Initial Professional Development FAQs

What does IPD involve?

Initial Professional Development (IPD) is a one-off assessment process that enables Graduate members to progress to Chartered status. It is in three sections:

• Electronic Skills Development Portfolio (ESDP) and/or Electronic Open Assessment (EOA)
• CPD Review
• Peer Review Interview (PRI).

What is the difference between IPD and CPD?

Continuing professional development (CPD) is an online record that tracks your learning, career progress and professional development. IPD is the assessment process that enables Graduate members to progress to Chartered.

Can I register for IPD online?

You can fill out the online form and a member of the team will aim to contact you within three working days. Registration costs £160. The PRI is £80 and conducted online only.

Can I choose my IPD route?

The route you take is based on the qualification you have achieved to reach Graduate membership. The Professional Development Team will advise which route is applicable for your professional journey to Chartered status.

Can I register for IPD as soon as I become a Graduate Member? 

Yes, you can.

How long does it take to complete the IPD process and achieve Chartered membership?

Members have been known to complete the process within six to nine months of registering for IPD. You must, however, have completed the assessment stage of the IPD process (ESDP and/or EOA) within two years of your IPD registration. This does not include the CPD Review or PRI. If you do not complete it within the allocated two years, you will be asked to register for the appropriate assessment route to Chartered.

I’ve completed my SDP and/or EOA. What happens now?

IOSH will inform you, via email, that you have completed the first stage of your IPD and your CPD will be audited shortly. Once you have passed the CPD Review, you will receive an email asking you to book your PRI. CPD Reviews are conducted weekly. You will be informed of the outcome within three weeks of receiving your assessment results.

Will I need to complete my CPD within Blueprint before attending my PRI?

Yes, members are required to use Blueprint to update their CPD. As part of the IPD process, a CPD Review is required, and this will be conducted within Blueprint. We have notified members who registered on the IPD scheme before 06 June 2023 that we've transitioned their CPD record from the old SkilSure platform, accessed via MyIOSH, to the new and enhanced Blueprint. 

What is the PRI?

This is the final assessment stage. It is a one-hour session, conducted by three Chartered members and Chartered Fellow volunteers, to assess your skills, knowledge and experience in health and safety. You will be asked questions based on:

• your IPD journey
• your core skills and experience as a safety practitioner
• the IOSH Code of Conduct.

You will also be asked to complete a 10-minute presentation based on your health and safety background and future goals. You will present this at the beginning of your interview. The presentation enables the panel to understand your background and areas of work and helps them ask supplementary questions linked to your role or experience.

Why hasn’t the new assessment route to Chartered launched?

In November 2022, we paused entry to the IPD process towards Chartered membership. This was to prepare for the transition to a new professional development assessment process. The new assessment processes will be available later than anticipated, so we have decided to make IPD available once again. This is in response to feedback from members requesting we retain a route for progression to Chartered status in the interim. We’re grateful to members who sent us their feedback confirming the clear demand to reopen IPD.

When will the new Professional Development Assessment processes be available?

These will be available later than anticipated. Providing an intuitive platform for our members to successfully complete their assessment is important. We continue to work hard to launch the new assessment processes. More information on this will be shared with the membership at the appropriate time.

When will IPD registrations close again?

IPD registration will close at the point of the launch of the Professional Development Assessment (PDA). We will share more information with members at the appropriate time.