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IPD routes to Chartered membership

Initial Professional Development is a process our Certified Members can take to progress to Chartered status. There are three different routes to Chartered, depending on your qualifications. All routes include an assessment process, continuing professional development (CPD) review and Peer Review Interview (PRI). Find out what each route involves and how to get started.

There are currently three IPD routes available. When you apply, we will advise you which route is applicable, based on the qualification you submitted to reach Certified status. 

If you're enrolled on route 1 to Chartered membership, you’ve already demonstrated your academic ability. Being a Chartered Member means being an all-round practitioner, so you now need to demonstrate your practical health and safety skills.

Your route to Chartered membership will be:

  1. Electronic Skills Development Portfolio (ESDP)
  2. Peer Review Interview (PRI)
  3. Chartered membership.

If you're enrolled on route 2 to Chartered membership, you’re already demonstrating your practical health and safety skills. Being a Chartered Member means being an all-round practitioner, so you now need to demonstrate your academic ability.

Your route to Chartered membership will be:

  1. Electronic Open Assessment (EOA)
  2. Peer Review Interview (PRI)
  3. Chartered membership.

If you're enrolled on route 3 to Chartered membership, you'll have already attained your Certified membership with a non-accredited degree. To become a Chartered Member, you now need to demonstrate your practical skills and academic ability relating to health and safety.

Your route to Chartered will be:

  1. Electronic Skills Development Portfolio (ESDP) and Electronic Open Assessment (EOA)
  2. Peer Review Interview (PRI)
  3. Chartered membership.

All routes include an assessment process and Peer Review Interview (PRI). You must also maintain your CPD throughout the process, which will be reviewed.

Find out about what's involved at each stage.

For routes 1 and 3 you will need to complete your ESDP, which is produced electronically via your account on iosh.co.uk.

You start by selecting seven criteria from five elements. You can work through the criteria in any order and each one can be submitted individually for assessment. The assessment timeframe is approximately two to three weeks.

If a criterion is accepted or locked, you can start on the next one. If changes are required, the assessor will provide feedback on what additional information is required. You can then amend your submission and resubmit. There is no maximum number of times you can submit an individual criterion.

See the downloads section at the bottom of the page for guidance on completing your ESDP.

For routes 2 and 3, you will need to complete your EOA, which runs every month and is completed electronically via your account on iosh.co.uk. The examination is made up of two parts.

Part A consists of 48 multiple-choice questions, which you will have three hours to answer.

Part B is made up of two scenario-based questions for which you have seven days to conduct your research and submit your 700-word answers.

Please note you must pass Part A in order to progress to Part B. Your answers will be marked by a qualified examiner and the result will be available to you after approximately three weeks.

See the downloads section at the bottom of the page for guidance on completing your EOA.

Once you have completed your ESDP and/or EOA, IOSH will conduct an audit of your online CPD. This is to verify that you have been updating and maintaining your knowledge and skills as a health and safety professional. The auditor will check that your CPD record meets the standard of compliance.

This means you must have:

  • updated your CPD online in the last six months
  • a meaningful development plan
  • a minimum of six activities a year, each with a reflective account.

You will need to pass the CPD audit before you can book your Peer Review Interview. The CPD video at the bottom of the page explains more about the CPD review. 

The final step of the IPD process is the PRI. This consists of you giving a 10-minute presentation to a panel of volunteers, who are either Chartered Members or Chartered Fellows, then answering a number of questions designed to assess your underpinning health and safety knowledge and your application to practise. For guidance, download the PRI steps and watch the PRI video – you can find both at the bottom of the page.

If you are successful at your PRI, you will achieve Chartered status.

Ready to start your journey?

You can register for IPD as soon as you become a Certified Member. Registration is £160 and once your CPD is reviewed you can book your online PRI, which is £80. If you've already enrolled on IPD you can log in to your account via Skilsure.

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