What Are the IOSH Memberships & Tiers? | Benefits & Eligibility Breakdown

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the biggest health and safety membership organisation in the world, and the only chartered body for health and safety professionals. IOSH has over 50,000 members in 130 different countries. Their membership is recognised across the world and offers health and safety professionals a wide host of benefits.

Whether you’re in the beginning stages of your career or a fully established occupational health and safety expert, IOSH has memberships available for people at varying levels of their career development from Student to Chartered Fellow.

What Is IOSH Membership?

The IOSH professional memberships are professional designations offered to individuals in the health and safety profession. This membership is recognised worldwide, and signifies a person’s commitment to workplace safety, professional development and adherence to industry best practices.

Why is IOSH Membership Important?

In a survey conducted by IOSH Magazine, 91 per cent of respondents said that IOSH builds excellence in the OSH professions with 68 per cent stating the credibility of being a member adds value to their career. Climbing the IOSH membership ranks is vital for every health and safety professional for a number of important reasons:

• Professional Recognition: IOSH is internationally acknowledged as a benchmark, and it increases member’s credibility and career prospects.
• Networking Opportunities: IOSH gives members the opportunity to network with one another. This facilitates the exchange of knowledge, skills and collaboration. In turn, this will create a supportive network of professionals that will grow the profession as a whole.

What Are the Different Levels of IOSH Membership?

IOSH offers six different levels of membership. Each of these tiers has their own set of eligibility criteria which you need to be aware of. 

Student Member

Membership Price: £15

This category is designed for anyone currently studying for an IOSH qualification, such as the IOSH Managing Safely or IOSH Working Safely. You are also eligible if you are studying a qualification that is IOSH-accredited or are on a safety, health and environment (SHE) technician apprentice.

Student members receive support throughout their studies, including access to tools and resources that enhance employability post-qualification. Further student support includes:

• IOSH Mentoring: Mentoring sessions aimed at providing support guidance and advice, helping you build confidence and expand your horizons.
• Bursaries: You are to apply for IOSH Student Member Bursaries. This exists to help aspiring health and safety professionals develop and support them with their qualification process. This process has existed since 2020, and has awarded over £56,228, to over 268 members.
• Career Support & Advice: As a student member, you will gain access to IOSH’s Career Hub, helping you to navigate the jobs marketing and progress in your chosen field.

Affiliate Member

Membership Price: £216 (including a one-off administrative fee) for the first year. £159 renewal fee annually.

Affiliate membership is the starting point for all IOSH members. For this tier, you do not need to be studying a course to have responsibilities for health and safety in your workplace.

This tier is suited for anyone with an active interest in the health and safety industry – serving as a perfect entry for those considering a jump into the profession.

Higher grades are available from here, and you can climb as your progress further in your career – provided you can evidence relevant qualifications and the necessary experience.

Technical Member (TechIOSH)

Membership Price: £216 (including a one-off administrative fee) for the first year. £159 renewal fee annually.

This tier is accessible for professionals working in an operational health and safety role on a daily basis. In order to be eligible for TechIOSH, you must have completed an IOSH-accredited Level 3 course, such as the NEBOSH General Certificate. The level of qualification must be accompanied by a least one year of relevant experience.

At this tier level, you are expected to maintain a level of continuing professional development for at least 30 hours per year, to ensure you are staying up to date with your knowledge and skills.

Certified Member (CertIOSH)

Membership Price: £216 (including a one-off administrative fee) for the first year. £159 renewal fee annually.

This Certified Member tier was previously known as the Graduate Membership (GradIOSH). It is primarily for senior health and safety professionals who are working their way towards Chartered status.

To achieve this level, you must have a relevant degree-level qualification, such as the NEBOSH Level 6 Diploma, and at least two full years of relevant experience.

Additionally, you can also progress through the IOSH’s experiential route, if you have significant experience in health and safety, which we will delve into later.

You will also need to maintain your continuing professional development record.

Chartered Member (CMIOSH)

Membership Price: £216 (including a one-off administrative fee) for the first year. £192 renewal fee annually.

IOSH is the only organisation in the world awards the status of ‘Chartered’ to eligible health and safety professionals. It’s CMIOSH designation aligns with the chartered status of other professions.

Similarly to the Certified tier, there are two routes to achieving the Chartered designation. You can follow IOSH’s professional development assessment route. A process with multiple stages you can find out more about on IOSH’s website. You can also progress through the experiential route if you have 5-10 years’ experience in a relevant field.

You will need to maintain your continuing professional develop record for this tier, in addition to passing the IOSH Ethical Practice in OSH e-learning and assessment.

Chartered Fellow (CFIOSH)

Membership Price: £216 (including a one-off administrative fee) for the first year. £211 renewal fee annually.

The highest level of membership attainable through IOSH. Candidates are awarded this designation when they have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the industry. They should be role models for other members, their organisations and the health and safety community.

To be eligible, you must have been a Chartered Member for a minimum of five years, with five or more years of relevant senior health and safety leadership experience.

You will, once again, need to maintain your continuing professional development and pass IOSH’s Ethical Practice in OSH e-learning and assessment.

Is IOSH Membership Worth It?

The short answer is, yes. IOSH membership offers a whole host of benefits that can significantly enhance a professional's career in health and safety.

IOSH Membership Benefits

• Professional Recognition: Membership is recognised worldwide as a benchmark for OSH excellence, which can enhance career prospects.
• Resources and Support: Members have access to a wealth of resources, including industry research, best practices, and updates on legislative changes.
• Networking Opportunities: IOSH provides platforms for members to connect with other professionals, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration.
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Through IOSH's CPD programs, members can continually develop their skills and knowledge, ensuring they remain competent and effective in their roles.
• Discounts: Save money on products and services, including insurance, travel, high-street retailers and gym memberships.
• Exclusive events: Attend IOSH events and training sessions.
• Influence policy: Use your expertise to help influence health and safety policy for your organization or government.

How Long Does IOSH Membership Last?

IOSH membership is typically renewed on an annual basis. Members are notified when their membership is up for renewal and can manage the process through their IOSH account. Student Membership, however, is valid for the duration of the individual's studies without the need for annual renewal.

Can I Become an IOSH Member if I Don’t Have Any Qualifications?

You can now achieve Certified or Chartered status without completing additional qualifications. The experiential route is on offer for those with an established occupational safety and health background. This also includes consultants who are working with businesses to drive improvement.

Those that are eligible are Affiliate and Technical Members who have between five- and 10-years’ relevant leadership experience in an OSH role but don’t have an IOSH-accredited Level 6 or 7 OSH qualification. Non-members who are delivering positive change at a senior OSH professional level can join IOSH at Affiliate level and, if eligible, can also progress through this route.

How Will IOSH Assess My Experience Level?

IOSH assesses candidates’ ability through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) process. This applies credits to learning acquired from different experiences that have not been previously assessed and accredited. The skills, knowledge and abilities developed in this way can be weighted evenly to those gained through a formal education.

The APEL process can take three to six months and once registered, you will have six months to complete the process, or you will have to start again. It costs £1,080, which covers the costs of delivering the assessment and does not generate a profit.

Courses such as the IOSH Managing Safely, are the perfect way to get started with a Student IOSH membership. The course provides learners with an excellent foundational knowledge of health and safety, applicable to any industry and workplace. Use the button below to head to our course page, where you can download syllabus guides, access demos and much more.