NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

The NVQ Level 6 course is the perfect choice if you’re in a senior position and wish to gain a degree-level qualification while continuing to hold a demanding role.  

We expect candidates who apply for the diploma to be in a senior job role and to have already earned a Level 3 qualification, such as the NEBOSH International General Certificate. Candidates must also have several years of experience before starting the NVQ Level 6 Diploma.  

Many candidates pursue NVQ Level 6 with the help of employer sponsorship, allowing them to finance their qualification and benefiting the company through increased health and safety expertise. 

Benefits for Learners 

• Attain a bachelor’s degree level qualification in health and safety to demonstrate your industry expertise 

• Achieve a qualification through a practical portfolio, avoiding exams and allowing you to complete your qualification flexibly 

• Develop key skills in implementing and assessing health and safety practices 

Benefits for Employers 

• Improve health and safety in your workplace by providing staff with a high-level qualification, reducing rates of absence due to workplace illness and injury 

• Demonstrate your commitment to health and safety in the workplace to employees and fellow businesses

• Improve employee retention by actively investing into your team member's careers

Customer Approved

We are one of the UK’s leading providers of training in health and safety, with tutors and mentors who are widely respected for their expertise, experience, and ability to create an engaging learning environment. Their efforts are one of the many reasons we’re rated 4.9/5 stars on Trustpilot. 

Study Support 

We go the extra mile to ensure our course attendees receive the best possible support. Level 6 NVQ candidates can count on support from their NVQ Assessor, providing valuable advice and feedback throughout the duration of the Diploma.

Price Match Guarantee

Not only will we not be beaten in quality at Phoenix, but we won’t be beaten on price either! See our Price Match Guarantee for more details.

Being as the Level 6 NVQ Diploma is completed while working in a full time position, candidates generally complete the course within 12 to 18 months. Additional support can be purchased if you require more than 18 months to complete the qualification. 
 

The NVQ Level 6 is entirely work-based, with no exams and all tutor support conducted remotely through zoom and emails. All work is submitted electronically either via a cloud-based system or by email. This means you can complete the NVQ anywhere in the world so long as you have a suitable position and experience.

Phoenix will allocate a dedicated course manager to candidates for the duration of their course, who will conduct your initial assessment and induction, as well as provide support and assess your work. This can take place face-to-face, by telephone, or online.

There are ten mandatory modules to complete before the NVQ Level 6 Diploma can be awarded; these align with the ten learning outcomes and aspects of health and safety management. For each of the units you must provide:

• Practical Evidence: Candidates will compile a portfolio of evidence demonstrating their competence in various health and safety tasks across the 10 units.

• Knowledge Questions: Written or verbal responses to questions that test the learner’s understanding of health and safety principles and legislation.

• Witness Testimony: Candidates must provide testimony from a colleague or supervisor who can attest to their competence and experience in performing specific health and safety tasks; this can be recorded in a written or verbal format.

• Professional Discussion: A structured discussion with an assessor to verify the learner’s knowledge and understanding of health and safety practices. This discussion allows learners to elaborate on their evidence, discuss their experiences, and demonstrate their proficiency in managing health and safety.
  

After completing the NVQ Level 6, candidates will have the knowledge and skills to:

• Promote a positive health and safety culture. 

• Develop and implement a health and safety policy. 

• Develop and implement effective communication systems for health and safety information. 

• Develop and maintain individual and organisational competence in health and safety matters. 

• Identify, assess, and control health and safety risks. 

• Develop and implement proactive monitoring systems for health and safety. 

• Develop and implement reactive monitoring systems for health and safety. 

• Develop and implement health and safety emergency response systems and procedures. 

• Develop and implement health and safety review systems. 

• Maintain knowledge of improvements to influence health and safety practice. 

Assessment and portfolio  

An NVQ is not a pass or fail qualification. Instead, the candidate collaborates closely with their assessor to create a portfolio of evidence that meets the assessment criteria for each unit. 

Candidates will receive a template to document their workplace competency evidence and their responses to knowledge questions. Upon submission, the assessor will review the evidence and provide feedback. The feedback will either confirm that the learning outcome has been achieved or offer detailed guidance on how to improve the submission to meet the required standards. Each candidate is required to produce a portfolio of evidence, demonstrating that they have achieved all the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for each unit.  

Once the assessor is satisfied, your work will be forwarded to the invigilators. We will not submit any work that we believe might not lead to a pass.

ProQual are the Awarding Body for the NVQ Level 6 Diploma. They are recognised and approved by Ofqual to develop and award qualifications.  

The NVQ Level 6 Diploma is an advanced qualification and can act as a stepping-stone into further postgraduate study, including masters-level degrees. 

• Are there any entry requirements for NVQ Level 6?

To enrol in the NVQ, you must be employed in a health and safety role. You will need to provide evidence of your health and safety management experience in this position, the NVQ is an assessment programme, not a taught course, so previous knowledge and experience is essential. Please refer to "Am I Suitable for the NVQ Level 6" to self assess your eligibility for this qualification.

• How long does it take to complete the NVQ Level 6?

On average, it takes delegates between 12 and 18 months to complete the NVQ Level 6. However, some candidates manage to complete within a year, while others take longer than 18 months. Additional support can be purchased should you require more time to complete your qualification.

• Are there any NVQ Level 6 equivalents?

If you prefer a more academic approach to achieving a degree-level Health and Safety qualification, the NEBOSH National Diploma is the best alternative to NVQ Level 6.

• What's the difference between Level 5 & Level 6 NVQ?

The NVQ Level 5, which we no longer offer, is the equivalent of a foundation degree. The NVQ Level 6 is a higher qualification, equivalent to a full bachelor’s degree and the NEBOSH National Diploma. Due to its slightly more stringent requirements, many international employers prefer NVQ Level 6.

• When will I get my NVQ results?

When you submit each unit, your assessor will review your submission within ten working days and inform you whether the assessment criteria have been met. If the criteria have not been met, they will provide detailed feedback on the necessary changes, allowing you to resubmit. Once the assessor is confident that all assessment criteria have been met, the portfolio will be sent for a quality assurance review. The internal quality assurer will also review your portfolio within ten working days and notify the assessor if it can be put forward for certification.

NEBOSH students in South Africa can apply for payment plans through Mobicred. Apply for as much as R50,000 credit at checkout and pay back a minimum of 7.5% of your outstanding balance each month.

For more information see our Payment Plans.