.