Safety Codes Officer Continuing Education
The Continuing Education program ensures that upgrading knowledge and skills is a priority for safety codes officers.
Gaining credits is easy
The SCO Continuing Education program is designed to be flexible, recognizing the work that goes into being a safety codes officer and encouraging individuals to meet their professional goals.
Report the work you’re already doing
Many SCOs are already doing the work to upgrade their professional qualifications and stay up-to-date on changes in the safety codes system. The Continuing Education program supports this work by recognizing common activities that SCOs take part in, including:
- Working as an SCO
- Attending industry events, including conferences and tradeshows
- Taking SCO training courses to upgrade a certification
- Completing code update training
Please be advised that 9 practice credits for your Designation of Powers won’t be added automatically, since your employment situation could change. Please make sure to log in to your Council Connect account and report practice credits manually.
Follow your interests
The Continuing Education program recognizes opportunities that expand SCOs’ technical knowledge and professional qualifications, as well as activities that contribute to the safety codes system as a whole.
- Explore topics outside of your discipline: SCOs are welcome to take technical courses or study informally outside of the discipline(s) that they are certified in.
- Enhance your professional skills: the Council recognizes activities and courses that build non-technical skills, such as courses on First Aid, computer application use, professional writing, public speaking, leadership training, or anti-bias training.
- Contribute to the safety codes system: SCOs can report a range of activities including membership(s) in professional organizations or committees, volunteering in a capacity related to the SCO profession, or providing formal mentorship.
The Council maintains a database of opportunities that can be reported for Continuing Education credit, including free and self-directed options.
Upload your credits before you renew in 2023
SCOs will need to report 30 Continuing Education credits through their Council Connect account in order to renew their certification.
If you are certified in more than one discipline, group, or level, you still only need to complete 30 credits total in order to renew.
Exemptions
If you worked part-time, on a voluntary basis, had medical or parental leave, or worked outside of the province, you might be eligible for a partial or full exemption from the program. The Administrator of Certification will review requests and grant exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
To apply for an exemption, click here.
Compliance Audits
Your file may be audited for compliance with the Continuing Education Program. Please ensure you retain any documentation that confirms completion of the activities that you reported. Some examples of proof of completion are listed below.
- Formal Learning: Proof of completion may be in the form of a course or exam mark, a certificate of completion, or other evidence of attendance.
- Informal Learning: Proof of completion for these activities may include a link to an article, self-study source, or YouTube workshop; a screenshot of meeting invite; or an attendance list.