CHST vs CSP vs ASP: which BCSP exam?
BCSP offers several credentials, and these three get mixed up most. The CHST is for people with three years in construction safety and needs no degree. The ASP and CSP are the professional-level pair: a degree route, a year of experience for the ASP, four for the CSP. Which one is right depends on your background and the work you want. This page lays out BCSP's own numbers side by side.
The short answer
- You have 3 years in construction safety and no degree: the CHST is the match. BCSP's sheet lists no minimum education for it.
- You hold a bachelor's degree (or an SH&E associate) and about a year of professional-level safety work: the ASP is within reach. Associate degrees must include at least four courses and 12 semester hours in the SH&E domains of the ASP blueprint.
- You hold a bachelor's degree, four years of professional-level safety experience and a credential on BCSP's list: the CSP is the target.
Try one question
Question 1 of the free 10-question check on CHST. No signup.
Emergency Preparedness, Incident Investigation, and Response
On a building under construction, what is the longest allowed travel distance from any point of the protected area to the nearest fire extinguisher?
Choose an answer to begin
CHST, ASP and CSP side by side
| CHST | ASP | CSP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | None listed | Bachelor's in any field, or an SH&E associate with 12 semester hours in the ASP domains | Bachelor's in any field |
| Experience | 3 years in construction safety, at least 35% of duties requiring technical skills and knowledge in SH&E | 1 year of SH&E experience, at least 50% preventative, professional-level work with breadth and depth | 4 years of SH&E experience, at least 50% preventative, professional-level work, and a credential on BCSP's list |
| Application fee | $140 | $160 | $160 |
| Exam fee | $300 | $350 | $350 |
| Time allowed | 4 hours | 5 hours | 5.5 hours |
| Recertification (5-year cycle) | 20 points, 0.5 from ethics | 25 points, 0.5 from ethics | 25 points, 0.5 from ethics |
| Renewal fee | $150 | $175 | $185 |
Every figure is from BCSP's credentials sheet, read 24 Oct 2026. BCSP says fees and passing scores can change without advance notice.
How the exams differ in focus
The CHST blueprint is built for construction work: it names excavations, fall protection, cranes, silica, lead, noise, concrete and the program duties that go with them. The ASP and CSP blueprints are broader safety, health and environmental exams, and each has its own blueprint on BCSP's site. Read the CHST outline and the other blueprints before you decide. The CHST is also the shorter sit, at 4 hours.
Which one first?
- Check your experience against the table. If you do not have three years in construction safety, none of the choices is open yet. The eligibility guide goes through the CHST rule.
- Match the credential to the job. Read the posting or contract that sent you here and see which credential it names. If it names none, the CHST is the usual construction-site pick.
- Count the cost. At BCSP's list prices, the CHST application and exam come to $440 if paid separately. The cost and scheduling guide shows the combined price and bundle.
- Remember it is not either or. Many people hold the CHST first and consider a professional-level credential later, once the degree and experience line up.
Start with the CHST? Take the free check
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Sources
Show the list
- BCSP credentials at a glance, Board of Certified Safety Professionals: education, experience, fees, time allowed and recertification for the CHST, ASP and CSP. Read 24 Oct 2026.
- Construction Health and Safety Technician, Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
- CHST Examination Blueprint (CHST5, V.2022.04.12), Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
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