Total Worker Health Alliance Curriculum

A series of TWH-focused courses designed to meet the standards of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s TWH approach and features. 

Total Worker Health Professional Certificate

This professional certificate program is hosted by the University of Washington (UW), Northwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, in close collaboration with the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, the UW Pacific Northwest OSHA continuing education program, and Portland State University’s Industrial/Occupational Health Psychology and TWH programs. 

The certificate program is designed to equip working professionals with a deep and practical understanding of the TWH approach. Participants who complete the program will acquire competency to begin implementing TWH concepts and principles within organizations. The program provides information on the key determinants of physical and psychological health encountered at work and the knowledge to foster systems changes to address these determinants from an organizational level by building effective interdisciplinary workplace teams and more integrated and evidence-informed solutions. 

To obtain this professional certificate, participants need to complete a 26-hour virtual course in Total Worker Health: Advancing Worker Well-being in the Workplace, plus other related courses in safety and health management, supervisory duties, leadership development, ergonomics, root cause analysis, and industrial hygiene. 

Total Worker Health®: Advancing well-being in the workplace

This 26- hour course involves completing 10 hours of virtual instructor-led class time and 16 hours of self-paced e-learning over 6 weeks. Enrolled participants are required to follow the sequence of the self-paced modules using Canvas Learning Management System and to attend three pre-scheduled virtual instructor-led sessions using Zoom Video Conference format. Class sizes are small to allow unique attention to each participant's needs and one-on-one interaction with the instructors (maximum 20 students). No prior knowledge of Total Worker Health is required, but enrolled students should be familiar with the field of occupational health and safety. This course is offered twice a year: in the Spring and the Fall.

This course serves as the key required course for individuals enrolling in the joint UW DEOHS CE/OHWC Total Worker Health Certificate Program. Individuals not seeking the Certificate may enroll and attend the course as a standalone.