Posted By Ian Cunningham Ciaran, I fully understand your anxieties. I too hold the Gen Cert along with other specialist qualifications but the Gen has put me in good stead to move forward. I recently left my employer after over 20 years service and I have to say my confidence was at a low. Since then, I have started to study for my Diploma in OSH and the thing I found during the classroom times was I actually had some considerable knowledge that was waiting to be exploited and was able to assist the tutors in areas that I had gained considerable experience over the last 20-odd years. I have no doubt that I am capable of working for myself in a consultancy field which is my aim in the near future. I too have been suprised by the expected knowledge that potential employer want but when you look at the jd's a lot of the criteria can be coupled in to a few simple headings. And there tends to be a lot of repetition of subjects...just worded differently. I'm currently looking at one that is asking a lot but when you re-read it, most of the duties are actually the responsibility of managers to carry out. Our role as H&S Professional is to advise, assist and encourage those who are responsible to take it and not to be afraid of it! Hopefully this may have made a bit of sense and help to put your worries to bed. Don't let jd's put you off, you be amazed at what you can actually do.