The role of a Certified Chief Occupational Health & Wellness Officer (CCOHWO) is essential in creating, managing, and leading health and wellness strategies that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being within the workforce. The CCOHWO is responsible for overseeing programs that prevent occupational illnesses, manage workplace health risks, support employee wellness, and comply with occupational health regulations. This executive role ensures that employee health is embedded into the culture of the organization, driving productivity, engagement, and long-term resilience. The Certified Chief Occupational Health & Wellness Officer (CCOHWO) certification is a globally respected credential that affirms a leader’s ability to manage comprehensive occupational health systems, wellness initiatives, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

The CCOHWO certification, awarded by the American Institute of Environment, Health & Safety (AIEHS), represents the highest level of professional recognition for executives leading occupational health and wellness efforts. This credential validates a candidate’s ability to develop evidence-based wellness programs, assess health-related risks, manage return-to-work policies, and enhance workplace safety culture through proactive health leadership. Certified professionals are recognized as strategic champions of workplace health promotion and holistic well-being.

Certification Program Objectives:

• Lead enterprise-wide occupational health and wellness strategies that improve employee health outcomes and resilience
• Oversee health surveillance, ergonomic risk assessment, and occupational disease prevention protocols
• Design and manage physical and mental wellness programs including stress management, fitness, and nutrition initiatives
• Ensure compliance with occupational health standards, return-to-work regulations, and employee health data confidentiality
• Advise executive leadership on health risk trends, workforce well-being metrics, and preventive health investments

Certification Eligibility Criteria:

To be considered for this certification, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Possess a Master’s degree from a recognized institution.
• Have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience at a senior management level.

Note: Exceptional candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree with at least 15 years of senior management experience may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Certifying Assessment / Examination:

To earn the Certified Chief Occupational Health & Wellness Officer (CCOHWO) certification, candidates must undergo a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation designed to assess their ability to lead health and wellness programs within diverse workplace environments.

As part of this assessment, candidates may be required to deliver a 30-minute executive presentation incorporating occupational health systems, wellness engagement strategy, chronic disease prevention, psychosocial risk management, and metrics for organizational health outcomes. This will be followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session to evaluate their capacity to implement holistic, compliant, and scalable health solutions.

For candidates pursuing a C-Level Professional Certification, this assessment may be substituted with a comprehensive examination consisting of 80 multiple-choice questions to be completed within a 3-hour timeframe. This examination rigorously evaluates the candidate’s knowledge in occupational health standards, wellness program design, mental health integration, regulatory compliance, and health risk analytics.

The assessment methodology ensures that the American Institute of Environment, Health & Safety (AIEHS) upholds the highest standards of professional certification, recognizing individuals who lead health and wellness transformation in complex workplace environments.

Certification Modules:

• Module 1: Occupational Health Strategy, Compliance, and Risk Mitigation
• Module 2: Workplace Wellness Program Design, Engagement, and Measurement
• Module 3: Ergonomics, Occupational Disease Prevention, and Environmental Health Integration
• Module 4: Mental Health, Psychosocial Safety, and Work-Life Balance Initiatives
• Module 5: Executive Leadership in Health Analytics, Policy Integration, and Workforce Resilience

* The modules of the certification are constantly updated and are subject to change.

Who Should Do This Certification:

The Certified Chief Occupational Health & Wellness Officer (CCOHWO) certification is ideal for professionals responsible for managing workplace health risks, employee wellness, and compliance with occupational health standards.

• Occupational health directors, medical officers, and wellness program managers overseeing employee health initiatives will benefit from advanced frameworks and strategic alignment
• Aspiring executives preparing to lead enterprise wellness or occupational risk functions will gain comprehensive tools for impact-driven health leadership
• Organizations aiming to reduce absenteeism, improve productivity, and build a healthier workforce will benefit from expert guidance on wellness investment and engagement models
• Public sector leaders, healthcare administrators, and human resources professionals integrating health into operational strategy will gain metrics-driven and compliance-aligned planning tools
• Health consultants, occupational hygienists, and workplace wellbeing advisors supporting EHS programs will strengthen their impact and credentials in organizational health strategy

Earning the CCOHWO certification signifies your expertise in creating healthy, safe, and resilient work environments that prioritize employee well-being. Whether you are advancing a culture of wellness, managing health surveillance systems, or addressing mental health challenges, this certification empowers you to lead with empathy, evidence, and enduring value.