If you have completed the NEBOSH National General Certificate, one of the first questions you may ask is:
What qualification should I do next?
There isn’t one answer that suits everybody.
Your next step should depend on where you are in your health and safety career, the responsibilities you currently have and where you want your career to go next.
For some health and safety professionals, the natural progression is a Level 6 health and safety qualification, particularly the ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
For others, developing specialist knowledge in areas such as construction, fire safety or environmental management may be more appropriate.
In this guide, we look at the different options available and explain why the Level 6 NVQ can be particularly attractive to experienced health and safety professionals who are already applying their knowledge in the workplace.
What Can You Do After the NEBOSH General Certificate?
The NEBOSH National General Certificate provides a strong foundation for people developing their knowledge and career in occupational health and safety.
Once you have completed the qualification and gained workplace experience, your next step will usually depend on whether you want to:
- Progress to a higher-level health and safety qualification
- Develop specialist knowledge
- Move into a particular industry
- Progress towards more senior health and safety responsibilities
- Work towards professional recognition
If you are already working in a health and safety position and have significant workplace responsibilities, progressing to a Level 6 qualification may be the logical next move.
What Is a Level 6 Health and Safety Qualification?
A Level 6 qualification represents a significant progression for somebody developing a professional career in occupational health and safety.
For experienced practitioners, achieving a Level 6 qualification can provide an opportunity to demonstrate advanced health and safety knowledge and professional competence.
One option available is the ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
The qualification is officially listed by ProQual as qualification 603/3106/9. You can also view the qualification directly through the official ProQual Occupational Health and Safety qualifications page.
What Is the Level 6 NVQ in Health and Safety?
The full qualification title is:
ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice
The qualification is designed for people who are already carrying out health and safety responsibilities within their workplace.
Rather than relying on traditional classroom learning and examinations, the NVQ allows candidates to demonstrate their existing professional competence through evidence generated from their real working environment.
You can view full details of our Level 6 NVQ Health and Safety qualification, including the assessment process, entry considerations and how the qualification is completed.
For those wanting to check the awarding body’s requirements directly, ProQual also publishes the official Level 6 NVQ qualification specification.
Is the Level 6 NVQ Exam Based?
One of the main attractions of the Level 6 NVQ is the way candidates are assessed.
The qualification is competence based, with candidates producing a portfolio of evidence demonstrating that they meet the required learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
ProQual identifies potential evidence including workplace reports, projects, professional discussions, witness testimony, assessor observations, written or oral questioning and Recognition of Prior Learning.
This can make the NVQ particularly attractive to experienced practitioners who prefer to demonstrate what they already do professionally rather than prepare for traditional examinations.
You can find a more detailed explanation in our guide: What is the Level 6 Health & Safety NVQ?.
What Do You Cover on the Level 6 NVQ?
The Level 6 NVQ is built around the responsibilities expected of someone operating professionally within occupational health and safety.
Candidates demonstrate competence across areas including:
Promoting a positive health and safety culture
You demonstrate how you contribute towards developing positive attitudes and behaviours towards health and safety within your organisation.
Developing and implementing health and safety policy
You provide evidence of your involvement in developing, implementing and reviewing workplace health and safety arrangements.
Health and safety communication
Effective health and safety management depends on information reaching the right people.
Candidates demonstrate how they communicate health and safety information within their organisation and with relevant external parties.
Developing organisational competence
You demonstrate how health and safety competence is identified, developed and maintained.
Identifying, assessing and controlling risk
Risk management is a central part of professional health and safety practice.
Candidates demonstrate how workplace hazards are identified, risks are assessed and appropriate control measures are implemented.
Proactive monitoring
This considers how organisations monitor health and safety performance before something goes wrong.
Reactive monitoring
Candidates demonstrate competence around systems used following incidents and other indicators of health and safety performance.
Emergency procedures
You demonstrate your involvement in developing and implementing appropriate emergency response arrangements.
Reviewing health and safety performance
The qualification considers how organisations review their health and safety systems and identify opportunities for improvement.
Continuing professional development
Candidates are also expected to maintain their own professional development and demonstrate how they continue to improve their health and safety knowledge.
Full unit details and assessment criteria can be found within the official ProQual Level 6 qualification specification.
Who Is the Level 6 NVQ Best Suited To?
The Level 6 NVQ in Health and Safety is particularly suitable for people who are already working within occupational health and safety and have sufficient workplace responsibility to generate suitable evidence.
Potential candidates may include:
- Health and Safety Advisers
- Health and Safety Managers
- HSE Managers
- SHEQ Managers
- QHSE Managers
- Health and Safety Consultants
- Safety Professionals
- Supervisors with significant health and safety responsibilities
- Service leavers working within suitable civilian health and safety roles
The important point is that an NVQ is based on demonstrating competence.
You therefore need to have access to suitable workplace activities, documentation and evidence.
Do You Need the NEBOSH General Certificate Before Starting the Level 6 NVQ?
You do not necessarily have to complete the NEBOSH General Certificate before progressing to an NVQ.
The official ProQual qualification specification states that there are no formal entry requirements for the qualification, although candidates must be appropriately assessed before starting.
However, in practical terms, candidates need sufficient health and safety knowledge, professional responsibility and workplace evidence to successfully demonstrate competence.
That is why the NEBOSH General Certificate, followed by appropriate workplace experience, can provide a strong pathway towards Level 6 study.
Level 6 NVQ vs NEBOSH Diploma – Which Should You Choose?
This is one of the most common questions asked by professionals progressing beyond Certificate-level health and safety qualifications.
Neither option is automatically better.
The right choice depends largely on your professional experience and the way you prefer to be assessed.
Consider the Level 6 NVQ if:
- You already work in a suitable health and safety role
- You have significant workplace responsibilities
- You have access to suitable workplace evidence
- You prefer practical assessment
- You want to demonstrate existing competence
- You prefer portfolio-based assessment rather than traditional examinations
If this sounds like you, find out more about our ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice.
Consider a more academic route if:
You prefer structured study, formal teaching and an assessment model based more heavily around academic learning.
The most important thing is to choose a qualification that suits both your career objectives and the way you prefer to learn.
There is no need to rush into a Level 6 qualification.
If you have recently taken on management or supervisory responsibilities and want to strengthen your practical understanding of workplace health and safety first, the IOSH Managing Safely course may be worth considering.
If you have already completed IOSH Managing Safely and want a broader recognised health and safety qualification, the NEBOSH National General Certificate can provide the next stage in your development.
Professional development should follow a route that makes sense for your experience rather than simply collecting qualifications as quickly as possible.
Specialising After the NEBOSH General Certificate
Not every health and safety professional needs to move directly to Level 6.
Another option is to develop specialist knowledge that relates to your current industry or future career plans.
NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction
If you currently work within construction, or want to move into construction health and safety, the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) can help you develop sector-specific knowledge.
This can be particularly relevant for:
- Construction managers
- Site supervisors
- Health and safety advisers
- Site personnel with safety responsibilities
- Service leavers moving into construction
- Professionals wanting to specialise in construction health and safety
If your future career is likely to involve construction sites and construction risk, developing specialist knowledge before progressing further can make good professional sense.
NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety
Fire safety is another area where health and safety professionals can develop specialist knowledge.
The NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety is particularly relevant for people responsible for fire safety management, fire risk and organisational fire precautions.
For health and safety professionals whose role includes fire responsibilities, adding specialist fire knowledge can broaden both your competence and the types of positions you may be able to undertake.
NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate
Health, safety and environmental responsibilities are frequently combined within professional roles.
Job titles such as HSEQ, SHEQ and EHS increasingly require professionals to understand environmental management alongside occupational health and safety.
The NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate can therefore be a useful option if your responsibilities include environmental risk, environmental management systems or improving organisational environmental performance.
Should You Specialise or Progress to Level 6?
Before choosing your next qualification, ask yourself a few questions.
Are you already working as a health and safety professional?
If yes, the Level 6 NVQ Health and Safety may be worth considering.
Do you regularly develop policies, complete risk assessments, investigate incidents, monitor performance or advise management?
Those types of responsibilities may provide useful evidence towards a competence-based qualification.
Are you moving into construction?
Consider the NEBOSH Construction Certificate.
Are you taking responsibility for workplace fire safety?
Consider the NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety.
Are environmental responsibilities becoming part of your role?
Consider the NEBOSH Environmental Management Certificate.
Are you still developing your foundation in health and safety?
The IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH National General Certificate may be a more appropriate next step.
Level 6 NVQ for Service Leavers and Armed Forces Personnel
Health and safety can provide a strong career pathway for people transitioning from the Armed Forces.
Many military roles involve transferable skills including:
- Risk management
- Leadership
- Incident reporting
- Training and instruction
- Safe systems of work
- Planning
- Auditing and inspections
- Emergency preparedness
- Managing people and equipment
However, candidates considering the Level 6 NVQ still need suitable workplace evidence demonstrating occupational health and safety competence.
If you are leaving the military, you may also find our guide Just Passed the NEBOSH General Certificate? What’s Next for Service Leavers? useful when planning your next step.
Why Complete the Level 6 NVQ with SM Safety Training?
At SM Safety Training & Consultancy Ltd, we understand that experienced professionals do not necessarily need to be taught everything again from the beginning.
The NVQ route allows you to demonstrate the knowledge and competence you have already developed through your work.
Your assessor works with you to identify suitable evidence and helps you understand how your existing workplace activities can be mapped against the qualification requirements.
Our Level 6 NVQ Health and Safety course page explains the complete assessment journey, including portfolio evidence, witness testimony, professional discussions and assessor support.
You can also independently verify the qualification through ProQual’s Occupational Health and Safety qualification directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Level 6 NVQ Health and Safety a Level 6 qualification?
Yes. The ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice is regulated at Level 6 and has qualification number 603/3106/9.
You can verify this directly through ProQual.
Does the Level 6 NVQ have exams?
The qualification is competence based and requires candidates to produce a portfolio of evidence demonstrating achievement of the required learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
You can read more about how assessment works on our Level 6 NVQ Health and Safety page.
Can I complete the Level 6 NVQ while working?
The qualification is designed around occupational competence, meaning candidates use evidence produced through their workplace responsibilities.
This is one of the reasons the NVQ can be attractive to experienced health and safety professionals who want to continue working while completing their qualification.
Is the Level 6 NVQ suitable after the NEBOSH General Certificate?
It can be a strong progression route if you have developed sufficient workplace experience and responsibility after completing your NEBOSH General Certificate.
The key consideration is whether you can provide sufficient evidence of occupational competence.
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Health and Safety Career?
If you have completed your NEBOSH General Certificate and are now developing your career as a health and safety professional, the ProQual Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice could be your next step.
Before enrolling, it is important to establish whether your current role gives you access to sufficient workplace evidence.
Contact SM Safety Training & Consultancy Ltd to discuss your current role, professional experience and career objectives.
You can also independently review the qualification through the official ProQual Level 6 NVQ specification.
Your next qualification should not simply add another certificate to your CV. It should help demonstrate the level at which you can actually operate as a health and safety professional.