The hyperbaric community has a new milestone. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has issued a position statement recognizing the Hyperbaric Certification Commission's HC-S and HC-S*D as voluntary professional certifications in hyperbaric safety for physicians, nurses and technicians. The UHMS Board of Directors approved the statement on November 7, 2026.

Congratulations to our colleagues at HCC, and to every hyperbaric professional who has made safety their specialty.

What the statement recognizes

Written by the UHMS Accreditation Council, the statement recognizes HC-S and HC-S*D as a way for individuals to demonstrate knowledge of hyperbaric safety, including:

• risk assessment
• regulatory compliance
• emergency preparedness
• quality management
• operational practices

It also sees voluntary certification as complementing education, competency assessment and professional development. HC-S is not required for UHMS facility accreditation, and it doesn't replace facility training, licensure or applicable codes.

The Council's starting point says it best: "a strong culture of safety is fundamental to delivering quality hyperbaric medicine."

Building a culture of safety starts on the page

Safety culture is built on shared standards, clear policies and good references that the whole team can use. That's where Best Publishing comes in.

UHMS Hyperbaric Facility Accreditation Manual, 5th Edition. This guide walks your team through policies, procedures, requirements and practical guidance. Its accreditation probes help you assess your own operations and close gaps. Technical editor: Derall Garrett, CHT, HC-S*D. $25 per copy, with bulk pricing for teams. https://www.bestpub.com/books/medical-books/hyperbaric-a-undersea-medicine/product/uhms-hyperbaric-facility-accreditation-manual-5th-edition/category_pathway-31.html

Policies and Procedural Guidelines for Hyperbaric Facilities. A framework for developing and customizing facility-specific policies and procedures. https://www.bestpub.com/books/dive-books/marine-life/product/policies-and-procedural-guidelines-for-hyperbaric-facilities/highlight-WyJwb2xpY2llcyJd.html

Learn more

Read the UHMS position statement: https://uhms.org/images/Position-Statements/2026/UHMS%20POSITION%20STATEMENT%20On%20HC-S%20Certification%20Final.pdf

Read HCC's announcement: https://gethcc.com/blog/uhms-recognizes-hccs-hc-s-and-hc-s-d-hyperbaric-safety-certifications.html

Explore the HC-S pathway: https://gethcc.com/certifications/hyperbaric-certified-safety-hc-s.html