Posted By naomi Hi Jeff When I started out in H&S 10years ago (tme goes quick when having fun) I started with the IOSH Managing Safely course. Firstly to see if it was what I really wanted to do as the course was over 5 days.(big mistake to make if you pay out alot of money for a NEBOSH and you realise it's not for you) Then I went on to do the NEBOSH General Cert and then branched off to do individual courses i.e Manual Handling Instructers course,Risk Management etc.. Decided I wanted to teach H&S in further education so took teaching courses. Three years down the line don't want to teach in schools anymore!!!, so I have started my NVQ 4 in Occ H&S and a new job to go with it. Good luck Jeff in your chosen field of work.

Posted By Jeff Chris, I have heard of various courses that the RAF are hosting, there are about 14, but which one to go for ?? I can take the NEBOSH as it only will cost me £80. What do you think??

Posted By Neville Jeff, I was in a similar position to yourself, coming from the RAF in my case, having completed my last two years in a H&S and QM role. During that last two years, I managed to complete three IOSH courses, run by Halton: Managing Safely, Risk Assessor & Man.Han. Inst.Techniques. In addition to these, I did a short Uni course at Edgbaston Birmingham (1 week) called, Health, safety and the Environment. My resettlement course was the NEBOSH Cert, completed at Woodward SHE Carlisle (held in a hotel over 3 weeks) at no cost to myself. I can thoroughly recommend Woodward as a training provider as it was a very good course. In hindsight though, I would have been better doing the NEBOSH part 1 Dip with Woodward, on a sandwich course, as it would have been more advantageous and not that much extra,(expense wise). The instructors reckoned (afterwards) that it was not that more difficult than the Cert, if you are a decent writer! Depending on where you live and what employment you are currently in, I would go for the higher qualifications. It is a very competative market out here and jobs are not that easily gained in the field of H&S with just IOSH short courses and a NEBOSH Cert. You cannot get enough hindsight but read all the comments in this career forum and make your own mind up. Best of luck Jeff with your dilema.

Posted By Paul Oliver Jeff, I agree that you should be looking at a formal H&S qualification, however I would see if you can gain employment using your current skills. Once you have a handle on civvy life you will then gain a better understanding of H&S management along with a suitable level of commercial awareness, then you can start looking for a suitbale H&S role. I spent 5-6 years on the tools after leaving HMForces before taking up a H&S role. In this time I gained valuable experience from a great variety of projects and other trades which has placed me in a good position as a H&S Proffesional. Cheers Paul