IOSH Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health Leadership & Management
Build the strategic, technical and leadership capability to influence OSH performance at organisational level and progress your professional safety career.
Qualification at a glance
Move from managing safety to leading OSH strategy
The IOSH Level 6 Diploma is designed for professionals who need to connect occupational safety and health with business performance, culture, risk, sustainability and leadership.
Advanced OSH expertise
Strengthen your understanding of legal frameworks, risk management, incident management and organisational risk.
Business integration
Evaluate how OSH contributes to strategy, value creation, sustainability, organisational change and culture.
Leadership & influence
Develop the confidence and capability to influence stakeholders, lead teams and drive organisation-wide improvement.
Three mandatory units
Each unit is mapped to the IOSH competency framework and builds the knowledge, application and leadership capability expected from senior OSH professionals.
Advanced OSH Management Principles in Organisations
- OSH legal frameworks around the world
- Risk management systems and approaches
- Incident management
- Integration of OSH into organisational risk
Occupational Safety and Health Integration within an Organisation
- OSH contribution to the value chain
- External factors and organisational change
- OSH contribution to sustainability
- Organisation-wide OSH approach
Leading and Influencing in OSH
- Individual and team behaviour
- Leading and influencing others
- Embedding organisation-wide OSH
- Reviewing leadership and competence
Practical, workplace-based evaluation
- No traditional written examinations.
- Unit 1 uses an IOSH-set technical evaluation assignment.
- Units 2 and 3 are assessed through an OSH strategic proposal and presentation.
- Unit 3 also includes a reflective assignment focused on leadership and professional development.
- Assessment evidence includes written reports, presentation material and recorded or assessor-led presentation activity.
From enrolment to qualification
Eligibility & enrolment
Confirm your background, IOSH membership and English-language readiness where applicable.
Complete three units
Follow structured tuition, guided learning, independent study and workplace application.
Submit assessments
Complete IOSH Awarding Organisation-set assignments and presentation requirements.
Certification & progression
On successful completion, receive the IOSH Level 6 Diploma and progress your professional membership journey.
Designed for ambitious OSH professionals
A strong fit for people who are moving into, or already working in, roles requiring strategic responsibility for occupational safety and health.
HSE / QHSE Managers
Professionals managing systems, teams, compliance and organisational performance.
Safety Leaders & Advisors
Experienced practitioners preparing for broader influence, governance and senior-level responsibility.
Career Progression
Learners seeking a recognised Level 6 qualification that meets the academic requirement for IOSH Certified membership.
What you should have before starting
IOSH states there are no mandatory qualification entry requirements, but relevant prior learning and/or experience is strongly recommended.
- Relevant OSH experience and/or an IOSH Level 3 Certificate or equivalent IOSH-accredited qualification is strongly recommended.
- You must join IOSH as a member before starting the course.
- Where English is not widely spoken, IOSH specifies language comprehension equivalent to IELTS 7.0.
- Learners should be able to access suitable workplace information for applied assessments.
Before you enrol
Is the IOSH Level 6 Diploma degree level?
Yes. It is a UK Level 6 professional qualification, which is the same qualification level as a bachelor’s degree, although it is not itself a university degree.
How long does the Diploma normally take?
IOSH indicates that learners generally take around 18–24 months, depending on study method, experience and the pace of assessment completion.
Are there written examinations?
No traditional written exams are used. Assessment is based on IOSH-set assignments, reports, presentations, questioning and reflective work.
Does the Diploma support IOSH membership progression?
Successful completion meets the academic requirements for IOSH Certified membership. Other membership requirements may also apply.