IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Principles and Practice

A qualification for new and aspiring OSH professionals to build OSH capability - The IOSH way

The IOSH Level 3 Certificate enables learners to:

  • Apply OSH principles in the workplace to mitigate risk and help to prevent incidents

  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive OSH culture

  • Improve their own and their organisation’s performance through sustainable and effective application of systems, processes, procedures, and resources.

What is the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in OSH Principles and Practice?

  • The IOSH Level 3 Certificate in OSH Principles and Practice is a global qualification, built on the IOSH competency framework.

  • It offers a clear career pathway for new and aspiring OSH professionals providing the knowledge, application, and real-life skills that they and their employers require to apply safety systems and positively influence OSH performance within their organisations.

Who should study the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in OSH Principles and Practice?

  • The IOSH Certificate is for learners who are pursuing a career in OSH in a variety of sectors and for those already working in the profession who have some responsibility for OSH in their role.

  • Learners who achieve this qualification will have greater credibility and confidence when talking to senior management about safety and health in organisations.

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive coverage of the IOSH competency framework

  • Develops an optimal balance of the fundamental technical OSH knowledge and skills with behavioural and core business skills

  • Assessment via online remotely invigilated multiple choice exam and scenario based tasks.

  • Globally recognised qualification

  • Meets the academic requirements for application for TechIOSH membership and designatory letters

  • Ofqual regulated

  • Eligibility for IOSH student membership allowing access to a multitude of benefits to support learning including the Blueprint CPD tool, mentoring and the Career Hub

  • Confidence in the IOSH brand

How is the qualification structured?

To be awarded the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Principles and Practice, learners are required to successfully complete four mandatory units that focus on the IOSH competency framework.

Unit 1: Fundamentals of OSH principles and management systems

Enabling learners to understand OSH principles, elements of a safety management system and the role they play in OSH performance, drawing from the Technical competencies.

Unit 2: Principles and application of OSH risk management

Enabling learners to apply OSH tools and techniques including risk assessment, risk management, workplace inspections and audits. Assessing their ability to apply them effectively to workplace scenarios using Core and Behavioural competencies.

Unit 3: Principles and application of OSH incident management

Enabling learners to understand the principles of incidents and their causation drawing from the Technical competencies and assessing the ability to use Behavioural and Core competencies when carrying out an investigation.

Unit 4: Improving OSH performance and culture

Enabling learners to ensure their own effectiveness as an OSH professional and the effective application of the organisation’s safety management systems by influencing and collaborating with colleagues. This unit draws heavily from the Core and Behavioural competencies.

How is this qualification assessed?

There are two mandatory assessments for learners to successfully complete:

  • Day 1 of the assessment: OSH in Practice Assessment (Online Scenario-based Assessment)

  • Day 2 of the assessment: OSH Principles Examination (Online Multiple Choice)

Assessment Day 1 : OSH in Practice Assessment (Online Scenario-based Assessment)

Assessment duration: 2 hours

The pass mark is 50%

The examination will comprise a range of tasks based on a workplace scenario which will assess the learner’s ability to:

  • Investigate a multi-factor incident.

  • Undertake a workplace inspection to include: identifying hazards, summarising the main findings and existing controls, suggest recommendations and or improvements based on the findings

  • Carry out a risk assessment for an activity within a workplace

  • Develop an approach and content for a toolbox talk

Assessment Day 2: OSH Principles Examination (Online Multiple Choice)

Examination duration: 2 Hours

The pass mark is 70%.

It consists of simple 80 multiple-choice questions in a range of question styles.

Technology Requirement for the Assessment (Examination)

You will need the following equipment:

  • A laptop or a desktop computer with audio, webcam and microphone enabled, operating the latest version of Google Chrome. {Operating System: Genuine Windows 10 (32-bit/64-bit) operating system or Genuine Windows 11. MacOS: the latest two MacOS releases}

  • A second device which has a camera e.g., smartphone or tablet {Android 8 or higher. iPhone iOS 15.8 or higher}. You must ensure your phone remains connected to Wi-Fi only during the assessment.

  • A strong and reliable Wi-Fi connection. (Note: You will not be able to use Mobile Data or a Hotspot)

IOSH Membership

  • At the start of the IOSH Level 3 Certificate, learners will need to join IOSH as a 'Student Member'.

  • Eligible enrolled students can access IOSH Student Membership for the duration of their studies and, on successful completion, they will meet the academic requirements for Technical (TechIOSH) membership.

IOSH Student Membership Fee

  • You will pay a one-time fee of £15 that covers the duration of your studies.

Technical (TechIOSH)

  • If you have an IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Principles and Practice qualification and 1 year’s relevant experience you can directly attain Technical Membership of IOSH (TechIOSH).