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International FAQs

Does IOSH have an overseas presence?

IOSH has members in 85 countries and has five international branches – Caribbean, Hong Kong, Ireland, Isle of Man and Middle East. We're also the secretariat for the international networks ENSHPO and INSHPO and are involved in a number of international projects, including the New Accession Countries Initiative and the ILO Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Find out more about this.

I'm based outside the UK. Can I be a member of IOSH and receive all membership benefits?

Joining IOSH sends a message to your employer and peers that you're serious about your career and achieving professional goals in health and safety. It also offers the following additional benefits to all members whether they are based in the UK or overseas:

networking through local branches and sector-specific groups – get in touch with your peers and colleagues, and keep up to date with the latest developments nationally, internationally and in your industry
the free monthly Safety and Health Practitioner (SHP) magazine, the health and safety profession's leading magazine, with the largest recruitment section in the business
a free online Continuing Professional Development programme (CPD)
online discussion forums for professional issues, careers and study support. Our forums are a valuable resource for our members as a source of advice and support. If you have a question or an opinion to share with your peers and colleagues, this is the place to do it!
more than 80 professional development courses at discounted rates. Although many are based in the UK, we do run some courses overseas
a free technical information service – find the facts and figures you need quickly. Whether it's a legal problem at work or crucial information to increase your knowledge, call +44 (0)116 257 3199
free best practice guides. Don't struggle trying to find out what's best practice in your industry – we've got a wide range of guides you can get hold of online or in print
a discounted subscription to our academic journal, Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, published twice a year. This is must for tutors, trainers, academics and those in a technical role.

How do I join an international Branch?

Outside the UK we have five international branches – you can join whichever is most convenient for you. The international Branches are Caribbean, Hong Kong, Ireland, Isle of Man and Middle East. To join a Branch, please email our Membership team or phone +44 (0)116 257 3198.

How can I join the International Group and what are the benefits?

You can join the International Group (IG) by ticking the Group's box on your membership form. Alternatively, drop us an email and we'll subscribe you. You can join one Group for free and there's a charge of £10 for each extra Group you join. The benefits of joining the IG are:

an international networking discussion forum
international information and a network of international contacts for your international enquiries
an arena of like-minded professionals to network with at an international level
an international knowledge base of useful links and contacts
the opportunity to contribute to IOSH's international activities and take part in events (webinars).

How do I find out whether my qualifications are recognised by IOSH?

We list the UK and international qualifications that we recognise for Graduate and Technician membership grades on this website. If your course isn't listed, it may be because it's a cognate degree that covers at least 60 per cent of IOSH's academic requirements or because it's from a university or institution that we haven't yet accredited. But even then, you may still be able to get Graduate or Technician membership. Contact our Membership team – they'll take details of your qualifications and syllabus and investigate further with our education and standards adviser. Remember, you can still join IOSH as an Affiliate Member without a recognised health and safety qualification.

I'd like to work abroad. How can I find out whether my UK qualifications are valid?

If you're planning to work in Europe, you may be able to take advantage of a voluntary European certification standard called EurOSHM, developed by ENSHPO (the European Network of Safety and Health Professional Organisations). If you're a Chartered Member or Fellow of IOSH, you qualify automatically to apply for EurOSHM status. Many international health and safety bodies have reciprocal arrangements with IOSH – for example, the ASSE (in the USA) recognises IOSH Chartered status. You should check this with the local health and safety authorities. Alternatively, consult UK NARIC, the national agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide

Are there reduced membership fees for health and safety professionals who work in a country where the average salary is lower than in the UK?

If you earn less than 14,000 USD, there's a concessionary membership rate – please contact the Membership team for more information.

I'm an IOSH member, but there's no local branch – can I start one?

In principle, yes. We have procedures and criteria for establishing a new branch, covering aspects such as the size and viability of the proposed branch, its geographical coverage and its potential impact on existing branches. There also need to be enough Chartered Members to fill the committee roles that require this level of membership, as well as enough volunteers to fill other roles. Please contact the International team for more information.

I'd like to undertake IOSH accredited training abroad. Is that possible?

IOSH works in partnership with training providers to deliver both generic and tailored health and safety courses. IOSH's training packages, Working Safely and Managing Safely, are delivered by our worldwide network of over 1,100 training providers.

IOSH courses delivered abroad are founded on best practice rather than UK legislation. This is so that they're suitable for an international audience. If a training course isn't available in your country, you may be able to complete the course via an open learning route. Please contact one of our training providers to find out more.

For more information on IOSH health and safety training, or to find out how you can become an IOSH training provider, please see our courses page.

What is EurOSHM?

EurOSHM stands for European Occupational Safety and Health Manager. It's a voluntary European certification standard which has been developed by ENSHPO (the European Network of Safety and Health Professional Organisations) and was officially launched in September 2008.

The aim of creating this certification standard is to create a more consistent and level playing field for practitioners and help raise professional standards across Europe. The full standard is published on the EurOSHM registration website.

If you're a Chartered Member or Fellow of IOSH, you qualify automatically to apply for EurOSHM.

How can I get involved with IOSH on an international level?

You can:

join one of our international branches
apply for one of our international volunteer roles
join the International Group
attend one of our overseas events
become an international ambassador for IOSH
participate in our forums.

There may also be other opportunities available – please contact the International team for more information.

How can I find out about country-specific legislation?

There are several avenues for you to research.

For Europe-wide legislation and guidelines, take a look at the website for the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, and in particular its page on legislation.
The International Labour Organization has country-specific health and safety information.
Post your query on the discussion forums. There are IOSH members in 85 countries worldwide – someone out there may have the answer to your question!
Take a look at our International Links page.
We may also be able to help! Please contact us.