Become an Instructor

How to become a COSS or COSM instructor

Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS) Instructor Requirements

COSS Instructors are experts in occupational safety and health with a minimum of five years of work or teaching experience in the field. COSS Instructors are also authorized OSHA Outreach Training Instructors in both construction and general industries and hold an active COSS credential.

6 Steps to Become a COSS instructor

1. DOCUMENT SUBMISSION
   Submit a cover letter, resume including five years of work and teaching experience in occupational safety and health, three professional references, and copies of your current COSS certificate and OSHA Construction (#500) and General Industry (#501) trainer cards.
   
2. SCREENING INTERVIEW
   Qualified applicants will be scheduled for an interview with a member of the COSS Administrative Team to discuss qualifications, safety and teaching philosophies, and expectations.
   
3. 45-MINUTE SAMPLE TEACHING
   Selected applicants will be invited to provide a 45-minute sample teaching presentation to a member of the COSS Administrative Team on a safety topic from the COSS curriculum. The sample teaching will be evaluated for both subject matter expertise and teaching technique.
   
4. INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE
   Selected applicants will be invited to attend a three-day Instructor Development Course (IDC) at a cost of $1,595. The course includes COSS content, adult learning, and a practicum.
   
5. TEAM TEACHING
   Successful IDC graduates will be invited to Team Teach with an authorized COSS instructor. The authorized COSS instructor will mentor and evaluate instructional performance, and make a hiring recommendation to the COSS Administrative Team.
   
6. OBSERVED TEACHING
   Recommended instructors will be given an opportunity to teach a COSS class in its entirety while being observed by an authorized COSS instructor. Mentoring and evaluation of instructional performance will be provided, and successful completion will result in being designated an Authorized COSS Instructor.

Certificate for Occupational Safety Managers (COSM) Instructor Requirements

COSM Instructors are experts in occupational safety and health with a minimum of five years of management-level work or teaching experience in the field. A post-graduate degree in occupational safety and health or a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) credential may be substituted for two years of experience. COSM Instructors hold an active COSM credential.

6 Steps to Become a COSM instructor

1. DOCUMENT SUBMISSION
   Submit a cover letter, a resume including five years of management-level occupational safety and health work and teaching experience, three professional references, and a copy of your current COSM certificate. A post-graduate degree in occupational safety and health or a Certified Safety Professional credential may be substituted for two years of experience.
   
2. SCREENING INTERVIEW
   Qualified applicants will be scheduled for an interview with a member of the COSM Administrative Team to discuss qualifications, safety and teaching philosophies, and expectations.
   
3. 45-MINUTE SAMPLE TEACHING
   Selected applicants will be invited to provide a 45-minute sample teaching presentation to a member of the COSM Administrative Team on a safety topic from the COSM curriculum. The sample teaching will be evaluated for both subject matter expertise and teaching technique.
   
4. INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT COURSE
   Selected applicants will be invited to attend a three-day Instructor Development Course (IDC) at a cost of $1,595. The course includes COSM content, adult learning, and a practicum.
   
5. TEAM TEACHING
   Successful IDC graduates will be invited to Team Teach with an authorized COSM instructor. The authorized COSM instructor will mentor and evaluate instructional performance, and make a hiring recommendation to the COSM Administrative Team.
   
6. OBSERVED TEACHING
   Recommended instructors will be given an opportunity to teach a COSM class in its entirety while being observed by an authorized COSM instructor. Mentoring and evaluation of instructional performance will be provided, and successful completion will result in being designated an Authorized COSM Instructor.