About OSHEM

Setting the standard for occupational safety certification

OSHEM is an international awarding body dedicated to raising the quality and credibility of health, safety, and environment qualifications across the Middle East and beyond.

Our mission

Qualifications that mean something — to learners and employers alike

OSHEM was founded on a straightforward observation: the Middle East training market was producing thousands of HSE certificates every year, but too few of them carried verifiable, credible credentials behind them.

We exist to change that. OSHEM provides the qualification framework, assessment standards, and certification infrastructure that training institutes need to deliver genuinely meaningful credentials — verified instantly, trusted universally.

We do not deliver training. We set the standard for it.

Credibility through rigour
Every OSHEM qualification is underpinned by a defined syllabus, structured assessment criteria, and a published pass standard. Certificates are issued only to learners who genuinely meet those standards.
Transparency through verification
Every certificate carries a unique number and QR code verifiable in real time at oshem.org. Employers, regulators, and clients can confirm authenticity in under five seconds.
Partnership through trust
Approved Training Partners agree to and are held to OSHEM's quality assurance standards. We review, monitor, and renew partnerships annually — ensuring only quality institutes carry the OSHEM name.
What we do

How OSHEM operates

OSHEM operates as a pure awarding body — we design qualifications, set standards, and issue credentials. We do not compete with our partners.

Qualification design
We develop and maintain the ICHE qualification framework — syllabuses, learning outcomes, assessment methods, and pass standards — for Awareness, Practitioner, and Professional levels.
Partner approval
We review and approve training institutes as Authorised Training Partners. Approval covers trainer qualifications, delivery capacity, facilities, and commitment to OSHEM's quality standards.
Certificate issuance
We issue every certificate with a unique identifier and QR verification code. Our digital certificate system ensures that every credential is traceable, authentic, and verifiable in perpetuity.
Governance

How we ensure quality

OSHEM's governance framework is modelled on internationally recognised awarding body practice, with clear policies covering every stage of the qualification and certification lifecycle.

1
Qualification standards
All ICHE qualifications are governed by published specifications with defined learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and pass marks reviewed annually.
2
Partner quality assurance
All Approved Training Partners are subject to an annual quality review covering training delivery, trainer qualifications, learner records, and assessment integrity.
3
Appeals & complaints
OSHEM maintains a formal appeals policy. Learners may challenge assessment results through their partner institute, and escalate to OSHEM if unresolved.
4
Malpractice prevention
Partner agreements contain explicit clauses on malpractice, fraud, and misuse of the OSHEM credential. Breach results in immediate suspension of certification rights.
5
Certificate integrity
Every certificate issued is logged in the OSHEM registry and verifiable at oshem.org. Certificates cannot be issued outside of the Partner Portal — eliminating forgery risk.
6
Continuous improvement
Qualification syllabuses and assessment materials are reviewed annually. Significant industry or regulatory changes trigger an immediate review cycle.
Who we are

An independent international awarding body

OSHEM operates as an independent body — not affiliated with any single training institute, employer, or government agency. Our independence is the foundation of our credibility.

Independent operation
OSHEM is not owned by or affiliated with any training provider. This independence ensures our qualifications and assessments remain objective and credible across all partner institutes.
Governed by standards
All OSHEM processes — from qualification design to certificate issuance — are governed by documented procedures aligned with internationally recognised awarding body practice.
Built for the region
OSHEM qualifications are designed specifically for the occupational safety landscape of the Middle East and Gulf region — relevant industries, applicable legislation, and real workplace contexts.
Verified credentials
Every certificate issued carries a unique number and scannable QR code. Verification is instant, public, and permanent — giving learners and employers complete confidence in every OSHEM credential.

Ready to partner with OSHEM?

Join our network of approved training institutes and give your learners internationally recognised, instantly verifiable HSE qualifications.

Apply to become a partner