Official Approved Centre
PESS • Centre No. DC2508936
Ofqual-Regulated • RQF Level 6 • Advanced HSE Qualification
Advance into HSE Leadership with the OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
Build advanced capability in health and safety policy, management practice, risk and incident control, workplace hazards, law, culture and professional leadership through a seven-unit UK-regulated qualification.
- Seven Mandatory Units
- Assignment & Portfolio Assessment
- OTHM External Verification
- PESS Tutor & LMS Support
Designed for Professionals Ready to Move Beyond Entry-Level Safety Roles
This programme is suitable for learners who already possess relevant safety knowledge or practical experience and want to develop advanced management, legal, technical and leadership capability.
HSE Officers & AdvisorsProgress towards higher responsibility and strategic work.
Safety SupervisorsDevelop management, risk-control and compliance capability.
Engineers & ManagersBuild structured occupational safety leadership competence.
Career Progression LearnersPrepare for Level 7, professional membership and senior roles.
Qualification Overview
Develop Advanced Occupational Health and Safety Management Capability
The diploma is designed for learners developing into senior roles with responsibility for health and safety policy and practice.
What the Programme Develops
Learners examine the legal and regulatory background to occupational health and safety policy, evaluate policies, understand management systems and assess a wide range of workplace risks.
The programme also develops the ability to promote positive culture, manage incidents, influence organisational decisions and demonstrate ethical professional practice.
OTHM Level 6 qualifications are comparable in academic level to bachelor's-degree-level study. This describes the qualification level and does not mean the 60-credit diploma is the same as a complete bachelor's degree.
Official Entry Requirements
Understand the OTHM Admission Requirements Before You Apply
PESS completes an eligibility review because Level 6 is an advanced qualification and is not intended as a beginner programme.
Relevant Prior Qualification
A relevant NQF, QCF or RQF certificate or diploma—or an equivalent recognised qualification—covering occupational health and safety foundation concepts.
Required Foundation Concepts
Prior learning should cover science and technology, legal systems, workplace safety, risk, management principles, occupational hygiene, psychology, IT, literacy and numeracy.
Mature Learner Route
Mature applicants over 21 with at least two years of practical experience may be considered following an individual centre assessment.
Age and English
Learners must be at least 18 at the start of the course. English-language competency evidence may be required where applicable.
PESS document review: Applicants may be asked for photo identification, education and safety certificates, an updated CV, employment evidence for the mature route and English-language evidence where required. Admission is confirmed only after eligibility review.
Seven Mandatory Units
Complete the Full 60-Credit Diploma Structure
All seven units are mandatory and together account for 600 TQT and 220 GLH.
01
Mandatory Unit
H/617/7539
Unit 01
Health and Safety Management Principles and Policy
Develop a critical understanding of health and safety management principles, organisational systems and policy review.
- Performance objectives and targets
- Effective health and safety systems
- Policy development and critical review
- Recording and communication systems
- Organisational change and governance
- Continual improvement
02
Mandatory Unit
Y/617/8526
Unit 02
Health and Safety Management Practice
Translate policy into effective planning, organising, leading, controlling, reviewing and auditing practice.
- Planning and organising safety practice
- Leadership and operational control
- Performance review
- Proactive and reactive indicators
- Audit and management review
- Worker health and wellbeing
03
Mandatory Unit
Y/617/7540
Unit 03
Risk and Incident Management
Evaluate risk, loss events and incidents using structured assessment, investigation and control strategies.
- Hazard identification
- Risk evaluation
- Hierarchy of control
- Loss causation and data
- Incident investigation
- Corrective and preventive action
04
Mandatory Unit
Y/617/8543
Unit 04
Promoting a Positive Health and Safety Culture
Understand the organisational, human and leadership factors that influence behaviour, culture and performance.
- Organisational culture
- Human and organisational factors
- Leadership styles
- Worker consultation
- Behaviour and communication
- Culture-improvement strategy
05
Mandatory Unit
R/617/9092
Unit 05
Maintaining a Safe Workplace Environment
Apply critical technical knowledge to control workplace, occupational health, equipment and hazardous-substance risks.
- Workplace contexts and transport
- Work at height and confined spaces
- Noise, vibration and radiation
- Hazardous substances and PPE
- Work equipment and machinery
- Fire, electricity and emergency control
06
Mandatory Unit
H/617/7542
Unit 06
Health and Safety Law, Regulation and Influence
Interpret international legal and regulatory frameworks and evaluate how practitioners influence compliance.
- International legal frameworks
- Duties and responsibilities
- Regulatory systems
- Enforcement approaches
- Organisational compliance
- Professional influence
07
Mandatory Unit
K/617/7543
Unit 07
Development of the Health and Safety Practitioner
Strengthen practitioner competence, ethics, communication, leadership and continuing professional development.
- Practitioner roles and responsibilities
- Ethical professional practice
- Competence assessment
- Training and recruitment strategy
- Communication and influence
- CPD and career planning
Assessment, Verification and Pass Requirements
The qualification is criterion referenced. Learners must provide sufficient evidence to meet every learning outcome and all assessment criteria for each unit.
- Official assessment methods include assignments and portfolio evidence.
- Assessment decisions are made internally by the approved centre.
- OTHM externally verifies the centre's assessment decisions.
- Every learning outcome and assessment criterion must be achieved for a Pass.
- Learners who do not yet pass receive feedback and follow the centre reassessment process.
Pass / Fail Grading
The overall grading type is Pass or Fail rather than percentage or distinction grading.
Evidence-Based Work
Assignments should demonstrate analysis, evaluation, professional application and reliable referencing.
Feedback and Reassessment
PESS provides assessor feedback and manages reassessment according to policy and OTHM requirements.
Recognition of Prior Learning
RPL may be considered for units, but the entire diploma cannot be claimed through RPL.
PESS Learner Support
Structured Support from Admission to Completion
PESS supports learner readiness, academic progress, assessment quality and completion—not only registration.
Eligibility Review
Review of qualifications, experience, English readiness and required admission evidence.
Learner Induction
Clear guidance on units, assessment criteria, academic integrity, policies and learner responsibilities.
LMS Access
Course materials, assignment briefs, submission areas, feedback and learner activity through Moodle.
Tutor Guidance
Scheduled teaching, subject explanations, learning activities and support with applied understanding.
Academic Writing
Guidance on report structure, critical discussion, Harvard referencing and evidence-based conclusions.
Assessment Feedback
Clear assessor feedback linked to learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
Internal Quality Assurance
IQA sampling and standardisation help maintain fair and consistent assessment decisions.
Progress Monitoring
Attendance, LMS activity, submissions, feedback actions and completion progress are monitored.
Learner Journey
From Eligibility Check to OTHM Result
A clear learner journey helps you understand what happens before, during and after assessment.
Apply
Submit your registration information and supporting documents.
Eligibility Review
PESS checks qualification, experience, age and English readiness.
Induction & Registration
Complete learner induction and formal registration arrangements.
Study & Submit
Attend learning, use the LMS and submit evidence for seven units.
Assessment & IQA
Receive assessment decisions, feedback and internal quality assurance.
OTHM Verification
Assessment decisions are externally verified before final results and certification.
Recognition & Progression
Use Level 6 as a Platform for Professional and Academic Progression
Progression is subject to the rules of OTHM, IOSH, universities and receiving institutions.
RQF Level 6 Equivalence
OTHM states that Level 6 qualifications are comparable in academic level to bachelor's-degree-level study. The 60-credit diploma is not a complete bachelor's degree.
Review Official SpecificationIOSH Membership Review
IOSH lists the OTHM Level 6 Diploma in its accredited qualification directory for Certified grade. Current CertIOSH requirements also include at least two years of professional experience and CPD. Membership is not automatic.
Check Current IOSH RequirementsLevel 7 and Master's Progression
Successful learners may progress to the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management or seek entry to relevant master's programmes, subject to admissions criteria.
Explore OTHM Progressions
Official Verification & Progression
Verify the Qualification and Plan Your Next Step
Review the official OTHM Level 6 qualification information and explore progression to the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management through PESS.
Official OTHM Information
OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
Open the official OTHM qualification webpage to review the programme title, regulatory information, entry requirements, units, assessment and progression.
View Official OTHM Level 6 Qualification
Academic Progression
Progress to the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in OHS Management
Continue your professional and academic journey through an advanced Level 7 qualification focused on strategic occupational health and safety management.
Explore OTHM Level 7 ProgressionEntry to Level 7 is subject to the applicable qualification, experience and admission requirements. PESS reviews learner eligibility before registration.
Learner FAQs
Important Questions Before You Enrol
Review the qualification, entry, assessment, recognition and support information before submitting your application.
What is the full qualification name?
The full title is OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, qualification number 603/5002/7.
What are the official entry requirements?
Applicants must normally hold a relevant recognised occupational health and safety certificate or diploma covering the required foundation concepts. Mature learners over 21 with at least two years of practical experience may also be considered. Learners must be at least 18 years old, and English-language evidence may be required.
How many units are included?
The diploma contains seven mandatory units. Successful learners complete 60 credits, 600 hours Total Qualification Time and 220 Guided Learning Hours.
How is the qualification assessed?
All units are internally assessed by the approved centre and externally verified by OTHM. Assessment is criterion referenced and normally uses assignments and portfolio evidence. Every learning outcome and assessment criterion must be achieved for a Pass.
Is there a final written examination?
The official assessment methods are assignment and portfolio of evidence. The qualification is not based on one final written examination.
Can a learner resubmit referred work?
Where a learner has not achieved a Pass, the centre must provide a clear feedback and reassessment process in accordance with OTHM requirements and the centre assessment policy.
Can Recognition of Prior Learning be used?
RPL may be considered for individual units where valid evidence meets the learning outcomes and assessment criteria. The complete qualification cannot be claimed through RPL.
Does the qualification automatically give CertIOSH membership?
No. IOSH lists the OTHM Level 6 Diploma as an accredited qualification for Certified grade, but membership is not automatic. Current IOSH requirements also include relevant professional experience and continuing professional development.
What can I study after Level 6?
Successful learners may progress to the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management or seek entry to relevant master's degree programmes, subject to the receiving institution's admission requirements.
What support does PESS provide?
PESS provides admission review, induction, LMS access, scheduled teaching, tutor guidance, academic-writing support, assessment feedback, internal quality assurance and learner progress monitoring.
Join the OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety with PESS
Submit your application for an eligibility review. PESS will confirm whether your qualification, experience and English readiness meet the entry requirements before registration.