What does MESH stand for?
Manager of Environmental, Safety and Health.
Can I become certified or get a certification through the MESH Certificate Program?
No. MESH is a certificate, not a certification. Certifications are awarded by a third-party, standard-setting organization such as the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Certification results from an assessment process by which individuals are evaluated against predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, and/or competencies. The certification indicates a competency of a subject-matter as measured against a defensible set of standards that are set by an industry-wide process. Certification programs typically require some amount of professional experience and/or academic degrees from approved institutes of higher-education. Most certification programs have ongoing requirements to maintain certification such as Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
Certificates are generally awarded to recognize completion of a training course or series of courses. The requirements to receive a certificate are determined by the training provider and can vary widely. The MESH Certificate Program results in a certificate being issued to the participant to recognize successful completion of 100 hours of training related to occupational safety and health. The program is designed to serve individuals who find themselves responsible for environmental, safety or health management but who may not have the degrees or extensive experience in that area. There is no renewal requirement or on-going professional development hours required once the MESH certificate has been earned.
How does the MESH Certificate Program differ from OSHA’s Certificate Program?
The MESH Certificate Program (Manager of Environmental Safety and Health) is a North Carolina-based program sponsored by NC State Industry Expansion Solutions, NC Department of Labor, and the Safety and Health Council of NC and can be earned after taking 100 hours of safety training through a variety of training providers, including the Southeastern OTI Education Center.
The OSHA Public Sector Safety & Health Fundamentals Certificate Program is a national credential and supports OSHA’s mission by training employees in occupational safety and health to reduce incident rates for workers in state and local governments. All of the required and elective OSHA-numbered courses included in OSHA’s Certificate Program must be taken at an authorized OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center, such as the Southeastern OTI Education Center. Some OSHA-numbered courses taken for MESH credit may also be applied to the OSHA Certificate Program.
How does the MESH program work?
Earning a MESH certificate requires no specific educational background nor previous training. The certificate is awarded after successful completion of 100 hours of safety and health training, including a CORE course and 70 elective hours, and must be completed within a 5-year period. Please note, a minimum of 75 hours, including the CORE course, must be earned through the three program sponsors – NC State Industry Expansion Solutions (including the Southeastern OTI Education Center), the North Carolina Department of Labor and the Safety and Health Council of North Carolina. Begin by registering for the program and determining a preferred type of MESH Certificate. Upon submission of your information, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with further details and instructions, including a MESH log to keep track of your progress. You’ll need to complete a required CORE course and elective courses. When you have reached your 100 hours, submit your MESH log and certificates to mesh_certificate@ncsu.edu. We will verify your hours and provide you with a link to pay the processing fee. Your MESH certificate will be presented in class or shipped directly to you. Please note, the current processing fee for 2024 is $99. This price will be increasing to $125, effective January 1, 2025. You must complete and submit your MESH certificate documentation by December 16, 2024 to be processed under the 2024 processing fee.
Register for the MESH Certificate Program
Which courses may I apply to the MESH Certificate Program?
Environmental, health and safety continuing education courses offered by the three program sponsors are eligible for MESH credit. Be sure to look for the MESH Certificate logo or reference to MESH hours on websites and publications from the program sponsors to indicate courses that will be eligible for MESH. In addition, a maximum of 10 hours of credit may be earned by attending an approved NC Safety School or Conference. Up to 25 hours of credit may be obtained through safety courses taught by other providers. MESH participants must show proof of attendance and subject matter covered in the course as well as number of instructional hours in order to receive MESH credit from outside providers.
How far back can you go for training to still count?
Training can be counted for MESH credit from the previous five years (at the time you earn the MESH certificate).
What is the cost?
Aside from registration fees for some courses, the only cost of the MESH Certificate Program is a $99 filing fee that you submit upon completing the 100 required credit hours. The fee covers the MESH Program administrative costs as well as the preparation and delivery of the framed MESH certificate.
How soon can I complete this program?
Please refer to individual course descriptions for dates and locations from each MESH program sponsor. Courses are offered year round — some are offered several times each year and some are offered at multiple locations. A portion of the program can also be completed online. See next question.
Can the MESH program be completed online?
While there are many course options that may be completed online, the CORE course must be completed in person through one of the three MESH Program Sponsors. The menu on the right provides links to the requirements for each type of MESH certificate as well as options for online hours.
Who keeps a record of which courses I took?
Upon receipt of your registration, we will send you a MESH Certificate Log. As you complete courses you will document your hours using the certificate log and submit the course certificates of attendance to mesh_certificate@ncsu.edu. The organizations who provided your training should be able to provide re-prints of completion certificates or some other form of verification if you no longer have a record.
