NVQ Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

NVQ Level 3 Occupational Health and Safety Qualification Structure

To achieve this qualification, you must complete at least 7 units - all of the mandatory units, plus a minimum of TWO optional units.

Occupational Health and Safety NVQ Assessment Process

Usually, it takes 1-2 assessment sessions to cover the Occupational Health and Safety assessment criteria. Depending on the quality of evidence we receive from you and your personal circumstances, these sessions may involve a site visit.

Although the assessment process can vary depending on the package you selected at the time of your booking (for options, see the booking form), we can outline the typical steps you can expect during your assessment. However, given the dynamic nature of the industry, we always aim to adapt the process to suit your individual situation.

For simplicity, let’s break down the process of a typical assessment for a H&S professional into 6 chronological steps.

Step 1 Introduction

You will receive an instructional email as startup guidance, which will include a list of product evidence examples. This will help you identifying the evidence you can start gathering for your assessment portfolio.

Step 2 Welcome Call

You will receive a phone call (usually the next day) from your NVQ assessor to discuss the assessment requirements, your work, and potential product evidence that you can provide for your assessment. This evidence may come from your current or even previous/completed projects. During this call, you'll agree on the next steps and gain a clear understanding of what you need to do to prepare for the first assessment session. The assessor will also email you any required course materials.

Step 3 Compile Evidence

Based on the guidance and advice provided by the assessor, you will start collecting evidence (if not already available) for the first assessment session.

Step 4 The Assessment

After gathering sufficient evidence for the first session, you will schedule a date and time for the site visit. During this visit, you will sit down to discuss all the documentation and explain your work processes and methods. Usually, there is also a quick site walkaround to gather evidence of your workplace organization. The first session is generally designed to cover around 50-60% of the assessment criteria.

Step 5 Assessment Progress

After the first session, the assessor will review all the evidence and conduct a gap analysis to identify any remaining criteria. You will receive feedback on the steps required to address these criteria. Once you've collected the additional evidence, you can arrange for your next session, which is typically a remote session conducted over the phone.

Step 6 Completion

During this session, our aim is to address all the remaining criteria to complete your assessment. In most cases, this marks the final session. Once we've covered 100% of the assessment criteria, we will compile and finalize your portfolio, and then proceed to claim your NVQ achievement from the Awarding Body.

NVQ Level 3 Occupational Health and Safety Fast Track

A standard NVQ Level 3 Occupational Health and Safety assessment usually takes 4–6 weeks, but the actual turnaround depends on how quickly we can gather and confirm all required evidence. The sooner you provide the evidence, the sooner we can complete the assessment. Once everything is received, there is nothing stopping us from finishing immediately. In practice, the overall duration depends on your motivation and how quickly you can supply the evidence.

Before starting, you will review your work situation with your assessor and agree on a realistic completion date.

With the Fast Track service, you can complete the NVQ in 2–4 weeks. To achieve this timeframe, you must be motivated and ready to work closely with your assessor. Your assessor will prioritise your assessment, plan the quickest route to completion, and focus on meeting the agreed targets, provided the required evidence is supplied promptly.

To choose Fast Track, select the option on the booking form.