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The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, IOSH, is the chartered body for health and safety professionals. Its membership levels show employers your qualifications and experience, and many job adverts for advisors and managers ask for a particular grade. IOSH is also an awarding body for courses such as IOSH Managing Safely, but completing a course does not make you a member on its own. Our guide what is IOSH? covers the organisation in general.
The membership levels
| Level | Letters | Typical requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Student | None | Currently studying for a career in occupational safety and health |
| Affiliate | None | Open to anyone working in or considering a career in safety, health and wellbeing |
| Technical | TechIOSH | An IOSH-accredited level 3 qualification and one year’s relevant experience |
| Certified | CertIOSH | A recognised degree-level qualification and two years’ experience, or significant health and safety leadership experience |
| Chartered | CMIOSH | Progression from Certified through a professional development assessment, or an experiential route for people with five to ten years’ leadership experience |
| Chartered Fellow | CFIOSH | Five years as a Chartered member plus five years in senior health and safety leadership |
IOSH reviews its routes from time to time, so always check the current requirements on the IOSH website before applying.
Which qualifications count?
- For TechIOSH: an IOSH-accredited level 3 qualification such as the NEBOSH National General Certificate or NEBOSH International General Certificate, plus relevant experience.
- For CertIOSH and the route to Chartered: a degree-level qualification, such as the Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, a NEBOSH National Diploma or an accredited degree.
- Beyond Chartered: postgraduate study such as the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Health and Safety Leadership and Management supports senior and strategic roles.
CPD
Professional members must keep up continuing professional development and record it with IOSH. Chartered members in particular must show their CPD each year to keep their status.
Is IOSH membership worth it?
For anyone building a career in health and safety, yes. TechIOSH is often the first step that employers recognise for advisor roles, and CMIOSH is widely expected for senior advisor and manager roles. Membership also gives access to networking, guidance, events and the IOSH magazine.
Mapping your route
| Where you are now | A sensible next step |
|---|---|
| New to health and safety, with responsibility as part of your job | IOSH Managing Safely |
| Moving into a health and safety advisor role | NEBOSH National General Certificate, then apply for TechIOSH |
| An experienced advisor working towards Chartered | Level 6 NVQ in Occupational Health and Safety, then CertIOSH and CMIOSH |
| A senior leader | Level 7 Diploma |
Our guide to health and safety careers sets out the full journey.
Training that helps
We deliver IOSH Managing Safely, IOSH Working Safely and IOSH Leading Safely, the NEBOSH National General Certificate, and the Level 3 and Level 6 NVQs in Occupational Health and Safety.
Frequently asked questions
What is TechIOSH?
Technical membership of IOSH, typically for people with an IOSH-accredited level 3 qualification, such as the NEBOSH General Certificate, and a year’s experience.
How do I become CMIOSH?
Usually by gaining a degree-level qualification, becoming a Certified member, then completing IOSH’s professional development assessment. An experiential route exists for people with five to ten years’ leadership experience.
Does IOSH Managing Safely give me IOSH membership?
No. It is a course certificated by IOSH, but it does not lead to a professional membership grade on its own.
Is the Level 6 NVQ accepted for Chartered membership?
The Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is a degree-level qualification widely used on the route to CertIOSH and CMIOSH. Check the current IOSH requirements when you apply.
Read the source
IOSH membership levels and routes, as published on the IOSH website, and IOSH guidance on CPD. Facts checked on 6 October 2026.
Upcoming IOSH dates
Straight from the booking system, so this block is never out of date.
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