The Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is the competence qualification for people with day-to-day health and safety responsibilities: safety officers, advisors, supervisors and managers who make safety part of how their site or workplace runs. An NVQ is competence-based: you prove what you already do, assessed against national standards from your own workplace, with no exams. The whole qualification is completed remotely.
It is aimed at people who carry out risk assessments, investigate incidents, induct and brief workers, monitor compliance and promote a safety culture. If health and safety is a real part of your job, the NVQ turns that practice into a nationally recognised qualification.
This NVQ is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual (qualification number 601/4766/0). It covers health and safety practice: identifying hazards, assessing and controlling risk, communicating safety information, and contributing to health and safety systems and culture.
The Level 3 NVQ is widely used to support an application for Technical Membership of IOSH (TechIOSH), which is the recognised professional grade for practising safety officers. It also strengthens CSCS card applications for safety related roles; check with CSCS for the right card for your specific occupation.
Safety professionals aiming at senior roles progress to the Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice, the competence route to Graduate and Chartered IOSH membership. Related routes include Occupational Work Supervision and the Level 3 Award in Fire Risk Assessment. You can also browse the full range of qualifications.
