IRSE licensing
Holding and maintaining IRSE competence is critical to safe, compliant delivery. As an approved IRSE Assessing Agency, we support individuals and organisations through the full licensing lifecycle, from first applications to renewals, mentoring and ongoing competence management.
Licensing services
Our assessors and verifiers are active rail professionals, supporting engineers across the UK from Crewe and Swindon.
Licence renewals and reassessments
We manage renewals and reassessments from evidence review through to submission.
New licence applications
Support for engineers applying for their first licence or adding categories.
Evidence and portfolio preparation
We review your evidence early, so any gaps are closed before assessment.
Mentoring and competence planning
Development plans and mentoring for individuals and teams.
Employer-led competence management
Licence tracking, assessment planning and evidence support for employers managing competence across their teams.
Remote assessment
Competence assessments over Microsoft Teams where travel to Crewe or Swindon is not practical, recorded for the evidence file.
Already have a quote?
If you have a written quotation from another IRSE assessing organisation, send it to us. We will review it and, where we can, offer a more cost-effective alternative, without compromising the governance or rigour of the assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IRSE Assessing Agency?
The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers grants Assessing Agency status to organisations with qualified assessors, structured processes and the governance to deliver consistent, auditable assessments. As an approved Assessing Agency, OSL Global can formally assess engineers working towards or maintaining IRSE licences, and our assessments are recognised within the national licensing framework.
Which licence categories can OSL assess?
Our assessors are accredited across all major IRSE licence categories, covering design, installation, testing and commissioning, from module-level qualifications to Tester in Charge and Contractor's Responsible Engineer. If you are not sure whether we cover your category or module, contact us and we will confirm quickly.
Can OSL assess engineers from other organisations?
Yes. We assess independent engineers and employers' teams across the industry, not only our own staff. If you already have a written quotation from another assessing organisation, we will review it and, where we can, offer a more cost-effective alternative, without compromising the rigour or integrity of the assessment.
How long does a licence renewal take?
It depends on the licence category, the completeness of your evidence and the scheduling of any observed assessments. We manage the process transparently from first review to submission and give you a clear picture of timescales at the outset. We recommend starting well before your licence expires, so there is time to close any gaps and schedule the assessment properly.
What evidence do I need for an application or renewal?
It varies by licence category and module. Generally you will need recent, relevant activity within the scope of the licence, documented examples of your work, references from suitably qualified people and, in many cases, an observed assessment. Our team reviews your evidence first and helps close any gaps before the formal assessment, including support with structuring your portfolio.
Can OSL support employer-led competence management?
Yes. For organisations managing licences across a team, we track licence status and renewal dates, plan assessment schedules, support evidence development and provide mentoring and development plans for engineers at every stage. We also run a training academy with Crewe Engineering and Design UTC and Manchester Metropolitan University, giving early-career engineers a structured, IRSE-aligned route into the profession.
Where does OSL carry out assessments?
We work from Crewe and Swindon and assess across the UK network, on main line, high speed, metro, light rail and tram systems. Much of our activity is on the North West and Western Route corridors, but our assessors work nationally. Where travel is not practical, we can assess remotely over Microsoft Teams. Remote assessments are recorded and kept as part of the auditable assessment record, and we will confirm at the start whether a remote assessment suits your licence category.