Posted By joseph byrne How do others out there feel about the proposed changing of membership titles? I as a TechSP am not very happy that i could have my membership title that i worked very hard for taken from me and reduced to affiliate member. If i wanted to be an affiliate member i would have become a member when i passed my NEBOSH certificate but chose to study further to reach TechSP level, now that is threatened by the proposed changes. I know i can keep my TechSP by CPD training but an affiliate can become a TechSP under the proposed changes but if i don't have the time to fit in CPD my title can be reduced,as i said earlier what do others think on this? no disrespect to affiliates intended.

Posted By Richard Spencer JB Hello, for your information there are the transitional arrangements and other arrangement posted on the closed section of this chat page. For a more definitive position I suggest you might consider directing enquiries to Hazel, who has been a source of information in respect of the change process. I also have argued a point of view coming from the other end and vociferously supported the position of academic qualifications as the prime or core of full membership. In truth I have had to concede to the middle ground of compromise. Not all will get what they want out of this but I do believe the IOSH has acted in a manner that is in my view will start the process of chartered members. It will be up to those who are desirous of achieving a high standing to pursue the goal with a little more ardour. The issue of titles and standing is as you rightly point out very important particularly if the individual has attained a senior position in the profession or has attained a senior OHS role in an organisation. Unfortunately, this is the nature of change in an institution such as IOSH as it moves toward a new phase as a chartered body. My commiserations to you in respect of how the cards have fallen but I am of the view that all that enter, will need to meet competency standards and maintain them in order to carry the mantle of charted member. For some this has been a large price to pay. You will of course be aware of the increasing number of members now holding specific OHS qualification from a University. This is the norm in many instances and as employers become more aware of this, they will tend to select those who have the highest qualifications as well as the most experience. However, it would pay you to check out the close site of this chat page as it will explain a lot. All the best Richard

Posted By Hazel Harvey It is a fact that in any period of change there will be some apparent winners and losers. What the Institution is proposing now should hopefully put the profession on track for a number of years and the profession is both its individual members and the reputation of the profession as a whole so some of the rules may seem to be unfair to some individuals. As an IOSH staff members I will not comment on individual cases in this open formum but I am quite happy to look at these on a one to one basis if you want to contact me directly. The regulations regarding membership are developed to be as fair as they can be taking into consideration external factors such as the national standards and the Privy Council requirments They are not just developed without discussion by the elected Council members but all the implications are thought through before putting out the consultation statements. What is absolutely critical is that the proposals taken forward are transparent in their requirements and that the public can see that if a person holds a designated category that it has a distinct level of competence attached to it. The TechSP/TechIOSH issue has arisen as a direct result of national standard changes but it is worth remembering that in the proposed definition of TechIOSH there is either a 5 experience requirment which is far more than that required for the TechSP and in the transitional arrangements Affiliates with a NEBOSH Cert. or similar will be required to demonstrate 10 years experience, so it is hardly a give away and only relates to those who are members of IOSH now.

Posted By JAMES MM Joseph The new membership scheme is a wake up call for those that have been left in the last century. Anyone who has a managerial or supervisory role should be managing their career and progressing up the ladder. Granted, this is never easy for some people. For me personally, I have has to dig deep into my own pocket (and lots of evening course work) to the tune of £5000 to achieve IOSH membership. Others who are lucky will have had their employer pay. This applies not only in health and safety but to all professional organisations. I am a member of other organisations that have now raised the bar to having a degree to gain entry as a full member. (could this be the case for IOSH in the future?)Again I do agree with earlier posts that some have the luck and others don't. However there is no legal requirement to be a member of IOSH to be employed as a health and safety professional. You and others have the option of not renewing your membership should you choose. I personally would enroll on a course now and get qualifed as soon as possible. The choice is entirely yours. good luck Jim

Posted By Raymond Rapp Hazel, My letter stating my claim for full membership status is winging its way to you as I write. Therefore, I will only respond to the comments made on this thread thus far. There are some 'winners and losers' as Hazel comments. This particular thread seems to have attracted the 'losers.' James suggests that the new IOSH grading is a 'wake up call for those who have been left in the last century.' But what about us who are trying to make in this century? I too have invested heavily, in fact to the tune of £5,750 for a MSc working from home and I have still not achieved full membership! The 'double whammy' is of course that without MIOSH status it is very difficult to gain a meaningful position in health and safety, and of course it is expsensive. I do not see why those who do not quite measure up to the criteria cannot gain a creditable status such as MIOSH, whilst those others are CMIOSH. After all, when I embarked on my 'mission' over two years ago there was no mention of chartered status then and I would sign up tommorrow for CPD. In truth I am beginning to regret trying to make a career in health and safety and I am seriously thinking of packing it all in. Apologies to Joseph for 'stealing your thunder' but had to get it off my chest. Mr Grumpy