Posted By Rachael Powell Thanks you all for your responses. It seems that with under 5 years experience under my belt and a NEBOSH Gen cert pass with credit I am entitled to very little in the way of membership..except AIIRSM perhaps & FPA? I am very aware that I have along way to go before I can consider myself at any great level of competence in H&S but I am interested in trying some tutoring and taking a C&G in delivering learning very soon. I am told that I can deliver basic H&S with recognised & approved material. Does anyone have any advice to give on that matter ?

Posted By Dave Wilson Rachael, As no ne has dared to put their heaqd above the trench here goes. NEBOSH Cert is the first rung on the ladder of becoming a H&S Practitioner. if you want to be succesful and I hope you do then it would be wise to plot youir career path from here on in. Decide if you want to specilise in a specific industry sector (ie Construction, consultancy etc) or in general H&S then look around decide how much time, money, experience, desire,employers contributions you may get and the time span in which to do all this in, set your goals. The most important thing for you at this moment is experience and not what insignificant letters you can amass after your name from Institutions with no kudos. The NEBOSH Cert is designed for Supervisors to give them an 'insight' into H&S and is not a pre-requiste for a H&S Professional although loads have stared off on this road thatway and been very succesful, I wopuld suggest the Pt1 Diploma or NVQ and consider an Environmental cert may be the next steps to take. Have you thought about a P402 Asbestos surveying or even a PG Cert in teaching? Can you hear that calling? Listen carefully !! Its beer! got to go sorry.

Posted By Nick Butler Further to previous posts, do look at doing a level 4 either NVQ or diploma to further your career as a practitioner. As a trainer, providing you have the NEBOSH certificate, and a training qualification, you may be eligible to offer courses certified through the CIEH, (the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health). They offer a number of courses, go to their website and follow the H@S training link. Good luck in your endeavours. Regards, Nick.

Posted By Dave Wilson not getting into a bunfight here, but as an Ex EHO (H&S Enforcement), Nebosh Dip, RSP and SpDip EM and been doing this in a number of highly regulated and diverse industry sectors for over 20 years I think that qualifies me to give a H&S Opinion! just because I need new glasses and can't really see the screen is not a reason to be castigated. Now if you read the 'target' audience for the NEBOSH Cert then I am afraid you are mistaken. If anyone out there thinks they have the prerequisite domain knowledge to be an instantly competent H&S Advisor after a two week (10 day) course you are living in cloud cookoo land. If you read the HSE publication RRC 121 Benchmarking the Competent Person in manufacturing and Engineering sectors - Prepared by the EEF(South) and I quote "The Cert Course is designed to help those with H&S Responsibilities (eg managers, Supervisors and employee representatives) to discharge more effectively their organisational duties and functions. It is not regarded as a qualification for H&S Specialists. Hence, a Competent person with this level of qualification may be expected to require considerable support to fulfill this role" It is a start in the H&S Profession but it is not the end! the object is to build on that and plot your career path from there and many people have, very succesfuly! the largest part of the memberships within IOSH are Cert holders but haven't met or heard of one who thinks that this is as far as they want or wish to go, so best of luck for the future. Myself, never dissed anyone on this site personally, just trying to give objecyive advice! so I won't start now although it is tempting!!!

Posted By Calum R Cameron Rachael, Firstly I would like to wish you the very best of luck in your chosen career path. Unfortunatly, having membership of any body is only a broad indicator of competence and as such you should not concern yourself with gaining letters for the sake of it. You should set out your route to attaining the only accreditation worth having in this industry (MIOSH RSP/CMIOSH). This membership level will come if you put in the hard work and effort required. Although the NEBOSH National General Cert' is a good basic qualification it most definitely does not make you able to fulfill a full time H&S role unless it is at the level of a safety rep or equivalent. This is quite clearly stated in the NEBOSH paper work. It is to be commended that you acknowledge your short fall in experience etc. It is crucial in this game to understand your limitations cos' we all have em'. The next step is a huge one and one which will require your full commitment in terms of qual's. Anyway-enough rambling-I'm off to lunch. Merry Xmas and again, the very best of luck. The sun shines on the riteous. Humbug........

Posted By PaulA Darren.. Don't you hate it when that happens!!! what are the chances??? Anyway.. great skills at back peddling! Made me smile. Some good advice as always gentleman.. keep it up. Regards Paul