How to get a COR or SECOR in Alberta through ACSA
Alberta's Certificate of Recognition for construction, step by step through ACSA: who needs COR or SECOR, the courses, the audit, and keeping it.
Short answer
In Alberta, a Certificate of Recognition (COR) shows your health and safety program meets provincial standards. Construction firms usually get it through the Alberta Construction Safety Association. Firms with 10 or fewer workers can get a Small Employer COR (SECOR) by self-evaluation. Both need an active WCB-Alberta account, courses, three months of records and an audit.
Many Alberta construction and facility tenders ask for a Certificate of Recognition (COR), or score you higher if you have one. In Alberta, CORs are issued jointly by the Government of Alberta and a certifying partner. For construction, that partner is usually the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA).
COR or SECOR: which one do I need?
It depends on your size. ACSA says SECOR is limited to employers with no more than 10 employees at any time, and that count includes owners, managers, part-time and temporary workers, family members and volunteers. Bigger firms need a full COR.
| SECOR | COR | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | 10 or fewer employees | More than one employee; usual for over 10 |
| Courses | PHSM (or PHSM for SECOR) plus one industry safety course | Four courses, including auditor training |
| Audit | Self-evaluation, submitted to ACSA | External audit by a peer or consultant auditor |
| Valid for | Typically three years | Typically three years |
Both need an active WCB-Alberta account and ACSA membership. See WCB-Alberta clearance letters if you don't have an account yet.
How do I get a SECOR?
- Join ACSA and make sure your WCB-Alberta account is active.
- Take the courses. A full-time employee completes Principles of Health and Safety Management (PHSM, or PHSM for SECOR) and one industry course from ACSA's list. Different people can take different courses.
- Build and run your safety program, then gather at least three months of records: hazard assessments, inspections, toolbox talks, training and incident reports.
- Complete the SECOR Evaluation and submit it to ACSA electronically, organised one folder per element.
How do I get a full COR?
- Join ACSA with an active WCB-Alberta account.
- Train at least one full-time employee in four courses: Principles of Health and Safety Management, Leadership for Safety Excellence, Alberta OHS Legislation Awareness, and the Auditor Training Program.
- Run your program for at least three months and keep the records.
- Pass a certification audit by a peer auditor or an ACSA-certified consultant auditor. ACSA says it must score at least 80% overall and at least 50% on each element.
How do I keep it?
In the two years between certification audits, you complete a maintenance audit or action plan each year. For COR, ACSA says internal audits must score 60% or more. For SECOR, at least one full-time employee must also take a continuing education course of four hours or more every three years. After three years you recertify.
Keeping it up also keeps you eligible for WCB-Alberta's Partners in Injury Reduction (PIR) refunds, which can return part of your premiums.
Does my BC COR count in Alberta?
Alberta's COR page doesn't say a BC COR is recognized. If a tender asks for COR, ask the buyer in writing whether your BC certificate meets the requirement, and check with ACSA whether it offers a route for firms already certified elsewhere. Our BC COR guide covers the BC program.
Is it worth it for a small crew?
If you plan regular Alberta construction or facility work, usually yes. Some tenders make COR mandatory, many score it, and the records you keep for it are the same ones that win the safety section of a bid. Start with our safety program for a small crew.
What to do next
Sources
Rules and forms change. Check the official page before you rely on a detail here.