SECOR Certified: What It Means & How to Get Certified

SECOR usually shows up in one of two moments:

1. A client or GC asks for it in prequalification

2. You are growing and you realize safety is not just compliance. It affects risk, margin, and access to work

If you have been told “you need SECOR” and you are not sure what it actually means or how to get it, this post will walk you through what SECOR is, who qualifies, why companies pursue it, the benefits, and what the certification process typically looks like.

Not sure if you need SECOR vs COR? We will review how you are actually running safety today and tell you what to focus on next.

What is SECOR?

SECOR stands for Small Employer Certificate of Recognition.

It is awarded to employers who have developed and successfully implemented a health and safety program that meets provincial standards. Implemented is the keyword. You can have a strong manual, but if the program is not being used on jobs and in day to day operations, it will not hold up.

For most small contractors, SECOR becomes the framework that turns safety from “documents we have” into a system you can run consistently and prove during prequal, audits, and site walks.

A simple way to think about it is this:

• A manual is what you say you do

• SECOR is proving what you actually do

Who qualifies for SECOR?

SECOR qualification depends on your province and certifying partner.

Example in Alberta: ACSA’s SECOR process states your company cannot have more than 10 employees at any time within the past 12 months, counting all staff covered under your WCB Alberta account. That includes owners, managers, administrative staff, part time workers, temporary staff, and others covered under the account.

If you exceed the small employer threshold, you may need COR instead of SECOR.

If you are not sure how you are being counted, we can help you sort it out quickly.

Why should you get SECOR for your workplace?

Most companies pursue SECOR for one of these reasons:

• You’re expanding and want to improve your program and reduce incidents

• You’re required to have SECOR to bid on a project

• You’ve been offered a contract, but SECOR is required to move forward

There is also a fourth reason we see a lot: you are trying to reach the next tier of work and you are realizing safety is part of your qualification story, not just a compliance checkbox.

If SECOR is showing up in bids, the goal is not to scramble and “get the paperwork done.” The goal is to build a program you can run consistently so you can qualify repeatedly, not just once.

Benefits of Achieving and Maintaining SECOR

Employee confidence and retention

A clear safety system signals that you take health and safety seriously and that you are building a workplace where people can go home safe.

Fewer incidents and less disruption

A complete health and safety management system gives you structure for training, hazard controls, inspections, reporting, and corrective actions. That reduces the frequency and severity of incidents.

Better productivity

When expectations are consistent and hazards are controlled, crews spend less time dealing with rework, delays, and last minute shutdowns.

WCB incentives vary by province

In Alberta, WCB’s Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program notes employers can participate and be eligible for refunds up to 20% by maintaining a Certificate of Recognition (COR).
Many companies pursue SECOR as part of building toward COR, or because their certifying partner program supports incentives. Always confirm your specific incentive structure with your certifying partner and province.

We can tell you what incentives apply to your situation and what is required to maintain certification.

How do I become SECOR certified?

The exact steps vary by certifying partner, but the process generally follows this structure.

1) Confirm your certifying partner and eligibility

Start by confirming the SECOR path that applies to your industry and province, and whether you qualify based on the small employer threshold.

Example in Alberta: ACSA’s SECOR process outlines the eligibility threshold and counting method under a WCB Alberta account.

2) Set up the basics

In Alberta, ACSA notes you will need an active WCB Alberta account and an ACSA membership as part of the SECOR process.

3) Complete required training

Training requirements vary by certifying partner. In Alberta, ACSA publishes SECOR training requirements and maintenance expectations.

4) Build your safety program for your real work

This is where many companies go wrong. A generic binder creates pain later.

Your program should match your work and risks, and include the pieces your certifying partner expects such as hazard identification and control, inspections, training, incident reporting, and corrective action tracking.

5) Implement the program on real jobs

Implementation is the difference maker.

Implementation looks like:

• inspections happening consistently

• hazard controls being planned and used

• training records current and findable

• incidents and near misses reported and followed through

• corrective actions closed, not left open

• safety meetings or toolbox talks happening consistently

6) Complete the SECOR evaluation or audit process

Your certifying partner will guide what needs to be submitted and how evaluation is completed.

7) Maintain SECOR

Maintenance requirements vary by partner. Example in Alberta: ACSA notes that as maintenance, at least one full time employee must take an accredited ACSA course every three years. Requirements are current at the time of evaluation.

If you have documents but you are not sure your program is truly implemented, this is exactly what we assess.

The mistake that makes SECOR feel “hard”

Most contractors don’t struggle because they don’t care.

They struggle because proof is scattered and routines are inconsistent.

Here is what that looks like:

• training proof in texts

• inspections in notebooks

• toolbox talks in email threads

• documents in someone’s downloads folder

• corrective actions that are not tracked to closure

Then prequal hits or an evaluation is scheduled and everything turns into a late night scramble.

SECOR works best when safety becomes a simple routine your team repeats weekly, not a project you rebuild once a year.

Book a Safety Assessment

If SECOR is on your radar because of prequal, growth, or client requirements, don’t guess.

A Safety Assessment gives you clarity on:

• whether you qualify for SECOR or should be pursuing COR

• what is missing versus what you can keep

• what to fix first so the program becomes maintainable

• what is most likely to slow down certification

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