QHSE Association

login/sign up
Menu
{{ search }}
login/sign up

CERTIFICED QHSE MANAGER®
CQHSE-M®

 

Connecting QHSE professionals to drive sustainable Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental excellence.

CERTIFIED QHSE MANAGER® (CQHSE-M®)

QHSE Association – Professional Certification Framework: An Introduction

Welcome to the QHSE Association’s Professional Certification Framework, a meticulously designed tiered system created to guide and validate the expertise of individuals across the Quality, Health, Safety, and Environmental (QHSE) landscape. Whether you’re just starting your career, advancing to a leadership role, specializing in training, or contributing at an expert level, our framework provides clear pathways for professional growth and recognition.

Each certification in this framework is built upon robust standards, ensuring that certified professionals possess the knowledge and skills vital for today’s dynamic work environments. We’re committed to fostering excellence and promoting best practices that lead to safer, healthier, and more sustainable operations worldwide.

This page details the first step in your QHSE professional journey: the Certified QHSE Manager® (CQHSE-M®).

Overview

The Certified QHSE Manager® (CQHSE-M®) is specifically designed for department heads, project QHSE leads, and senior advisory roles. This certification is for professionals who bear significant responsibility for strategic planning, governance, and the overall QHSE performance of an organization.

Our objective with the CQHSE-M is to cultivate high-level leadership capabilities essential for strategic QHSE planning, robust governance, effective policy development, and the crucial task of fostering a strong, positive safety culture across the entire workforce.

Upon successful completion, you’ll demonstrate mastery in competencies such as:

  • Developing and implementing overarching strategic QHSE plans, policies, and objectives that align with organizational goals.
  • Leading organization-wide compliance programs, overseeing external audits, and managing complex regulatory reporting.
  • Proficiently handling budgeting and resource allocation for QHSE initiatives, while effectively engaging with senior management and key external stakeholders.
  • Promoting and embedding a strong, positive QHSE culture throughout the workforce through various impactful initiatives.
  • Strategically managing complex QHSE risks across multi-site operations or large-scale projects.

This certification equips leaders to drive QHSE performance at an executive and strategic level, influencing organizational direction and culture to achieve sustained excellence.

Requirements

To earn your Certified QHSE Manager® (CQHSE-M®) certification, here’s what you’ll need:

Qualification Prerequisites:

  • Certification Pathway: You must hold the Certified QHSE Professional® (CQHSE-P®) certification.
  • OR Experience Pathway: Alternatively, you can qualify with a minimum of five (5) years of documented full-time experience in a senior QHSE management or supervisory role. This experience must clearly demonstrate direct leadership of teams or multi-site projects.
  • Evidence of Leadership: You must submit a professional statement or portfolio specifically outlining your leadership experience, strategic contributions, and significant achievements in QHSE projects or programs.

Examination Format:

  • The assessment for this certification is extensive and rigorous. It includes a comprehensive strategic planning exercise, a complex case study analysis, and a formal professional interview with a panel of senior QHSE experts to evaluate your strategic thinking and leadership acumen.

Certification Validity:

  • Your CQHSE-M® certification is valid for 5 years from the date of issue.

Renewal Requirements:

  • To maintain your certification, you’ll need to demonstrate 40 hours of relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD). This includes executive leadership training, authorship of published articles, or participation in major conference speaking engagements. You’ll also be required to submit a detailed professional portfolio highlighting your strategic leadership achievements and demonstrable organizational impact during the renewal period.

Suitable For

The Certified QHSE Manager® (CQHSE-M®) is an excellent credential for senior professionals aspiring to or currently in influential roles such as:

  • QHSE Managers: Overseeing entire QHSE departments and driving the strategic direction of safety, quality, and environmental programs.
  • Senior Safety Advisors: Providing expert guidance and consultation on complex safety challenges and strategic initiatives.
  • Project QHSE Leads: Taking full ownership of QHSE performance and compliance for major projects.
  • Department Heads (QHSE): Leading and managing all QHSE functions within a specific business unit or organizational division.

Application & Certification Process

Your journey to becoming a Certified QHSE Manager certificant begins with a straightforward application process.

1. Apply Online: You can apply for certification at any time by selecting the ‘My Profile’ portal located in the top right-hand corner of any QHSEA.ORG webpage. Simply create your account to get started.

2. Application Review & Eligibility: The QHSE Association will thoroughly review your application once it is submitted and the initial payment has been made. It is crucial that you meet all the specified certification requirements to be deemed eligible. Once your application is approved, candidates have one (1) year to schedule and successfully pass the certification’s examination.

3. Examination Details:

  • Examination Format: The assessment for this certification is extensive and rigorous. It includes a comprehensive strategic planning exercise, a complex case study analysis, and a formal professional interview with a panel of senior QHSE experts to evaluate your strategic thinking and leadership acumen.
  • Examination Fee: The examination fee for the CQHSE-M® is $1,500 USD. This fee covers your attempt(s) at the certification exam and the initial issuance of your certificate upon passing. This can be purchased during the application process as an application and exam/exam bundle combo option, or it can be purchased after your application is approved.
  • Exam Re-sit Fee: Should you need to re-take the exam, a re-sit fee of $500 USD will apply per attempt.

4. Achieve & Maintain Certification: Candidates who successfully meet all prerequisites and pass the examination are officially awarded their Certified QHSE Manager® certification and become proud QHSE Association Certificants.

To support the continued advancement of the safety profession and ensure the recognition and value of QHSEA credentials, an annual credential maintenance fee of $150 USD is assessed to credential holders. This fee allows you to retain active use of your QHSEA credentials.

Furthermore, all credential holders must remain up-to-date with changes in professional practice by sharing their activities to earn recertification points. Your CQHSE-M® is valid for 5 years. At the end of this period, a recertification (renewal) fee of $550 USD will be required, along with evidence of your accumulated recertification points/CPD hours, to renew your certification for another 5 years.

CONTACT US

📞 Get in Touch

QHSE Association Headquarters

QHSE Association – 67 Revelon Rd, London, SE4 2PW

📧 Email:  [email protected]
📞 Phone: +44 (7481) 436696
🌐 Website: www.qhsea.org