IOSH Membership

By completing one of our accredited courses, you can apply to become an Associate, Technical or Graduate Member, unlocking countless new and advanced career opportunities. Members at all levels benefit from networking opportunities and access to up-to-date expertise.

IOSH is also the only Chartered body for health and safety. Members at the highest levels can influence industry leaders and drive change within the profession.

There are two ways you can apply to become a member. The easiest way is complete an online application form on the IOSH website by clicking here.

Alternatively, you can request a paper application form by contacting the IOSH membership team:

• [email protected]
• +44 (0)116 257 3198

Affiliate membership costs £153 per year, which you’ll be prompted to pay during the application process. The fee includes a monthly magazine, weekly email bulletin and access to over 300 free or subsidised learning events. You can also sign up to receive the IOSH’s international journal, which is published twice a year.

Membership categories

There are many types of IOSH membership, each requiring certain qualifications and level of skills and knowledge.

Affiliate Member

You can apply to become an Affiliate Member at any time in your career, as there are no specific requirements that you need to meet. As an Affiliate Member, you’ll be invited to join your local IOSH branch. This is a great opportunity to network with people from a variety of industries who have similar responsibilities to you. Your membership fee also gives you access to one group. Groups are usually industry specific, meaning that you have your say in relevant consultations and projects and share best practice. You can join additional groups for an annual fee of £10 per group.

Associate Member (AIOSH)

Anyone who has an accredited IOSH qualification can become a member at the associate level. Associate Members are workers that require training to carry out their job safely, but who are not health and safety professionals.

If you have current experience within the profession, you should become a Technical Member (see below.) Newcomers to health and safety are an exception to this rule, as they are yet to build enough experience to be given Technical status.

As an Associate Member, you can follow your name with the letters AIOSH.

Technical Member (Tech IOSH)

As a Technical Member, you’ll have an accredited qualification and relevant experience in an operational health and safety role. Members at this level must maintain their level of knowledge through the IOSH Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. CPD allows you to spot gaps in your skills or knowledge, and carry out activities or training to fill these gaps.

Tech IOSH qualifications include the National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) National General Certificate and International General Certificate.

As a Technical Member, you can follow your name with the letters Tech IOSH.

Graduate Member (Grad IOSH)

Graduate membership is based on qualification rather than experience. To become a Graduate Member, you must have completed an IOSH degree or a cognate degree where 60% is related to health and safety. Our NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is an example of a Grad IOSH accredited course.

As a Graduate Member, you’ll be able to join the Initial Professional Development (IPD) scheme. IPD must be completed before you can become a Chartered Member - it usually takes two to five years. As per technical membership, you must also stay up to date with CPD each year.

As a Graduate Member, you can follow your name with the letters Grad IOSH.

Chartered Member (CMIOSH)

Chartered Members are recognised within the health and safety profession as meeting the highest standards of skills and knowledge. This can open up your career path to more influential roles.   

If you’d like to become a Chartered Member, you must first achieve graduate membership, then complete the IPD programme. Many people that become a Graduate Member after completing our Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health go on to achieve CMIOSH membership.

The activities that you must do as part of your IPD will depend on your qualifications, but may include a skills development portfolio (SDP) and assessment. At the end of your IPD you must attend a peer review interview and, if successful, you will become a Chartered Member of IOSH. You must stay up to date with CPD to maintain your chartered status.

As a Chartered Member, you can follow your name with the letters CMIOSH and are entitled to designate yourself as a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner.

Chartered Fellow (CFIOSH)

Only Chartered Members who are held in the highest regard due to their exceptional commitment to the profession, are awarded Fellowship. Chartered Fellows must have spent five years at chartered membership level and proven that they are an ambassador for IOSH.

Commitment can be proven in a variety of ways, for example through service to certain committees, publishing original research or helping to develop the careers of junior professionals. Our Chairman Lawrence Waterman is a Fellow - read more about his career here.

Got a question about IOSH? Check out our FAQs for more information about our accredited courses.