The Certified Ergonomic Specialist (CES) designation is offered through EK Gillin & Associates Inc. and suits safety staff, HR, facilities and health professionals who assess workplace ergonomics. This page explains how the program is delivered, lists our topic-based practice sets, walks through sample questions and gives a study plan you can follow.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (E-Learning) | $2,595 CAD (+ HST)[1] | EK Gillin & Associates Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Validity | 3 years[2] | EK Gillin & Associates Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Delivery | Live in-person, live virtual (Zoom), or self-paced online (English & French)[2] | EK Gillin & Associates Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Eligibility | No prior experience required[2] | EK Gillin & Associates Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
| Testing window (Virtual Webinar) | Nov 23–27, 2026[2] | EK Gillin & Associates Inc. · Oct 27, 2026 |
According to EK Gillin & Associates Inc., “While prior health and safety experience is helpful, it’s not required.”[2]
The CES is a designation program run by EK Gillin & Associates Inc. (EKG). It gives a broad look at ergonomics in the workplace, and finishing the program earns a designation that is valid for 3 years.
EKG offers the course live in a classroom, live virtually over Zoom, or self-paced online in English and French. Prior health and safety experience is helpful but not required, so you can start without a technical background.
Fees depend on the format. The E-Learning version is listed at $2,595 CAD (+ HST). The virtual webinar has a scheduled window of Nov 23–27, 2026. Check EKG's course page before you register, because dates, prices and formats can change.
We have not verified how the program is assessed, what mark is needed, or what happens if you need to retry. Those details are not in the information we hold, so please confirm them directly with EKG rather than relying on this page.
Our practice sets are written by us with AI tools. They are not real exam questions and are not affiliated with EKG. Use them to test your understanding of ergonomic principles, spot weak topics and get used to reasoning through scenarios. They support the official course material and do not replace it.
Prepare for the CES - Certified Ergonomic Specialist exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: The recommended elbow angle when typing at a keyboard is approximately:
Answer: C. 90–110°
Explanation:
The correct answer is 90–110°. With the elbows bent in that range, the upper arms hang close to the body, the wrists stay neutral and the shoulders and forearms carry less static load.
45° is too closed. It lifts the hands and forces the shoulders and neck to work to hold the position. 70° is still tighter than the neutral range, so the forearm muscles stay tense. 130° is too open. It pushes the keyboard away or lowers it, which makes the user reach forward or drop the wrists.
The rule to remember: set up the workstation so the body stays near neutral postures, and adjust chair, desk and keyboard height to fit the person rather than asking the person to adapt.
Question: Which characteristic of a powered tool most reduces ergonomic risk compared to a manual version?
Answer: B. Elimination of repetitive forceful exertions
Explanation:
The correct answer is the elimination of repetitive forceful exertions. A powered tool takes over the work a worker would otherwise do with repeated muscle effort, so tendons and muscles take less cumulative loading.
Heavier weight for stability is wrong because added weight usually raises the load on the hand, wrist and arm. Louder noise output is wrong because noise is an added hazard and does nothing to reduce physical strain. A larger grip diameter is wrong as a general answer, since the right grip size depends on the hand and the task, and a bigger grip does not remove the repeated force.
The rule to remember: the best controls remove or reduce the risk factor itself, such as force or repetition, instead of only adjusting how the worker copes with it.
Question: What is the main purpose of building frequent microbreaks into highly repetitive work?
Answer: A. Allowing short recovery periods that reduce localized muscle fatigue
Explanation:
The correct answer is that short recovery periods reduce localized muscle fatigue. Brief, frequent pauses give muscles and tendons time to recover before fatigue builds up and contributes to musculoskeletal disorders.
Meeting a federal OSHA requirement for hourly breaks is wrong because microbreaks are a risk-reduction practice, and the option states a requirement that should not be assumed. Replacing the need for engineering controls is wrong because breaks are an administrative measure and do not remove the cause of the strain. Raising production quotas is wrong because it works against recovery and tends to increase exposure.
The rule to remember: administrative measures such as microbreaks add to engineering controls and do not replace them.
Start with the official EKG course material so you know the format you are using and the topics it covers. Then use our practice sets to check what stuck.
Confirm the assessment format and any requirements with EKG before your course date.
No. EKG states that prior health and safety experience is helpful but not required. The program gives a broad look at ergonomics in the workplace, so you can enrol without a technical background. Confirm any current requirements on the EKG course page.
EKG states that completing the program earns a designation valid for 3 years. We do not have renewal details, so check with EKG about what is needed to keep the designation after that period.
The E-Learning version is listed at $2,595 CAD (+ HST). Prices for the live in-person and virtual formats may differ, so check the EKG course page for the format you want before you register.
Yes. EKG offers it live in a classroom, live virtually over Zoom, or self-paced online in English and French. The virtual webinar has a scheduled window of Nov 23–27, 2026. Confirm the current schedule with EKG.
No. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions. They help you practise ergonomic reasoning and find weak topics. They do not predict your result, so use them alongside the official EKG material.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.