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Safety Officer Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a safety officer. Safety officers usually study business, criminal justice, or nursing. 52% of safety officers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 11,147 real safety officer resumes to see exactly what safety officer education sections show.
The most common colleges for safety officers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online safety officer courses to help get the education required to be a safety officer.
There are certain safety officer certifications that you should consider. These safety officer certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate and Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST).
What education do you need to become a safety officer?
What degree do you need to be a safety officer?
- Bachelor's, 52%
- Associate, 20%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Master's, 9%
- Other Degrees, 8%
What should I major in to become a safety officer?
- Business, 18%
- Criminal Justice, 16%
- Nursing, 6%
- Biology, 5%
- Other Majors, 55%
Most common colleges for safety officers
| Safety Officer Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 17.46% |
| Columbia Southern University | 16.80% |
| Excelsior College | 5.11% |
| American University | 5.11% |
| Texas A&M University | 4.78% |
Best majors for safety officers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business | 18.2% |
| 2 | Criminal Justice | 15.7% |
| 3 | Nursing | 5.7% |
| 4 | Biology | 5.1% |
| 5 | Management | 5.0% |
Best colleges for safety officers
The best colleges for safety officers are Boston University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
A safety officer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for safety officers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become safety officers.
1. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Enrollment
9,142
2. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
3. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
4. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Enrollment
9,394
5. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
6. Howard University
Washington, DC • Private
In-State Tuition
$26,756
Enrollment
6,166
7. SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,011
Enrollment
13,434
8. Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,926
Enrollment
9,835
9. SUNY College at Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,369
Enrollment
5,229
10. SUNY College at Oswego
Oswego, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,440
Enrollment
7,039
20 best online courses for safety officers
Advertising Disclosure
1. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings
A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
2. Fire Safety: Become A Fire Safety Expert
Become an expert in Fire Safety, Fire Hazards Control, Fire Evacuation Plans, and Fire Risk Assessment...
3. NEBOSH FIRE SAFETY
Managing Fire Safety in Workplace...
4. Basic Fire Safety Awareness
Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...
5. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management
A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...
6. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment
Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...
7. Functional Safety for Safety Instrumented Systems
The most complete course available on Functional Safety. 2+ hours of videos, case studies, assignments, & more...
8. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System
Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...
9. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors
The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...
10. Occupational Health & Safety Training
Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...
11. Fun food safety and sanitation course
The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...
12. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics
A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...
13. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)
Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...
14. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.
OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...
15. NEBOSH health and safety Management System
It Shows the Start point to Build your Health & safety Career and how to Join the field and becoming HSE Specialist...
16. Basic Certificate in Health Safety & Environment-HSE Level 2
A comprehensive course for Safety Officers, Supervisors, Managers and Aspiring Safety Professionals...
17. Fire Safety and Prevention Planning
Become an expert in understanding Fire Safety and Prevention Planning for your workplaces and organizations...
18. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.
How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...
19. ISO 45001. Occupational health & safety management system
Upgrate your health and safety career by understanding the requriements for an OH & S management system from ISO 45001...
20. Refresher course of Safety Management Systems
A quick overview for aviation managers and safety professionals about basic concepts and philosophy of SMS...
Top 10 most affordable universities for safety officers
The most affordable schools for safety officers are SUNY Farmingdale, california state university - bakersfield, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for safety officers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for safety officers.
1. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,306
Cost of Attendance
16,091
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,309
Cost of Attendance
16,714
3. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,587
Cost of Attendance
13,043
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
6. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,064
Cost of Attendance
15,576
7. SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,238
Cost of Attendance
21,567
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
9. Clayton State University
Morrow, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,419
Cost of Attendance
17,697
10. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,656
Cost of Attendance
21,623
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for safety officers
The hardest universities for safety officers to get into are Boston University, Stanford University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for safety officers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for safety officers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
4%
SAT Average
1,497
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
4. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions Rate
42%
SAT Average
1,380
5. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
40%
SAT Average
1,376
6. University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
41%
SAT Average
1,321
7. Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
50%
SAT Average
1,284
8. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
28%
SAT Average
1,429
9. University of Denver
Denver, CO • Private
Admissions Rate
56%
SAT Average
1,300
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for safety officers
The easiest schools for safety officers to get into are Nyack College, notre dame college, and gwynedd mercy university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a safety officer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for safety officers.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
2. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
90%
SAT Average
994
3. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
92%
SAT Average
1,031
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
1,003
5. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
992
6. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
93%
SAT Average
1,026
7. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
81%
SAT Average
999
8. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions Rate
97%
SAT Average
1,050
9. Manor College
Jenkintown, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
94%
SAT Average
898
10. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
964
Average safety officer salary by education level
| Safety Officer education level | Safety Officer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $61,195 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,223 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $49,730 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $48,537 |
Safety Officer Education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025