Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
jrrbeasley  
#1 Posted : 25 July 2017 09:03:19(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
jrrbeasley

I work fulltime as an advisor at a health and safety consultancy, I've recentley completed my Level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice and I'm currently in the process of polishing up my CPD to apply for Grad status with IOSH. My next goal is to complete my IPD and apply for Chartered status but would it also be woth it looking at further study options such as a masters?

I've had a quick look at the following courses, would these be a good option?

http://www.salford.ac.uk/pgt-courses/occupational-safety,-health-and-wellbeing

http://www.salford.ac.uk/pgt-courses/safety,-health-and-environment

Any advice would be apprecitated!

thanks 1 user thanked jrrbeasley for this useful post.
bxuxa on 02/08/2017(UTC)
gerrysharpe  
#2 Posted : 25 July 2017 10:46:37(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
gerrysharpe

You need to ask yourself what benefits the extra courses will do for you, will you get a better paid position or wasting your money. 

Its not uncommon for people to get the learning bug and feel that they want to just continue with extra courses, It may teach them something new, it may not.

You need to look at this as an investment for yourself for the future, if your happy spending thousands and know that you will get a pay rise or a better job at the end brilliant, but to spend thousands and not improve your current situation is not going to be of benefit to you is it?

I was toying with the Idea of doing a degree after my diploma, but since i now have a NHD level 7 in a contruction disapline and earning more money doing that, as opposed to H&S then that would be a complete waste of money for me, I'm just happy sticking with my diploma and simply gaining more experiance as life goes on.

If you look at further courses as an investment in yourself and would you gain financially out of it then you'll see this a bit clearer if its going to be a good idea or not

Good luck in what you choose

swebster  
#3 Posted : 04 August 2017 08:04:07(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
swebster

I'd echo what Gerry said. Think about what you want out of it and where it might take you.

I did my PG Dip at the University of Birmingham in 2010 and passed with Distinction. I could have done the second year, a research methods module and dissertation and got an MSc. I did seriously consider it and the university where keen for me to do it to, but my company wouldn't pay for the second year as I didn't need it and I decided on balance it was a lot of money for little gain. It would have been more of a personal thing.

The majority of jobs only ask for diploma level or equivalent qualification, unless you want to lecture at a university/college then they do like Masters. (I applied for a senior job at that same university and they did say if I was successful, they would let me do the second year if I wanted to, but it wasn't a pre-requisite of the role as the post was a support one, not academic).

One thing I can tell you is that a Masters is hard work! I do actually have a Master of Laws from a previous guise (not H&S related) and it was hard work, especially as I was working full time and doing my PG Dip at the same time!!  

As Gerry said, think hard about it. Maybe if you want to do additional qualifications you might be best to do something more specialist if you have a particular field of work you want to be in.

 

A Kurdziel  
#4 Posted : 04 August 2017 09:15:45(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

What about specialisms? Rather than keep going for generalist qualifications you could look at developing a portfolio of specialist knowledge in certain areas which might in the long run be more marketable that just more generic Health and Safety.   

Bugger S Webster just said the same thing!

Users browsing this topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.