Hello, This is my first post so apologies if I have posted to the wrong part of the forum I am currently working in IT and am looking for a career change and move into health and safety and I am confused to what steps/certificates to go for and take first. I see that if I take the NeBOSH National Certificate you need to complete a worked based assessment to get the cert which in my current role I wouldn't be in a position to be able to do this so I am stumped where to start. Several years a go I did a Level 2 in Occupational Health and Safety and found it really interesting and now want to peruse it further can anyone give me some further information where to start? Thanks Martin

Hello Pradesh, Thanks for the reply and welcome So just go for the Nebosh NGC then, I have the books and looking to study at home while I work then do the exam Is Nebosh the best starting place or can you do iosh ones? Regards, Martin

Hi Martin, I started out dong IOSH Managing Safely through work and then self funded my Nebosh certs, with regard to the practical, I wasn't in a position to do it at my place of work eiterher, so while I was going about my merry business I had a notebook and jotted down what I saw etc to help me through. I do agree though classroom based would be the best option, I was classroom for ngc and fire, now doing my diploma e learning and its a completely different kettle of fish! I found also in the classroom you can draw on others which is good if you don't have a lot of practical experience, while e learning is not quite the same. Good luck in whatever you choose! I look forward to hearing updates! Jodie

I think the question is how do you do the workplace assessment if not already doing some sort of H&S role. I think as Jodie said if you have access to the workplace then you can still do the assessment. You may need to talk to some individuals about current practices and you may need to get someone's permission to send off your review of their company to a third party (and go around asking questions). You could always say that you will also give them a copy of the report and that if you find something significant you will inform them first. I your company will not play ball, do you know any other company's that may like a free review of their set up ? Chris

Hello All, Thanks very much for all your comments and help on this, I have been speaking to a health and training guy today and says the best starting point would be to do IOSH managing safety and then process onto nebosh gc and I can do via elearning which is the only option for me at the moment and it's the only affordable option too, what do you all think? Cheers Martin

Hi Martin Welcome to the world of H&S. I would agree with the other replies to this post namely, do a IOSH MS course first then a NEBOSH GC. If you wish to progress further it depends on your circumstances and pocket. NEBOSH Dip or NVQ level 5 in occupational health and safety. You could apply for Grad IOSH status with either of these and keeping your CPD with IOSH up to date, then progress to Chartered member as long as you fulfill the criteria for chartered status. http://www.iosh.co.uk/Me...ship/Qualifications.aspx You may go down other routes depending on the area of H&S you may be interested in or if you manage to get a H&S position. Good luck Martin steve w

Martin, yes do the NGC, and that then opens up several options. One route is, following the NGC, to opt straight for Dip/NVQ if time and finances allow, but another option would be to follow up your NGC with a portfolio of other courses at a similar level. What I'm thinking is e.g. the NEBOSH Fire Safety certificate, NEBOSH Construction certificate, maybe the IEMA Associate level course, an auditor's course (such as RoSPA QSA or 18000), Legionella assessors and so on. I know that people have found this type of approach quite helpful in developing their skills. The big thing you will need with all this is a job, for which I wish you success, John

Martin As you already seem to have a level 2 qualification in OHS then the IOSH MS is probably useful in terms of updating yourself, however you will get the same update on the NGC course and not spend several hundred pounds for the pleasure. Remember that local colleges generally will not charge VAT, whereas commercial organisations will, so check your local colleges for their prices. Classroom based training is almost definitely the best for you unless you can get some shadowing experience/mentoring from someone already experienced in a professional health and safety role. If you were able to share your geographical location you might also benefit from some local knowledge on training providers what ever route you choose, good luck! Stuart

Hello All, Thanks for all the help on this one I decided to go for the Nebosh National General Certificate and start in a few weeks, doing the distance learning option due to a affordability Happy New Year!! Cheers Martin

Thanks!