Posted By Bev Hi Stuart, Don't do IOSH Managing Safely course if you want to do the Diploma - you will spend more time and money and the Diploma course will cover all this anyway. The cost varies enormously, depending on the training provider. Some local colleges or universities do health and safety courses a lot cheaper than specialist training companies. Also, distance learning can be a lot cheaper and may be easier to fit into your schedule if you are currently working full time. You go at your own pace so can do the course as quickly or slowly as you need (although it is often more difficult studying on your own). The NEBOSH website www.nebosh.org.uk can point you in the right direction for training providers in your area, but I have found that the list isn't exhaustive. Last year I did the NEBOSH General Cert at a local college, although I didn't pay for it myself, it cost £500, which was a lot cheaper than some alternate providers were asking (up to nealy £3,000 in some places). Ask them what their pass rate is, but I don't think this is necessarily a case of you get what you pay for (I got a distinction). You get out of it what you put in. As to whether it's worth your while, that depends on what you expect to achieve. Jobs go from about £18000 upwards, with the average apparently being about £29000. As always, it depends a lot on where you live. Have a look in SHP magazine for jobs advertised in your area to get a feel for the sort of experience and qualifications and the going rate in your area. If you haven't got a copy, look on their web site www.shpmags.com. Hope this helps a bit, and good luck!

Posted By Peter Lee Karen, do I take it you have done Dip 1 then ??? :-)

Posted By Karen Todd Stuart, The NEBOSH Cert cost me £125 college fees at Belfast Institute the year before last(plus NEBOSH registration and exam fees paid direct to NEBOSH). The course ran one evening a week from Sept - June from 6-9. The Dip 1 cost me £400 college fees at East Antrim Institute last year (plus NEBOSH registration and exam fees paid direct to NEBOSH). The course ran one afternoon and evening a week from Sept - June from 2-9. I think for this years intake they upped the fees to £500. You're not in Northern Ireland, are you? so I doubt this info will be much use. My advice would be to shop around anyway, because the cost of courses varies enormously. Local techs seem to be much cheaper - but do ask them questions such as what their pass rate is. I got a distinction in my cert and the teaching was excellent. I will not comment on the teaching quality for my Dip 1 but at this stage only 3 out of the 14 who started have passed. Regards, Karen