One more questions:

I have read that the panel do not see or have copies of the SDP/CPD.

How can they ask questions which match your experience and information you have submitted ?

I would prefer it if they DID have copies as it would make the interview relevant to your work, industry and would show them what you have produced.

You are nervous are n't you?

As long as you know the general answers to core questions and the code of conduct you should be fine.
You will also possibly have to answer questions on health and safety but having come this far they also should be easy to answer. The interviewers will also guide you through the process - enjoy the day

SBH

The panel will only ask you the core questions, however they might ask you for more information depending on your answer, they are not there to catch you out, just be youreself, you can take que cards in with you to prompt yourself if you get flustered, as everyone gets nervous on the day

I recently did my peer review, I live in Wales, but after consulting members at my local branch, I was advised to book the interview in Leicester and stay up the night before. This made perfect sense as to drive 2.5hrs to Leicester would have been stressful to say the least. Anyway, about the interview! Was I nervous before? Oh YES, why? I suppose because it is a prestigious membership level. How did I approach the interview? If I told you that I went in there and used my personality as I would in work, I made jokes, stayed calm, and asked them questions at the end. I must say I was prepared, I spent a couple weeks going through the questions and putting examples from work to each question. My other half also tested me, she was worse than the interview panel!

Anyway, my advice is with the right level of preparation and the ability to know you subject matter, you should pass. They do try to help you if you need it. With regards to the core questions, these guide the panel, they will drill down further on each one though. For example risk assessment, they will first ask how you do it, then maybe as about priority (ERIC), then they may give you a scenerio or ask you for one, followed by a little bit more digging. As long as you can remember the principles, you will have no problem. I used the IOSH example of identify the task, followed by the HSE 5 steps. Consultation is a big one and how?

It's not hard, honest. Relax, be yourself and enjoy the experience, because think of it this way, you need good communication skills under pressure, for example when the HSE turn up on your site. This is just checking out your skills.

I passed along with my mate who came up with me. Think of it like a driving test, if you don't make the grade the first time, look at where you went wrong and try again. Never give up. Health and Safety is one of those jobs where you need to be setting the example and think of it a continuous improvement on a personal level.

Happy to help anyone that needs it. Email me.

All I am just starting this process and have read the string below regarding core questions, what are these core questions and where can i get sight of them.

Any advice would be appreciated

My advice from my experience is that the panel want you to be successful. Most panel members have been through the same process and understand how candidates can become flustered. They can easily identify those who have prepared well but perhaps have some stage fright and will do their utmost to put you are ease.

I left the interview having thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

I just wanted to reinforce some of the comments already made. The panel are made up of volunteer members. They work in the same profession as you do. They do not want to trip you up. They recognize the hard work you have put in to get to that stage. They follow a structured evaluation process which is available on the IOSH website. I had to Skype my interview from 4000 miles away with all the drop offs of signal and audio failures and reconnections you would ever want, but the panel was supportive and professional; happy to repeat questions and even re word them to assist. I did read a thread from a member that had failed, and he admitted to not being very good at job interviews and was angry that he was judged this way. I would suggest that you do treat it like a job interview. Do the research about the company, present yourself and your achievements in your presentation and give some examples of health and safety management principals in your current role and you will be successful in getting the call (CMIOSH) or in my case, an email notification!

I'd like to add my points on this as well, having recently been through the process myself.

The interview experience for me was really good. I had really good support from IOSH leading up to the interview date and a very nice lady called kirsty rang me up and explained what would happen. Along with my confirmation, it included the core questions that the panel were going ask, and it was reiterated several times, that the code of conduct is really important. So it is worth knowing the main sections, Integrity, Competence, Respect and Service. And try and gain the main points from each one and relate it to an example. They will ask you about this, which is basically what it means to you, and examples of how you have demonstrated compliance to the code.

The members are unpaid volunteers and they stress before they start they are here because they want you to do well, and they want to support you, they are there are PEERS not above you, and they made me feel completely at ease.

They will ask the core questions and if they feel you haven't answered as fully as they require, they will ask additional questions to get the information. They also prompt you if you get too close to your 10 minute limit for your presentation.

I sat in the room and the hour whizzed by. I would say the following:

It is about YOU, so relate your examples to things YOU have done, don't say 'WE'.

Do treat it like an interview, but remember at this point you have done all the really hard work in terms of proving your qualifications and experience and your CPD will has passed it's audit, so now they just want to know you are the person you say you are.

Use it as a good opportunity to really show boat yourself. You have done a great job getting to this point, enjoy the moment.

Don't worry if they ask you additional questions, they want you to do well, so they are prompting you for information.

Nerves are a given, but they do seriously make you feel at ease, so take a few deep breaths and enjoy it.

They will tell you it can take up to 21 days for the results to come to you. Don't panic if they don't turn up very quickly. They will tell you it is not a reason to feel it's bad news, it can just be how quick the administration is. I had my interview on a Wednesday and found out a week later so it can be quicker.

I am now very proud to have been awarded chartered status and really enjoyed the whole process. I was very nervous, but it couldn't have been better. Most people who fail do so because they are not being themselves and go blank. As long as you have examples prepared, you will be fine.

Good luck to anyone who is having their PRI soon. I wish you every success.

I've just received my certificate, so maybe I'm inclined to put a positive spin on the interview experience!
That said I was impressed with the interviewers, particularly the lead interviewer, who redirected me on a few occasions and asked follow up questions to coax more relevant information from me. It was very deftly done, as none of the questions was leading, but they did set off alarm bells for me that my answer had strayed from the subject, missed a key point or was in some way lacking.
I did leave wondering if I'd recovered from each of my blunders, so today was very good news - and should be encouragement to those yet to sit that the interviewers are definitely on your side :-)

Just a quick post to say that I have now been through the PRI interview process.

It was a very positive experience and the interview panel and IOSH rep were excellent.

If you are well prepared then you will be fine and it really is nothing to worry about.

I am now CMIOSH :)