IOSHQ Qualifications Framework
A transparent institutional framework defining how IOSHQ organizes courses, programs, professional qualifications, credentials and continuing professional development across occupational safety, health, quality and related fields.
A Consistent Structure for IOSHQ Education
IOSHQ provides education ranging from focused occupational safety and health courses to broader multi-course professional programs. A clear framework is necessary so learners, employers and other stakeholders can understand the purpose, scope and relationship of these educational offerings.
The IOSHQ Qualifications Framework establishes institutional terminology for organizing learning, assessment, programs, professional qualifications, credentials and continuing professional development.
It operates alongside the IOSHQ Professional Competency Framework, which describes progressive development from foundational workplace knowledge through supervisory, specialist, managerial and professional practice.
Clear Structure
The framework establishes relationships between individual courses, structured programs, professional qualifications and continuing education.
Consistent Terminology
Common institutional definitions help prevent terms such as course, program, certificate, qualification and credential from being used interchangeably.
Development Pathways
Learners can better understand how focused learning can contribute to broader programs and continuing professional development.
How IOSHQ Organizes Education
The framework distinguishes the educational activity itself from the document or credential issued following successful completion.
Learning Activity
A defined educational activity designed to develop knowledge, understanding or a particular aspect of professional development.
Course
A structured unit of learning addressing a defined subject, set of learning objectives and applicable completion requirements.
Program
A coordinated educational pathway combining multiple subject areas or courses to address a broader professional-development purpose.
Professional Qualification
An IOSHQ-designated educational pathway with defined scope, learning outcomes, assessment requirements and completion criteria established for a specified professional-development purpose.
Credential
A record issued by IOSHQ documenting applicable educational achievement or completion according to the requirements associated with the learning activity, course, program or qualification.
Continuing Professional Development
Ongoing learning undertaken to maintain, update or expand professional knowledge as responsibilities, industries, technologies and professional needs evolve.
From Focused Learning to Professional Development
IOSHQ educational offerings can form progressively broader learning pathways while retaining clearly defined purposes and completion requirements.
Learning Activity
Focused development of defined knowledge or understanding.
Course
Structured learning addressing a defined occupational or professional subject.
Program
Multiple areas of learning organized into a broader educational pathway.
Professional Qualification
A formally defined IOSHQ pathway with established learning and assessment requirements.
Continuing Development
Ongoing learning throughout professional practice.
Focused Units of Professional Learning
A course is a structured educational offering addressing a defined subject or related body of knowledge. IOSHQ courses may be taken independently where appropriate or form part of a broader program.
Defined Objectives
A course should identify the knowledge or learning outcomes that participants are expected to address through the educational activity.
Defined Learning Scope
The course description identifies its subject, educational scope and applicable learning-hour information.
Completion Requirements
Successful completion is determined according to the requirements established for the applicable course.
Broader Structured Educational Pathways
IOSHQ programs organize related areas of learning into a broader educational pathway. Programs may address a professional role, competency area, industry or specialized field of practice.
Role-Oriented Programs
Programs may support development associated with employee, supervisor, specialist, manager, professional or training responsibilities.
Industry Programs
Programs may integrate occupational safety and health learning with hazards and operational considerations relevant to industries such as construction, healthcare, oil and gas or general industry.
Specialized Programs
Specialized pathways may focus on areas such as HAZWOPER, scaffolding, quality management, risk management or training and competency.
A Higher Standard of Defined Educational Structure
Within the IOSHQ institutional framework, the term professional qualification should be reserved for educational pathways meeting explicitly defined qualification requirements.
Defined Curriculum
The qualification should contain a documented and coherent curriculum aligned with its stated professional purpose.
Defined Learning Outcomes
Expected learning outcomes should describe the knowledge and educational development associated with successful completion.
Assessment
The qualification should include documented assessment requirements appropriate to its educational scope and intended outcomes.
Defined Learning Hours
The expected learning commitment should be stated and supported by the structure of the qualification.
Completion Standard
A learner must satisfy the applicable educational and assessment requirements before the qualification is recorded as successfully completed.
Verifiable Credential
Where an IOSHQ credential is issued following successful completion, applicable credential information should be capable of verification.
The Credential Is Evidence — Not the Learning Itself
A credential records an applicable educational achievement. It should be distinguished from the course, program or qualification through which that achievement was earned.
Certificate of Completion
Documents successful completion of a defined course or other educational activity according to the applicable completion requirements.
Program Credential
Documents successful completion of a broader IOSHQ program according to the requirements established for that program.
Qualification Credential
Documents successful completion of an educational pathway formally designated by IOSHQ as a professional qualification under the applicable institutional requirements.
Understanding Program and Course Hours
Hours provide useful information about the expected scope and learning commitment of an educational offering, but hours alone do not determine the level, quality or professional significance of education.
Learning Time
Published hours should reflect the educational structure and expected learning commitment associated with the applicable course or program.
Learning Outcomes Matter
The educational significance of a program depends on what learners are expected to understand and demonstrate, not simply on the number of hours assigned.
Not Academic Credit Equivalence
Published IOSHQ learning hours should not automatically be interpreted as university semester credits, ECTS credits or another academic credit system unless such equivalence is explicitly established by an authorized receiving institution or applicable authority.
Qualifications and Competency Development
The Qualifications Framework explains how IOSHQ education is structured. The Professional Competency Framework explains how professional development can progress across different areas and levels of responsibility.
Qualifications Framework
Defines the institutional structure and terminology for courses, programs, qualifications and credentials.
Competency Framework
Describes progressive educational development across Employee, Supervisor, Specialist, Manager and Professional reference points.
Connected Architecture
Together, the frameworks provide a consistent basis for organizing educational pathways while distinguishing education from workplace competency and authorization.
An IOSHQ Institutional Framework
The IOSHQ Qualifications Framework is an institutional system for organizing IOSHQ education and professional development. Its terminology should be interpreted within that context.
Institutional Framework
The framework establishes IOSHQ’s internal educational architecture and provides consistent definitions for IOSHQ learning and credentials.
Not a National Qualifications Framework
The IOSHQ framework should not be interpreted as a government-established National Qualifications Framework or as automatically equivalent to levels used within a national education system.
No Automatic Academic Equivalence
An IOSHQ course, program or professional qualification should not automatically be represented as equivalent to a degree, diploma, national qualification level or academic credit unless that equivalence has been separately established by an authorized body.
Education, Qualification, Competency and Authorization
These terms describe different concepts and should not be used interchangeably.
Education
Structured learning designed to develop knowledge, understanding and applicable professional capabilities.
Qualification
A defined educational pathway with specified curriculum, learning outcomes, assessment and completion requirements under the IOSHQ institutional framework.
Workplace Competency
Competency may require education together with practical experience, demonstrated performance, workplace assessment and other applicable requirements.
Authorization
Authorization to perform particular work may be determined by an employer, regulator, licensing authority or other responsible organization.
Professional Designation
A professional designation or protected title may involve requirements established by the organization or authority responsible for that designation.
Licensure
Where professional or occupational licensure applies, its requirements are determined by the responsible jurisdiction or licensing authority.
Supporting the Integrity of IOSHQ Qualifications
A credible qualifications structure requires more than naming educational programs. Curriculum, learning outcomes, assessment, completion, records and quality review should work together as part of an integrated educational system.
Curriculum
Educational content should reflect the stated scope and learning outcomes of the applicable offering.
Assessment
Assessment should be appropriate to the educational objectives and requirements of the course, program or qualification.
Review & Improvement
Educational offerings should be reviewed as appropriate to support relevance, consistency and continuing improvement.
Qualifications Within the Wider IOSHQ Quality System
The IOSHQ Qualifications Framework forms part of the Institute’s broader educational and quality architecture. Institutional accreditation information should be interpreted according to the scope established by the applicable accrediting organization.
Institutional Accreditation
Review IOSHQ institutional accreditation information, scope and external verification records.
Credential Verification
Applicable IOSHQ credentials can be supported by credential information and verification processes.
Scope Matters
Institutional accreditation should not automatically be interpreted as separate accreditation of every individual course, program or qualification.
Recognition Depends on the Intended Purpose
The value and acceptance of education can depend on the purpose for which it will be used. Different organizations may establish different requirements.
Employment
Employers may establish education, training, experience and competency requirements appropriate to particular roles.
Regulatory Purposes
Regulators and licensing authorities may require specific providers, curricula, examinations, credentials or other conditions.
Academic Recognition
Universities and other educational institutions determine whether prior learning or credentials qualify for admission, transfer or academic credit under their own policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about IOSHQ courses, programs, professional qualifications, credentials and the institutional framework.
It is IOSHQ’s institutional framework for defining and organizing courses, programs, professional qualifications, credentials and continuing professional development.
No. It is an institutional framework established for organizing IOSHQ education. It should not be interpreted as a government-established National Qualifications Framework.
A course is a structured unit of learning addressing a defined subject. A program is a broader educational pathway that may integrate multiple subjects or courses for a wider professional-development purpose.
Within the IOSHQ institutional framework, a professional qualification is an IOSHQ-designated educational pathway with defined curriculum, learning outcomes, assessment and completion requirements established for a specified professional-development purpose.
Not necessarily. A certificate is a credential or record documenting applicable completion. The educational activity or qualification is the underlying learning pathway against which the credential is issued.
Not automatically. IOSHQ learning hours describe the applicable educational scope or learning commitment. They should not automatically be converted into university semester credits, ECTS credits or another academic credit system.
An IOSHQ professional qualification should not automatically be represented as equivalent to a university degree, diploma or national qualification level unless such equivalence has been separately established by an authorized organization.
Not automatically. Workplace competency may also require relevant experience, practical capability, demonstrated performance, workplace assessment, employer evaluation or other applicable requirements.
The Qualifications Framework defines how IOSHQ education and credentials are structured. The Professional Competency Framework describes progressive professional development across different competency domains and levels of responsibility.
Explore IOSHQ Education
Explore structured IOSHQ courses and programs and use the Professional Competency Framework to identify learning aligned with your current responsibilities and continuing professional-development goals.