Qualifications for Membership

The ASSE Admissions Committee develops criteria for assigning membership. Classifications based on the applicant’s certification, registration, education, experience and job responsibilities, as follows:

Regular Member Requirements:
  • Current employment in SH&E or one of its relevant specialties.
Professional Member Requirements:
  • 1. Shall be a certified safety professional (CSP) or certified industrial hygienist (CIH) in good standing with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals or American Board of Industrial Hygiene, respectively, or
  • 2. Shall hold an accredited certification from a body recognized by the Admissions Committee, hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university and shall have a minimum of 5 years in the aggregate professional safety, health and environmental experience, or
  • 3. Shall be registered or licensed by a state agency as a professional engineer (P.E.), hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university and shall have a minimum of 5 years in the aggregate professional safety, health and environmental experience, or
  • 4. Shall hold a doctorate level degree from an accredited college or university in a safety, health and environmental field recognized by the Admissions Committee and shall have a minimum of 5 years in the aggregate professional safety, health and environmental experience.
  • Thus, to obtain professional member status with ASSE, members must have one of the following certifications:
  • CSP
  • CIH

OR, one of the following certifications/licenses, along with a bachelor’s degree and 5 years of SH&E experience:

  • P.E.
  • Certified Health Physicist (CHP)
  • Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM)
  • Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP)
  • Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA)
  • Chartered Member-IOSH (CMIOSH)
  • Chartered Fellow-IOSH (CFIOSH)
  • Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS)
  • Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist (COHN-S)

OR must have a doctorate level degree in an SH&E field and 5 years of SH&E experience.

Associate Member

For those who provide services to the SH&E profession or who cooperate with SH&E professionals.

International Members

An International Member will be defined as "an applicant engaging in the broad practice of SH&E and residing outside the United States."

Professional Members and Members

Must also be employed in the Safety Profession or one of its specialties, performing at least two of the following functions of the professional safety position:

  • Anticipate, identify and evaluate hazardous conditions and practices.

  • Develop hazard control designs, methods, procedures and programs.

  • Implement, administer and advise others on hazard controls and hazard control programs.

  • Measure, audit and evaluate the effectiveness of hazard controls and hazard control programs.

Student

Applicants should request a separate application for Student Membership.

International Student Members

To qualify for student membership, enrollment in an accredited college degree program is required (college or university must appear in the American Council on education published in consultation with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation).

If you would like to confirm accreditation for your university, please contact Geri Golonka at ggolonka@asse.org. You may also apply for full membership in the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Personal Membership

Your Membership in ASSE is personal, individual and non-transferable. Membership fees are non-refundable.

Notification of Acceptance

Please allow two weeks following receipt of complete application for notification of your election to membership.

Service begins with your election to Membership.

Membership renewal notices are mailed prior to the anniversary of your join date and cover a one year period.