Workplaces change fast. Risks also change. You need the right knowledge to protect people and meet legal duties. Good safety practice reduces accidents, injuries, and downtime. It also improves productivity and trust. If you are starting a safety role or want to improve your skills, the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Principles and Practice gives you a clear and practical learning path.
At Hopes Safety Consultancy LLC SPC, we support learners with structured training, clear guidance, and real workplace examples. Our goal is to help you build confidence and competence in managing health and safety at work.
Understanding the IOSH Level 3 Certificate
The IOSH Level 3 Certificate is suitable for people who are new to occupational safety and health. It also supports those who already have some safety duties and want stronger knowledge. The qualification focuses on practical skills that you can apply at work from day one.
This course is ideal for:
• Supervisors who manage teams and daily tasks
• Managers who carry safety responsibilities
• Team leaders who oversee people and processes
• Individuals who want to move into a health and safety role
The course reflects modern workplaces and current risks. It covers how to identify hazards, assess risks, and apply control measures. You learn how to follow legal requirements and
To be awarded the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Principles and Practice, learners are required to successfully complete four mandatory units that focus on the IOSH competency framework.
Unit 1: Fundamentals of OSH principles and management systems
Enabling learners to understand OSH principles, elements of a safety management system and the role they play in OSH performance, drawing from the Technical competencies.
Unit 2: Principles and application of OSH risk management
Enabling learners to apply OSH tools and techniques including risk assessment, risk management, workplace inspections and audits. Assessing their ability to apply them effectively to workplace scenarios using Core and Behavioural competencies.
Unit 3: Principles and application of OSH incident management
Enabling learners to understand the principles of incidents and their causation drawing from the Technical competencies and assessing the ability to use Behavioural and Core competencies when carrying out an investigation.
Unit 4: Improving OSH performance and culture
Enabling learners to ensure their own effectiveness as an OSH professional and the effective application of the organisation’s safety management systems by influencing and collaborating with colleagues. This unit draws heavily from the Core and Behavioural competencies.
This qualification content is built on the IOSH competency framework, which was developed following extensive research and consultation with OSH professionals, employers, and other stakeholders. The qualification has been accredited by IOSH against the competency framework, mapping to all of the required competencies to meet the academic requirements for Technical Member (TechIOSH) The content reflects the significant changes that have occurred in the workplace over the last decade and will help to build learners’ capability in the skills, knowledge, and behaviours they need to progress as an OSH professional. We are grateful to all the employers, education and OSH professionals, and other individuals who have generously shared their time and expertise to help us develop the qualification.
To achieve the IOSH Level 3 Certificate, candidates must successfully complete two assessments:
Multiple-Choice Knowledge Exam: An 80-question exam to be completed in two hours, with a pass mark of 70%.
Scenario-Based Assessment: A practical evaluation consisting of four tasks—a workplace inspection, a risk assessment, an incident investigation, and preparation for a toolbox talk. This assessment also has a two-hour duration and requires a 50% pass mark.
Both assessments are conducted online and are remotely invigilated, offering flexibility while maintaining rigorous standard
There are no mandatory entry requirements for this qualification, but it is strongly recommended that learners have completed the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Practice or equivalent IOSH accredited qualification and/or experience, as this level of prior learning is assumed. Study Centres are responsible for ensuring that this qualification is appropriate for the age, ability and professional experience of learners. They need to make sure that learners can fulfil the requirements of the learning outcomes, assessments and comply with the relevant literacy, numeracy and health and safety aspects of this qualification.
For learners to be successful on this qualification, which is taught and assessed in English, it is crucial that they have an appropriate level of English language skills. If a learner is not from a majority English-speaking country, they must provide evidence of an appropriate level of English language skills. Learners are expected to be able to demonstrate English language comprehension at a level equivalent to IELTS (International English Language Testing System) 6.0 to be able to study the IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health Principles and Practice. All study centres delivering this qualification must ensure that all learners who are non-native English speakers and who have not undertaken their final two years of schooling in English, can demonstrate capability in English at a standard equivalent to the level identified above, before being registered on the qualification. For more information, please refer to our English language requirements FAQs.
If you’d like to take the first steps towards enrolling on the IOSH Level 3 Certificate, please register using the form below.
