I am about to go for the peer interview which will take me to CMIOSH Please can you tell me what the value will be to me of getting it. I have some thoughts but would like it to be confirmed

How long have you had CMIOSH???

I do agree with yourself - I always feel that an informed position gives a more accurate reply

I'm no longer a member of IOSH / CMIOSH - I let it lapse 3-4 years ago. You can be just as knowledgeable and capable of providing high quality h&s services with out being CMIOSH. Being CMIOSH is guarantee of success. Knowledge and experience about a particular industry is more important. Not had a problem securing work since dropping CMIOSH

I think that it specialist sectors- Oil and Gas, Nuclear ect CMIOSH isn't really going to help in finding work. In the more mundane Health and Safety world I think that because of the shortage of positions and the number of highly experience and qualified Health and Safety professionals it is becoming a must have. 5 years ago a Nebosh Cert would get you an interview - 3 years ago a Nebosh diploma would get you an interview and today you need to be chartered or working toward it to get an interview.

I also would have to agree with Jane & Ray in terms of what it means to me as a professional, having been a full member for many years before the royal charter was granted and CMIOSH since. However Lois, if you want to know what the benefits are to you for a possible answer or explanation at your peer review then that's a bit different. Focus on the career aspects, CPD & development, benefits to a prospective employer, etc and not so much on the personal benefits.

It appears that my original mail has prompted some thought.....this is all very healthy and represents good value for CMIOSH. Since IOSH pushed hard to raise the profile of CMIOSH and its value to businesses, I think this it in turn has given kudos to the membership level both professionally and personally - well done IOSH! Without raising the bar our profession's crediblity would have declined (due to questionable advice by some practitionars) and this would have had a negative impact on each member wishing to push forward. I would like to think that CMIOSH is approaching that of other professions e.g. Chartered Accountants but personally I don't know if that has been done yet?????

Thanks for your response - you make some interesting and valid points

Interseting thread, given I have my peer review for CMIOSH on the 14th August. For me professionally it doesn’t mean a huge amount. I work in the oil and gas industry where generally reputation, word of mouth and previous projects tend to be more highly regarded than CMIOSH. On the other hand in the professional sense (particularly in the corporate arena) it does demonstrate that you continue to develop and stay relativly up to date, and where most of my colleagues tend to be Chartered something or other they do tend to give it some value as most of them go through it with their various institutions. At a personal level for me its all about moving forward. CMIOSH is the end of a very long road of study and development. My problem now beyond keeping my CPD up is what do I do next…… Also at the back of my mind is that I dont want to be working away from my family forever and the hope by attaining CMIOSH is that it may make me that little bit more attractive to a UK employer when I eventually return and get a proper job.....

Thanks for your feedback

I think CMIOSH shows an employer not just a level of achievement but a level of commitment to maintaining professional knowledge through CPD, a tick in the box for them.