The process in taking the safety coordinator course is not without hurdles and there are multiple paths you can take. You can either take a course, a bachelor’s degree, or a master’s course. Either of them will open the path for a career as a safety coordinator. Each one of these paths has different requirements and you may prefer one over the other depending on your situation.
#1. Finding an institution
The first step of the process in taking the safety coordinator course is finding an institution that offers it. There are several to choose from and because we live in the digital age, all of them have websites describing the enrollment process, eligibility, pricing, and the duration of the course. Keep in mind that not all institutions offer the same course formats. Some may offer the option to study remotely while others do not. There may also be the option for a part-time or full-time course.
#2. Choosing the right type of course
A standard Safety, Health, and Environmental course usually takes a couple of weeks and touches on many topics. Anyone is eligible for this course as the entry requirements are not very strict. The course is recommended for adults that already have experience or a job in the health and safety line of work.
If you never worked in health and safety but want to build a career in this field, it is recommended to enroll for a bachelor’s degree. You can get the degree in 36 months if you enroll in full-time studies. For part-time, the fastest you can get it is in 15 months if you apply for a year 3 entry.
The fastest option to obtain a degree in health and safety to become a safety coordinator is to get a master’s degree. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can enroll in a master’s program. It does not matter what your bachelor’s degree is as long as you finish your studies. Getting the master’s degree takes another 12 months.
Which one is better?
The basic course can be very useful for people that have experience in safety and health. It introduces some basic concepts and real-life applications for each topic discussed. However, it does not dive deeply into the topics studied. It can still bring value for the ones that have an established career and want to expand their knowledge.
For students that want to develop a long-term career, a degree in health and safety is required. The courses studied during a bachelor’s program or a master’s program take a deep dive into multiple topics. At the end of the process, the degree will prove to be much more valuable when seeking a job in the field than a simple diploma from a short course. If we are talking about the process in taking the safety coordinator course, a master’s or bachelor’s degree is a much better option. What you should be aware of is that the course structure may be different from one learning institution to another and you will have to do your research.