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Posted By James M
There are many organisations out there that have raised the bar over the years. For example, I have a friend who passed his HNC in engineering the same time as me. I joined the Institute of Engineers with this qualification immediately.
6 years later my friend decided to join. He found out that the entry level had jumped from HNC to HND and now to degree level. Needless to say he was only offered associate membership.
I am also a member of the Chartered management Institute. Again, I got membership with certificate level qualifications (1996) and have maintained my level of membership with CPD. This has now risen to level 4 qualifiaction to become a full member.
With the amount of health and safety professionals that are now obtaining a degree in H&S I would not be surprised if a review is made within the next 5 to 10 years and that the IOSH bar is raised again. (given the trend shown by other organisations)
By the way, for those individuals who have mentioned the cost of getting to membership level for IOSH, it cost me £380 to do my NVQ 4. I later found out the college I attended (Wolverhampton) was not the cheapest in the area. (Search for colleges with government grants.)
I believe the moral of the story is get to the required level to achieve full membership in your chosen profession as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
Good luck (and speed) to all those climbing the ladder.
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Posted By Mev
HI
Iam in the fortunate/unfortunate position of gaining Dip level 4 or NVQ 4, by fortunate I mean I can afford it because my family have grown up and as for time to study I work away from home so night time is an ideal time, by unfortunate I mean I can't do it full or part time, I can't do it NVQ because I aren't home for mandatory workshops same reasons for distance learning, I have tried numerous providers all over the country but none can accomodate me on the times I am home. The closest I came was one distance learning provider who could fit me in with workshops provided I could travel to the different venues up and down the country that they could fit me in to on the day, the cost of this was quite a few thousand pounds so I declined as coupled with travel and accomodation costs it totalled approx £7000 plus. There must be other people not as fortunate as me who are trying to get more qualified but find that they reach their goal only to find that they have been knocked back again and have to start all over again no qualification should be down graded once it has been achieved otherwise people will felt cheated and simply lose interest.
Have to go work to do
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Posted By Stuart Nagle
For those finding difficulty in getting to do NVQ level 4, here's a way that may fit with your lifestyle, but is untested at this time.
ENTO, who provide the qualification produce a CD that can be purchased at little cost and contains the whole of the Occupational (practitioner) health and safety units (level 4) as well as the level 3 units (non-practitioner). This is the same as the materialsupplied to colleges etc that charge a small fortune to print it off and put it in a ring binder for you! (Cost saving No 1).
(NOTE: It should be noted that the NVQ 4 is essentially different from the Dip level 4. The NVQ is for health and safety practitioners to complete based on their actual work and experience, as opposed to the more academic study of Dip level 4.)
On the ENTO web site are also lists of the level 4 and level 3 units so you can define which is which for the purpose of completing the units and forming your portfolio.
Essentially, once you are able to define what units you need from the above, and with the low cost of the CD, you should be able to read and digest the units, what is required and with the example forms provided for completion of the units, complete the NVQ units (perhaps with a little assistance from someone who has already done the NVQ and is willing to give some advice) and prepare your portfolio for assessment.
The next stage would be to search out and contact an assessor (via a college or perhaps your local IOSH branch for example) and ask if they would be able to assess your portfolio and then obtain verification from an appointed external verifier (whom they should know if they are an assessor).
If you are able to do this, and I do not see why not, as most if not all assessors and verifiers are 'sessional employees' of colleges etc(i.e. they hold down other day jobs as well and do the college work on a part-time basis for extra money), you should be able to get your work both assessed and verified.
There will most likeley be costs attached for assessment and verification of your work and likely a 'registration fee' will be necessary to obtain formal accrediation and the NVQ award itself if successful, however I am sure that this method of 'self-help' would be able to considerably cut costs and provide the same end result (Cost saving No 2).
Perhaps those NVQ assessors and verifiers who are sessional employees or self employed and would like some additional (direct) income could offer some insight into this proposal and offer a way forward for the less fortunate but willing members and students amongst us trying to improve themselves, but not being able to fit into a set or remote study regime....
opinions welcomed...
Stuart
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Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke
Hi
Yes you have some valid points there.
Generally you are looking at the registration costs with the awarding body. You must register 10 weeks before wanting your portfolio externally verified as no certificates will be awarded until this time is passed.
Cost for the Assessor. Standards say you must be observed in the workplace, these observations should be by your assessor. However, there is provision made for a qualified witness to make testemony to your competence against set criteria. You may be able to get your witness for free, but the assessor should see you at work, to see you perform in order to support the validity of the evidence you submit. So you are probably looking at a couple of days work for the visit and the portfolio checking. Observations are generally on the subjects of Meetings, training, risk assessing, auditing, and workplace inspecting.
Cost for the Internal Verifier. Again a days work, as not many consultants do a half day.
Cost for the External verifier. Another days work.
Looking at the day rates that consultants charge. They must be qualified to the NVQ 4/Dip2 etc level and have the relevant Assessor or verifier's qualification. Do the maths, it can add up.
Oh and we don't run workshops, we visit you in your workplace, on your time scale. Makes the job a lot more interesting!
Linda.
SHE Knows.
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Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke
P.s.
I have stacks of packs of standards. I'll give them away for free if anyone wants them.
Email me direct.
Linda.
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Posted By Richard Spencer
There is absolutely no doubt that the bar will be raised again. This profession is seeking recognition from society and the variety of commercial enterprise it serves.
In keeping with most institutions throughout the world there will be always be a means of achieving full membership via a non degree route.
However the principal route will, give the preponderance of evidence in other bodies, be by degree and in my opinion become the main route into institutions such as IOSH.
I certainly agree the number of new graduates and undergraduates in the pipeline will drive this as they continue to push the bar even higher by swelling the ranks of this profession.
I have worked in the construction industry (oil and gas) and whilst unions and sub degree practitioners in these areas continue to promote employees into the role of safety advisor for political reasons, it has been my experience that the safety practitioner engaged from a degree background with the requisite experience is able to span the gap between workers and management. Certainly it appears that the latter are more able to remain in that neutral position most seasoned practitioners need to be.
I am not advocating promoting employees from the shop floor into roles as safety advisors is wrong, but I believe if a person is given the opportunity to change careers then it must be on the basis of achieving further learning and training although be it ‘on the job’ and further learning and thereby move that person to a position where this management based occupation is better understood by the new practitioner.
A note on unions and safety – I am increasing disappointed that safety is more and more being used as a political tool, by those who aspire to this profession.
Whilst unions in the workplace are a necessary balance, I believe that any person who dons the high visibly vest and yellow hat of a safety professional needs to become politically neutral, whether degree or non degree qualified.
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Posted By Mev
Linda
One of the problems I have is I work offshore so I don't think a verifier would be able to viit me.
Cheers
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Posted By Linda Crossland-Clarke
Hi
An Assessor/Verifier would be able to visit you but would your employer fund the transfer costs etc?
Linda.
SHE Knows.
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Posted By Brian Kane
Can someone please clarify if NVQ3 is equal to HNC or ONC and if so, where will I get proof of this.
Cheers
Brian
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