Posted By Hazel Harvey John, Don't worry you have plenty of time to complete the NEBOSH Dip 2, if that is your chosen route. I think you have until 2008 to complete your Diploma, you had better check with NEBOSH to be certain though. The changes are coming about because of the change to the national standards for OSH Practice which NEBOSH examinations have to supply the underpinning knowledge for to meet its QCA requirements. You might like to consider one of the alternative routes available to progress towards MIOSH,RSP. These are the NVQlevel 4 in OHS Practice or one of the range of accredited courses features elsewhere on this site.

Posted By Jason Gould I completed part1 2 years ago and after reading this thread i am now worried. When you are funding yourself £1500 is not that easy aswell as the materials you purchase. I was told 5years was the time between the two. I would be furious if this was the case and probably knock nebosh on the head all together. The stress and research in part 1 for nothing. Na tell me its a wind up please.

Posted By Jay Joshi As stated by Hazel, NEBOSH has no choice, but to align its Diploma to the revised NVQ's for by Employment National Training Organisation (EMPNTO) last year. The revision of the "old" NVQ's for Safety Practitioners that were at levels 3 AND 4 to a new structure in which NVQ level 3 IS NOT A PRACTITIONER level qualification has resulted in NEBOSH having to realign its Diploma to provide underpinning knowledge for the revised NVQ's i.e. at level 4. We need to recall that NEBOSH had introduced the 2 part diploma when there were NVQ's at both level 3 and 4 for Occupational Health and Safety Practice. This was done to meet requirement of Part B accreditation from the Qualifications & Curricullam Authority (QCA) As is the case with evolution of all qualifications, developments and change are inevitable. As long as candidates in the "pipeline" are given reasonable time progress towards completion of the qualification, this should not create problems. The NEBOSH news makes it clear that "Those currently holding Part 1 are encouraged to continue with the present Diploma Part 2"

Posted By David Sinclair Jason, If it makes you feel any better, my Legal Practice Course (which lasts 10 months) costs £8,000. Regards. David

Posted By Hazel Harvey Norman, There always has been a time limit on when you can enter the NEBOSH exams. This is normal practice for most examination boards. In this case there will also be a change in the style of examination as it will become a one part qualification again. There needs to be a time limit as qualifications quickly cease to be current and so some one coming back after an extended timespan may well find themselves unable to cope. This time span is one of the reasons that IOSH requires those on the RSP and recommends for others, a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. It is perhaps worth noting here that NEBOSH have a generous time provision, if you are undertaking a university qualification in OSH you get one attempt at the exams with one re-sit only. Even the NVQ has a time-span in which you can complete. If you started an NVQ 5 years ago much of the earlier information would be obsolete. So to answer your question, if you do not complete in the allocated time you will have to start again.

Posted By Hazel Harvey Norman, NEBOSH are saying the new syllabus should be ready in the middle of next year. This probably means that it won't be examined before 2005. One thing to bear in mind when considering your options is that fact that you are currently in studying/exam mode so it is easier to continue than perhaps break and then try and pick it up again. NEBOSH state that they will be making proper transitional arrangements for those in the process of studying. It is really up to you to decide which way to go, based on how you feel, cost etc. Have you looked at any other options?

Posted By Hazel Harvey Norman, You won't lose your Diploma part 1 qualification, but you wouldn't be able to progress to part 2 after the specified time as it will no longer exist. The changes to the Diploma are coming about because the national standards on which the qualifications map, have changed. The use of low levels of risk has been discontinued as a measure of competence for individuals. The new level 4 standards recognise that a practitioner needs core skills in whatever situation you may find yourself irrespective of the level of risk of an organisation. The level 3 standards in OSH practice have been discontinued so hence the re-formulation to a Diploma at level 4. IOSH are also re-defining its membership structure to develop this approach. If you are only intending to take one qualification you should seriously consider if taking one which no longer reflects a national standard is what you want. As part of the 2 part Diploma it is fine, as part 2 currently reflects level 4 and will continue to be accepted by IOSH as meeting the academic requirement for corporate membership. Sorry its so complicated, if you would like to give me a call at IOSH I'll be happy to explain things further.

Posted By Hazel Harvey John, No problem. As you aren't a member you probably haven't seen the posting on the closed forum which describes what Council has agreed as the way forward for the IOSH membership structure. It shows here that there will be an STech category beneath the full competent member category. The exact criteria for this category have not yet been devised but I think it is highly likely that existing TechSPs will transfer across directly. So basically in the short term you will be OK for TechSP with a realistic expectation that this will become STech if you haven't already reached the competent member category.