Programme Overview
A focused certificate in workplace health and safety management, covering health and safety principles, proactive and reactive practice, and planning/audit/review of safety activities.
Why Study This Programme?
This is the shortest and most focused programme in the Level 5 portfolio — a concentrated certificate for anyone who needs a formal grounding in workplace health and safety management without a full diploma-length commitment.
Who Is This Programme For?
- Working professionals with health and safety responsibilities
- Learners who already hold a Level 4/5 qualification in a related field and want a safety-specific add-on
- Employers sending staff for formal safety-management grounding
Is This Programme Right for You?
This programme may be suitable if you:
- Want to develop genuine, structured knowledge in health & safety
- Want a GTEC-approved, internationally structured qualification
- Want a credible academic pathway rather than a one-off certificate
- Are ready to meet this programme's specific entry requirements
- Want assignment-based, coursework-led learning
- Want to keep options open for further OTHM study or university progression
What Does Level 5 Mean?
Level 5 represents more advanced, specialist study. OTHM assesses its Level 5 qualifications as academically equivalent to a Foundation Degree, a Higher National Diploma (HND), or Year 2 of a three-year UK Bachelor's degree. Again, this is a framework-level academic equivalence, not an automatic award of a Bachelor's degree or guaranteed advanced-year university entry.
Qualification Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualification | OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety |
| Level | 5 |
| Qualification Type | Certificate |
| Awarding Organisation | OTHM Qualifications |
| Ofqual Reference | 610/6913/9 |
| Regulation Start Date | 18/01/2026 |
| Operational Start Date | To be confirmed |
| Duration | Short-form (see note) |
| Credits | 16 |
| TQT | 96 Hours |
| GLH | 48 Hours |
| Assessment | Coursework |
| Grading | Pass / Fail |
| Delivery Mode | [CIC TO CONFIRM] |
| Language | English |
| GTEC Status | GTEC Approved |
Entry Requirements
Standard Entry
Where an exact prior-qualification requirement has not been separately confirmed, applicants must meet CIC's approved entry requirements for this programme.
Mature Learner Entry
Applicants over the qualification's standard age threshold with relevant work or life experience may also be considered, subject to CIC's and OTHM's mature-entry provisions. This should be confirmed with CIC Admissions at the point of application.
Programme Structure — Units
| Unit | Credits |
|---|---|
| Principles of Health and Safety Management | 4 |
| Proactive and Reactive Health and Safety Practices | 4 |
| Planning, Audit and Review of Health and Safety Activities | 4 |
| Management of Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability and Welfare Arrangements | 4 |
Programme Objectives
This programme is designed to build health and safety management principles and proactive and reactive safety practice, alongside the broader subject knowledge summarised in the Programme Overview above. Detailed, unit-level learning objectives are set out in the official OTHM qualification specification.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion, learners are expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate health and safety management principles
- Demonstrate proactive and reactive safety practice
- Demonstrate safety planning, audit and review
- Demonstrate corporate social responsibility and welfare awareness
Skills You Will Develop
Assessment
Assessment is conducted through coursework and structured assignments in accordance with the applicable OTHM qualification specification. Learners are assessed on their achievement of each unit's specified learning outcomes and assessment criteria, with work internally assessed and quality assured by the centre, and externally verified by OTHM.
Why Assignment-Based Learning?
Coursework and structured assignments let you apply what you're learning directly, build genuine research and critical-thinking skills, and demonstrate your understanding through written, evidence-based work rather than a single exam. This is not "easier" — it still requires meeting the qualification's full learning outcomes and assessment criteria.
Career Opportunities
Potential career areas may include:
- Health and safety support roles
- Workplace safety coordination
- Risk and compliance support
Career Sectors
Professional Development
Academic Progression
Progression from one level to the next is subject to meeting that level's own entry requirements — it is never automatic, and not every learner progresses through every level.
University Progression
Graduates may be able to progress to a Bachelor's degree top-up programme (undergraduate level), subject to the admission, recognition and credit-transfer requirements of the receiving university.
Examples of Potentially Relevant Undergraduate/Further-Study Areas
International Progression
International progression opportunities may be available, subject to the receiving institution's admission, recognition and credit-transfer requirements. Recognition is not guaranteed by every university worldwide.
Career Pathway
Why CIC?
- GTEC-approved academic programme portfolio
- Internationally structured OTHM UK qualifications
- Student-centred, assignment-based learning
- Guidance on realistic academic and career progression
- A college that treats this qualification as one step in a longer pathway, not a one-off certificate
Student Experience
[CIC TO CONFIRM — specific facilities, support services and student life information for this programme area.]
Illustrative Student Profile
The Prospective Student
Background:
Motivation:
Why this level:
Potential next step:
Academic Integrity
Learners are expected to submit original work, reference sources appropriately, and follow CIC's and OTHM's academic policies on research ethics and plagiarism. Academic misconduct, including undisclosed collaboration or unattributed sources, may affect a learner's results.
Responsible Use of AI (proposed website guidance)
Where AI tools are used in study, they should support — not replace — independent learning. Students remain fully responsible for submitted work, must verify any AI-assisted content, and must follow CIC's and OTHM's assessment rules. Undisclosed or prohibited use of AI-generated work may constitute academic misconduct.
How to Apply
- Choose your programme.
- Check entry requirements.
- Submit application.
- Provide supporting documents.
- Application review.
- Admission decision.
- Enrolment.
- Begin studies.
Documents Required
- Identification [CIC TO CONFIRM]
- Academic certificates [CIC TO CONFIRM]
- Academic transcripts [CIC TO CONFIRM]
- Passport photograph [CIC TO CONFIRM]
- CV, where required [CIC TO CONFIRM]
- Proof of English proficiency, where applicable [CIC TO CONFIRM]
Fees
Programme Fees: Contact CIC Admissions for current fees and payment information.
Next Intake
Next Intake: Contact CIC Admissions for the current intake schedule.