TRAINING PROCESS FOR PEOPLE NEW TO BIOSAFETY CABINET TRAINING
What program should I follow to become certified in BSC testing and maintenance?
Students follow our Global Safety Certification Program, which includes two phases. Each phase combines classroom instruction with practical hands-on training.
What is included in Phase 1?
Week 1 Courses:
Week 2 Course:
- Beginner Applied Practice Workshop (Optional, but highly recommended)
After Phase 1 training, students return to their country/company to begin testing safety cabinets. At this stage, they can verify cabinet functionality but cannot decontaminate or repair BSC’s yet. We recommend testing regularly, so you will not forget all of the concepts taught and your newly acquired skills.
What is included in Phase 2?
Week 1 Course:
- Advanced Applied Practice Workshop (Optional, but highly recommended)
Week 2 Course:
Students typically return to Sanford, Maine about six months to one year later, depending on their comfort with Phase 1 skills and amount of BSC testing completed in their country/company.
At this point, students may decide to sit for the NSF Biosafety Cabinet Field Certifier Accreditation exam. The exam is proctored at our facility immediately following the Advanced Certification course. Please note, application and payment for the exam is done through NSF, and you are required to have at least one year of experience certifying cabinets. Contact NSF at lpollard@nsf.org for more information.
Are the Applied Practice Workshops hands-on?
Yes. Both the Beginner and Advanced Applied Practice Workshops are small-group, hands-on sessions led by senior instructors. Each workshop lasts one full week and provides personalized training.
Where and when are classes held?
- Location: Sanford, Maine, USA
- Class Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day
- Biosafety Cabinet, Fume Hood & Lab Design Week: Generally held each May and November
- Advanced Certification Class: Generally offered each March and September (and sometimes June and December)
This training can also be completed in your country upon request. Please fill out our contact form for more information.
What is provided during the course?
We Provide:
- Course manuals
- Certificates of completion for each phase
- Morning refreshments
- Afternoon refreshments
- Coffee and tea
- Lunch each business day
We Do Not Provide:
- Travel (airfare and hotel) – but we can assist with hotel suggestions
- Typical hotel costs: $120–$180 per night
- Dinner
- Transportation (renting a car is recommended).
- For international students that can’t drive in the USA, we can assist in finding transportation options.
Are there any prerequisites?
There are no formal prerequisites to begin Phase 1. However, students should have:
- Strong math skills (including Algebra)
- Mechanically inclined
- A willingness to practice regularly in between phases
- Proficiency in English