The NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is the qualification that proves you are a competent health and safety practitioner. It is awarded by ProQual and regulated by Ofqual (qualification number 603/3106/9). It sits at Level 6, which is honours-degree level on the regulated qualifications framework, and it is completed remotely.
It is the competence-based route into the health and safety profession, and a widely used alternative to the NEBOSH National Diploma. It is aimed at people who already develop and apply health and safety procedures day to day, whether as a safety advisor, officer, manager or as part of a wider role. An NVQ is competence-based, so instead of sitting written exams you prove you can already do the work of a safety practitioner, assessed against national standards from your own workplace.
This NVQ is made up of ten mandatory units covering promoting a positive safety culture, developing and implementing the health and safety policy, communication systems, building competence, identifying, assessing and controlling risks, proactive and reactive monitoring, emergency arrangements, review systems, and keeping your knowledge current. Everyone completes the same ten units.
At Level 6 this qualification meets the academic requirement for graduate-level membership of IOSH (Certified Membership, CertIOSH, formerly Graduate Membership), which is the recognised step towards becoming a Chartered Member of IOSH (CMIOSH). It is the practical, workplace-assessed way to evidence the competence the profession expects.
Assessment is by portfolio, built and assessed remotely with your assessor by video call, so there are no written exams and no time away from work. You can browse the full range of construction NVQs for related management and supervisory qualifications.
Many practitioners take the NEBOSH General Certificate at Level 3 as an entry point first, then step up to this Level 6 NVQ or the NEBOSH Diploma.