The accreditation of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Practitioners and Consultants remains one of the most important regulatory mechanisms of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to ensure that only qualified individuals render professional OSH services in Philippine workplaces. Although Republic Act No. 11058 and Department Order No. 198-18 (IRR of RA 11058) primarily focus on employer obligations and the mandatory appointment of safety officers, the accreditation of practitioners and consultants who offer services on a retained, part-time, or project basis continues to be governed by the long-standing rules under the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) Rule 1030, as implemented by Department Order No. 16, series of 2001, as amended by Department Order No. 57-04 and supplemented by various DOLE memoranda and regional issuances.

As of December 2025, no new department order has completely superseded DO 16-01/DO 57-04 with regard to accreditation of individual practitioners and consultants. The system therefore remains in force.

Types of DOLE OSH Accreditation for Individuals

OSH Practitioner
Authorized to render advisory/consultancy services on a part-time or retainer basis to one or more clients simultaneously. Most company-retained safety officers who also accept external clients fall under this category.
OSH Consultant (Individual)
Authorized to render full-time or exclusive OSH services, or to act as the head/technical manager of an OSH consulting organization. This is required when a high-risk establishment engages an external “full-time” safety professional.

(Note: Separate accreditation is required for OSH Consulting Organizations and for Occupational Health Physicians under different issuances.)

Minimum Qualifications for Accreditation as OSH Practitioner

The applicant must comply with ALL of the following:

Filipino citizen (or foreign national with valid working visa/AEP and reciprocity agreement).
At least 21 years of age.
Must have completed the 40-hour Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training Course or its industry-specific equivalent (COSH, SOH for maritime, etc.) conducted by a DOLE-accredited safety training organization (STO).
Must have at least three (3) years of relevant experience in occupational safety and health. Experience is counted as follows:
- Full-time safety officer / OSH staff
- Member of company Safety and Health Committee performing OSH functions
- OSH trainer or consultant (even without prior accreditation, if supported by contracts and proof of services rendered)
- OSH-related work in government (DOLE, ECC, OSHC, etc.)
Of good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
Physically and mentally fit (some regional offices require a medical certificate).

Additional Qualifications for Accreditation as OSH Consultant (Individual)

In addition to all the requirements for Practitioner:

At least five (5) years of relevant OSH experience.
Must have completed at least one (1) DOLE-prescribed Advanced/Specialized Occupational Safety and Health Training Course (80 hours or more) or its equivalent.
Preferably a graduate of any four- or five-year college course and/or a licensed professional (engineer, nurse, chemist, etc.) with OSH-related practice.

Where to File the Application

Applications are filed with the DOLE Regional Office that has jurisdiction over the applicant’s residence or principal place of practice/business. Some regions now accept online submission through the DOLE OSH Practitioner Accreditation Portal (if available in the region) or via email, but original documents and payment are still required for final processing.

Complete Documentary Requirements for OSH Practitioner (2025)

Duly accomplished Application Form for Accreditation as OSH Practitioner (DOLE-BWC Form No. AF-PCN-2020 or latest version). Downloadable from the regional DOLE website.
Two (2) pieces recent 2×2 colored photo with name tag (white background).
Photocopy of BOSH/COSH/SOH certificate(s) issued by DOLE-accredited STO (bring original for verification).
Proof of three (3) years OSH experience:
- Certificate(s) of Employment with actual duties and responsibilities as safety officer/OSH personnel, OR
- Notarized Affidavit of OSH Experience with supporting contracts, payslips, company IDs, or DTRs, OR
- Service Record (for government employees)
Diploma or Transcript of Records (for degree holders; optional but strengthens application).
NBI Clearance (valid within the last 6 months) or Police/Barangay Clearance.
Medical Certificate of fitness issued by a DOLE-accredited OH Physician or government physician (some regions require this).
Proof of payment of accreditation fee.

Accreditation Fees (as of 2025, subject to regional variation)

OSH Practitioner: ₱1,000.00 (application + ID card)
OSH Consultant (Individual): ₱2,000.00–₱3,000.00

Payment is made through LandBank, BancNet, or GCash in most regions.

Processing Period

Under the DOLE Citizen’s Charter, the regional office must act on the application within fifteen (15) working days from receipt of complete documents. In practice, properly documented applications are approved within 5–10 working days.

Validity of Accreditation

Three (3) years from date of issuance.

The accreditation certificate and laminated ID card bear the signature of the Regional Director and the BWC Director.

Renewal Requirements (must file at least 60 days before expiry)

Duly accomplished Renewal Application Form.
Original expired accreditation certificate and ID card.
Proof of at least sixteen (16) hours of continuing professional development in OSH within the last three years (certificates from DOLE-accredited STOs, OSHNet seminars, PHILWASHA, SOEMPI, etc.).
Updated proof of continuing OSH practice/experience.
Updated NBI clearance.
Renewal fee: ₱1,000.00 (Practitioner) / ₱2,000.00 (Consultant).

Late renewal is allowed within one (1) year from expiry upon payment of surcharge (50% of renewal fee) and compliance with CPD requirements.

Obligations of Accredited OSH Practitioners/Consultants

Render only competent and ethical services.
Issue OSH reports, programs, and recommendations in accordance with the OSHS and RA 11058.
Submit annual report of services rendered to the DOLE Regional Office (some regions require this).
Maintain continuing professional development.
Display the accreditation certificate/ID in the workplace or during inspections.
Notify DOLE of any change in address or contact details within 30 days.

Grounds for Denial, Suspension, or Revocation of Accreditation

Submission of falsified documents
Gross negligence or incompetence resulting in death or serious injury
Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude
Practicing beyond the authorized scope
Failure to comply with continuing education requirements (for renewal)
Engaging in “fixing” or other unethical practices during DOLE OSH inspections

Revocation proceedings follow due process with notice and hearing.

Important Notes as of December 2025

Completion of BOSH/COSH alone does NOT make one an “accredited OSH Practitioner.” The training certificate only qualifies a person to be appointed as Safety Officer 2/3 in a company. Separate DOLE accreditation is required only when the individual intends to offer consultancy services to external clients.
Many companies mistakenly believe that their safety officer must be DOLE-accredited. Accreditation is required only when the safety officer is engaged as an external consultant or when the establishment is expressly required by the Regional Office to engage an accredited practitioner/consultant.
Physicians seeking to practice occupational medicine must secure separate accreditation as Occupational Health Physician from the DOLE Regional Office under different guidelines.

This article reflects the standard requirements and procedures uniformly applied throughout the Philippines as of December 2025. Minor regional variations may exist (e.g., additional medical exam requirements in Region VII or online submission in NCR). Applicants are strongly advised to coordinate directly with their DOLE Regional Office for the latest forms and any new memoranda or advisories.