SSE Frequently Asked Questions

Staffing firms can register by contacting Emily Lawson, ASA Director of Education and Certification, e******@americanstaffing.net or 703-253-1145.

The initial application fee is:

The application fee includes access to the program’s online resources and tools. Assessment fees are separate. Assessment fees range from $3,300 to $18,000 and are dependent upon the total number of branch offices your firm has.

Applying firms will receive a copy of “Prepare for Your Visit,” which will contain a list of materials the consultant will need to view, have access to, or observe first-hand, or people the consultant may want to interview while at the company’s corporate office or branch offices. This information is also accessible online through the Safety Standard of Excellence program portal.

Each on-site assessment conducted will result in a report containing detailed information on what criteria the applicable staffing firm office scored well on and what improvement opportunities exists.

The consultant will be reviewing and assigning values for each criterion within the 9 sections outlined in the program guide.

The consultant will assess the criteria using the following values on a 1-3 scale:

1. Little or no evidence exists that this is in place; adhered to sporadically; few best practices as listed are being followed
2. There is some evidence this is in place; adhered to somewhat consistently; several best practices as listed are being followed
3. There is strong evidence that this is in place; practiced consistently; most best practices as listed are being followed

A score will be generated for each of the sections using an average of all its criteria values (the “Section Scores”). There are 7-8 Section Scores depending on whether the firm has nurse staffing functions. An “Office Score” will be generated using an average of all Section Scores for that office. If this is the only on-site visit, this Office Score will determine whether a staffing firm or brand will earn use of the program Mark (the “Staffing Firm Score”). In the case of on-site visits to multiple offices of an applicant staffing firm, an average firm, an average of all Office Scores within the same brand will determine the Staffing Firm Score.

Applicants with Staffing Firm Scores at or above a 2.3 will earn the use of the Mark. Those firms that do not score at or above a 2-3 may elect to undergo additional consulting action planning or training to ensure recommendations are implemented, after which they can be reassessed. A fee will be charged for additional assessments (see fee schedule).

Those firms that do not score at or above a 2.3 may either implement the recommended actions or may elect to undergo additional consulting, action planning, or training to ensure recommendations are implemented, after which they can be reassessed. An additional fee will be charged for the second assessment and reports.

Yes. You can access the Safety Standard of Excellence portal anywhere, anytime, and on virtually any mobile device (iOS and Android).

Yes—individual staffing firm employees who review resources that are part of the program may be eligible for passive continuing education credit for purposes of ASA certification programs (Certified Staffing Professional®, Technical Services Certified℠, Certified Search Consultant®, Certified Health Care Staffing Professional®). As you earn CE hours to maintain your ASA credential, you need to submit them to ASA using the online CE submission form. Once you submit CE hours to ASA, it may take up to three business days for the approved CE to appear in your CE status.

For staffing firms seeking to renew their use of the earned Mark, a minimum of a half day on-site assessment every two years will be necessary to validate original findings. Renewal on-site assessment fees at the staffing firm’s corporate headquarters will be $1875 plus an $800 travel fee. Additional assessments at branch offices will be charged at $1875 per day plus an $800 travel fee.

In addition, there is a renewal application fee:

Renewal fees do not include assessment(s). Renewal assessments are required to renew use of the mark every two years. Payment of the renewal application fee does not guarantee continued use of the Mark.

Renewal assessment fees are determined based on company structure and size and range from $2,800 to $13,300.

Email e******@americanstaffing.net or call 703-253-1145. Emily Lawson, Director, Education and Certification, will connect you with the National Safety Council if unable to answer your question directly.