Posted By Katsafe I'm looking for some opinions from fellow professionals on the types of qualification mentioned above. I would like to know how many chartered members holding the NEBOSH diploma rate the VQ as a credible qualification and why. Personally my opinion is that it is often viewed as inferior and I am concerned that IOSH do not seem to comment or have an opinion on this. If the VQ is inferior, why give chartered status to professionals holding the VQ 4?

Posted By Chris G I've worked with HS&E professionals who have done the NVQ, diploma or Uni option and found that all 3 routes can produce good professionals or useless deadbeats - all dependant on the person not the route. If you are looking at which route to go then it's all down to what suits your experience / work practices best. I did the Loughborough Uni PG.Dip, and found it gace a good balance of group interaction & networking and individual - go find out youyrself. Having just talked to IOSH re: upgrading my membership now I've got my PG.Dip I understand that they do view the 3 routes differently as shown on the membership structure. NVQ route requires the open exam to show that you have understanding to go with the experience wheras the Uni route requires a skills protfolio to show that you can put all the academic work into the real world. The cognate degree route requires both the portfolio & exam & of course all routes require CPD. Chris G

Posted By I McDonald I have to say that I find the initial thread disturbing! I may have misunderstood the initial comments but I read this as suggesting that the VQ route is not suitable for CMIOSH. If this is the case, surely IOSH will need to review the status of all members and regrade accordingly. As I understand membership grading to CMIOSH was awarded initially, to those members who had been RSP for 3 years and were registered on CPD (NOTE: distinguishing between Dip/VQ not considered). I understand we have now had a recent review and overhaul of the membership structure and welcome this. I suggest however; that if we further allow the structure changes to disadvantage members achieving CMIOSH by way of VQ (what appears to be the specific point raised by Katsafe), then what should happen with members who progressed from Associate to Tech SP (and beyond) by submission of a portfolio. How will a stance such as this affect those members whom many years ago were upgraded to MIOSH during restructuring (no Dip or VQ required). Qualification or ability - which produces the better results. Ian CMIOSH

Posted By Pete48 IOSH sets the standard for entry to membership at all levels. If an NVQ route is currently identified as achieving the required standard then it is equal to any other. I welcome the inclusion of an NVQ route to membership as it provides a means for those who cannot use the Diploma or Degree route for whatever reason. And we should remember this is not always due to a fear of or lack of academic ability. The route taken to gain the required knowledge, experience and personal skills may well lead to different careers in H&S but should never prevent the award of a relevant membership status up to and including the highest achievable status. I hope that IOSH will continue to recognise the NVQ route as a means to gain the required knowledge. It may, just like the Diploma and others, need to reach ever higher standards but the NVQ process should always remain as valid as the academic route.