Ways to Take an IOSH Course

Having decided that you or your staff need to take an IOSH Course, the first step will have been deciding which of the many courses on offer is right. Once the course has been selected then the next step is working out exactly how you/your workforce would like to achieve the IOSH Certificate.

There are a two main ways to take your IOSH Course: online and class-based. This blog is going to look at both methods in more detail.

Online Learning

Often referred to as ‘e-learning’, online learning is the option that provides the most flexibility in how you learn. Online courses can be taken whenever and wherever is preferred, providing full control of your own learning experience. However, because of this it does require a certain level of self-motivation and organisation, as you will be responsible for making sure you complete the required work.

Key Factors for Choosing IOSH Online Learning

There are a number of important things to look at when choosing an online learning IOSH Course. Some of these include:

• Level of support that is provided alongside basic course materials
• Length of time that you have to complete the course
• Functionality available on the online course; for example are there additional learning resources within the course and the type of multimedia used

Classroom Learning

Classroom courses are the most traditional style of learning, with a group of students being guided through the IOSH course material by a tutor. Classroom courses will be held at a set time and place, with a specified number of students. The tutor leading them should be a well-qualified health and safety trainer ideally with experience as a professional, making them able to pass on a wealth of information and real life examples.

When choosing to attend an IOSH classroom course it is important to commit to attending every day of the course, as vital information will be given each day. Classroom learning means you have to take some time off work so whether this will be practical is an important point to consider.

Features of a classroom course

Many people find learning in a classroom environment very rewarding because of the opportunity for interaction. Ideas are able to be shared amongst students more easily, allowing for detailed discussion and debates. This learning environment also provides the opportunity to hear viewpoints that you may otherwise have not considered.

Another popular reason for choosing the classroom learning method is the structured timeframe dedicated to completing the course; so for example you attend the IOSH Managing Safely course over 3 days and take the short test on the last day and the course is complete with only the workplace health and safety assignment to complete within 2 weeks.

Classroom Training for Companies

Key Factors for Choosing IOSH Class-based Learning

There are a few important facts to consider when selecting the right classroom based IOSH Course for you. These are:

• IOSH tutor(s)’ professional experience and qualifications
• Number of learners typically on the IOSH course. The ideal is to have enough for effective interaction but not too many to limit everyone’s chance to contribute
• Format of a typical training day

Making Your Decision

A good way of helping to make your choice of learning method is to ask to see an example of the IOSH course you or your staff are considering taking. This should give a good idea of whether the learning method you are considering will be a good fit. This could be in the form of an online demo, a sample of the course materials or a brief profile of the tutor that will be leading a classroom course. Looking at material such as this will help to give a feel for the course show, insight into the learning method and most importantly whether your/your staff can achieve your objectives of successfully completing the course and using it back in the workplace.

Most people will already have a general idea of which learning style will be the best fit for them or their company before selecting a course. Despite this, it is always useful to assess the full pros and cons of each method to ensure that the one you choose will give the best chance of success and provide the best long-term retention and application of this new knowledge.

Click here to find out why an IOSH certification may be beneficial for your staff.

Why not find out more about the most popular IOSH course, IOSH Managing Safely.