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AIM Qualifications Level 6 Diploma in Applied Health and Safety or NEBOSH Diploma
Rank: Forum user
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After a bit of advise on which course is best to take. I tend to work better in a classroom environment however home commitments do make this a little more difficult nowadays. Just want to know from your experiences what worked best for you and why?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Hayley - well over 50 users of the Forums have read your post but without reply which makes me wonder whether you should broaden your Q. Having never heard of AIM qualifications I had to look them up. In terms of "Compliance" only appear to be a Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction, no longer on offer, or Level 2 Health and Safety. Presuming you are looking for a Level 6 (or even 7) qualification on the European Qualifications Framework, i.e. NEBOSH Diploma or something equivalent on the EQF scale. You comment that you "tend to work better in a classroom environment" but that this is more difficult now. So, perhaps you are looking for alternatives to the NEBOSH offering. These could include: 1. A degree - with some available by remote learning 2. (National) Vocational Qualification - note that not all VQs are at the same level on the EQF. Essentially about putting together a portfolio demonstrating your understanding of a range of issues. Much could be done by using the deliverables that come from your day to day work, if you have enough variation in your work load. 3. NCRQ - two Level 3 Certificates (one roughly comparable to NEBOSH General Certificate) and one on things like civil liability, followed by a unit to complete Level 6 Diploma. Away from work and various assignments designed to take you often out of your day to day work comfort zone, but where you could show that your work provides transferable knowledge and experience. Good luck, whichever route you choose. P
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Rank: Super forum user
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For the record I am about halfway through the second book (of three) of the NCRQ level 6 diploma. I find it a very pleasant experience, but I would only recommend it to those that already have some sort of role within H&S. It is a lot more "self learning" than I remember NEBOSH to be. It is also not classroom based, so maybe not for you. It is all online, and booklet lead, with advice from tutors should you ask for it. If you go for the whole diploma, as opposed to individual modules, you have 3 years to complete it, at your own pace. I expect to have it done in 2, and I am taking it a lot slower than most. NCRQ is more focused on the practical application of H&S than the knowledge. It is based almost exclusively on real case studies, and teaching you how, and what, we learn from them. It quite often acknowledges the differences between the best practice for a multi-national corporation and what a SME could do, realising that resources are very different between the two. Because of this I think it would be hard to follow without you own experience and angles to draw from (and the forum posts on the NCRQ site seem to back me up). The main posts I see about people "failing" the course are from those that come in to the diploma with an acedemic base, rather than an experience base.
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Rank: Forum user
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Maybe more detail in the question would have helped. Thank you to the two that have replied. I have my NEBOSH general certificate which I passed last year, I am currently in a health and safety role in logistics and chill warehousing environment, so I am wanting to continue my health and safety learning. @CptBeaky - some great feedback on your course, exactly the type of info I am wanting. I do wonder if the information you are getting is self explanitory, and easy enough to understand, I always worry with this type of learning, if you dont understand then do you still have the support from the tutors, or do you find it hard to get full confirmation?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hayley - i can only echo cpt comments - while i have not done the course myself a number of friends have and I have just managed to secure a place for my collegue, i hear nothing but good things about the course. You dont say where in UK you are but as already been said some universities offer H&S courses. I did my PgC in Health and Safety Management with Portsmouth (but thats over 20 years ago!). It was one of the 1st distance learnbing level 6 course i think (and i was on the 1st year). The course material and support was excelant - and this was before the days of Zoom and teams so it was all paper based and phone calles.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: Hayley_777
I do wonder if the information you are getting is self explanitory, and easy enough to understand, I always worry with this type of learning, if you dont understand then do you still have the support from the tutors, or do you find it hard to get full confirmation?
This is quite hard to answer honestly, as I can only base it on my own learning style. I have found it very easy to understand, but I have a lot of experience to draw from. The long section on "Tort" was probably the hardest I have come across, but even then I found the examples and case law cited made it easy to follow. However, the NCRQ forums suggest this isn't the case for everyone. I have only had minimal contact with the tutors, normally just to clarify something before I request an assignment, but that have been very insightful. My main criticism is that some of the information is a little dated, since H&S moves at quite a pace at times and the booklets are updated every couple of years. Also sometimes the online activities are a little amateurish, but still perfectly reasonable. Another small niggle is I completely disagree with an answer to one of the first online activities which did rub me up the wrong way for a while. It was to do with the application of the heirachy of control, but has signage below PPE. I objected to this, pointing out the PPE is always listed as the last resort. My tutor agreed, but explained that in this instance the signage would be pointless, therefore it would be lower than PPE. Whilst I get the point, it should still be considered before PPE, even if PPE would still have to be utilised with the signs there. It wasn't relevant to my mark, as it wasn't in an assignment, but it did annoy me.
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Rank: Forum user
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It may be over-simplyfing things, but my take would be:
- If you want to be a 'Doing' Safety guy the NCRQ route would likely suit better, certainly if you're self-funding
- If you want to be a desk jockey writing policy reams of corporate policy and stuff - Nebosh Diploma, (I know that as a 'Doing' guy, you'll be writing some stuff). If you've got loads of money or company is paying and giving you the time off you need.
A bit like, 'Those who can, Do, those who can't Teach'
Either route can get you Full IOSH membership at the higher levels
Anyway, Just IMO, other opinions are available and usually widely expressed :)
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Rank: Super forum user
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As someone with a NEBOSH Diploma I take offence at that! Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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As someone without a NEBOSH diploma I also take offence at that! I teach and do and write policy!
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Rank: Forum user
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Hayley, the eternal question, which qualification/course is the best? There are many factors that will influence the answer which may be different for different people.
Some things to consider. What style of learning suits you and does that give you a route to your desired qualification? What is the ultimate goal and does it require a specific qualification? If it is CMIOSH then there are several routes and acceptable qualifications. If it is for furture employment, have a look at vacancies and see what employers are looking for. The availability and cost may also have an influence, whether you are paying for it yourself or not. I did the NEBOSH Certificate, then Diploma but at the time I was not aware of what else was out there and it was the only one that was offered locally. Hope this is useful.
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AIM Qualifications Level 6 Diploma in Applied Health and Safety or NEBOSH Diploma
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