Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety

What is the OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety?

The OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety is intended to develop learners’ understanding of core health and safety management practices that underpin the company’s health and safety management system and particularly the legal responsibilities as outlined by the business health and safety policy.

The qualification provides learners with an opportunity to support more specialist provision, whether internal and/or external through a greater awareness of the principles of health and safety management and provides knowledge to underpin a candidate’s ability to work as an effective manager supporting both people and processes

Successful completion of this qualification will allow learners to enhance their role and responsibilities through greater understanding of the subject areas. Individuals successfully completing the qualification will be eligible to apply for Affiliate / Technical (TechIOSH) membership.

Who is this qualification for?

This Level 5 certificate suits learners who hold a Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience and want second-year degree-level knowledge in health and safety.

• Study fully online with tutor support through HRCourses, with no fixed timetable.
• Assessment by assignments, so you can evidence learning from your own workplace.
• Each level carries 120 credits, so you can progress one level at a time.

Entry requirements

For entry onto the OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety qualification, learners must be at least 18 years old on the date of enrolment and possess:

• A relevant NQF/QCF/RQF certificate or diploma or equivalent recognised qualification that covers the following basic concepts within Occupational Health & Safety:
  • Science and Technology
  • Legal and regulatory systems
  • Workplace safety and health
  • Definitions of risk and risk management principles
  • Principles and theories of safety and health management
  • Occupational health and hygiene
  • Occupational psychology
  • Information technology, literacy and numeracy

Qualifications that fulfil this requirement include:

• British Safety Council Level 3 Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health
• NCFE IOSH Level 3 Certificate in Safety and Health for Business
• OTHM Level 3 Technical Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

Or:

• Be mature learners (over 21) with practical experience at least 2 years that can be evidenced.

English requirements: If a learner is not from a majority English-speaking country, they must provide evidence of English language competency. For more information visit the English Language Expectations page on the OTHM website.

Qualification structure and units

OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety qualification consists of 4 units, 16 credits, 96 hours Total Qualification Time (TQT) and the recommended Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for this qualification is a minimum of 48 hours.

Source: OTHM qualification specification (PDF) · Ofqual qualification number 610/6913/9.

Duration and delivery

The qualification is designed to be delivered over one month for full-time study, but it is also flexible in its delivery in order to accommodate part-time and distance learning.

The qualification is delivered face-to-face, through lectures, tutorials, seminars, distance, online by approved centres only.

At HRCourses the qualification is delivered online: you receive the unit materials, assignment briefs and tutor support through the learning platform and submit assignments when you are ready. There are no fixed lecture times, so you can start in any month.

How you are assessed

All units within this qualification are assessed and internally quality assured by the centre and externally verified by OTHM. The qualifications are criterion referenced, based on the achievement of all the specified learning outcomes.

To achieve a ‘pass’ for a unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by all assessment criteria. Judgement that the learners have successfully fulfilled the assessment criteria is made by the assessor.

Specific assessment guidance and relevant marking criteria for each unit are made available in the Assignment Brief document. These are made available to centres immediately after registration of one or more learners.

The assessor should provide an audit trail showing how the judgement of the learners’ overall achievement has been arrived at.

Progression and career routes

Successful completion of a Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety qualification provides learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills to be competent in a range of Health and Safety roles. Individuals successfully completing the qualification will be eligible to apply for Affiliate / Technical (TechIOSH) membership.

Learners who achieve this qualification could also progress into employment as an assessor or onto further qualifications . For more information visit our University Progressions page.

What is included when you study the OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety with HRCourses

Last updated October 2026. Fees and inclusions are confirmed in writing before you pay.

Fees and how to apply

1. Enquire or apply Use the enquiry form (or Apply now, where available) with this qualification pre-selected. Tell us your current qualifications and experience so we can confirm you meet the entry requirements.
2. Confirmation and fee link An adviser replies within one working day with the fee, start date and a secure link to pay in full or on an instalment plan.
3. Start your course As soon as your course fee (or first instalment, if you chose a plan) is paid, you receive your learning-platform login and can begin the first unit. There is no fixed intake date.

Progression path

1. Level 5 Certificate
2. Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

Related HR qualifications

• Level 5 Extended Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
• Level 6 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety