IOSH Managing Safely Online Course
An online and self-paced IOSH for managers and supervisors.
NEBOSH is an examination board specialising in providing internationally recognised occupational safety and health (OSH) training to workers across a range of industries.
The full range of NEBOSH certification takes students from entry-level understanding to becoming fully qualified health and safety professionals.
Over 50,000 people take NEBOSH qualifications every year. Currently, a total of 170,000 people hold the NEBOSH General Certification. But fewer still have gone on to complete the gold standard diploma course.
The General Certificate is designed to improve the quality of OSH knowledge in employees, managers, and anyone who holds health and safety responsibilities.
NEBOSH stands for the National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health.
Since its inception in 1979, NEBOSH has been synonymous with providing high-quality OSH training to employees worldwide.
In fact, NEBOSH now delivers safety courses in more than 130 countries to over 600 learning partners.
While many of the examinations offered by the body are focused on developing OSH professionals, they also deliver courses for Construction Safety, Fire Safety and Risk Management, and Environmental Management, among other industries.
The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is the most widely recognised health and safety qualification of its kind and it is considered the industry standard.
It is designed for managers and staff in the UK who need knowledge and skills in health and safety management.
Awarded by The National Educational Board in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH), a globally respected awarding body, the NEBOSH NGC is a level 3 (equivalent to a GCE A level) qualification designed to develop your health and safety knowledge and skills and give you a highly respected and practical qualification covering:
If you choose to take the NEBOSH National General Certificate, it signals to your would-be employers and peers that you have a proven standard of health and safety.
*Rated 4.8 out of 5 by learners on Coursecheck, we are a widely respected Health and Safety Training provider that has been approved to NEBOSH’s highest level and awarded NEBOSH Gold Learning Partner Status.
Interested? Take a look at all our available booking options.
This helpful table shows a full rundown of NEBOSH courses and their level of education.
Qualification |
Level |
Delivery Methods |
NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety |
Level 3 |
In the classroom, Live Online, E-learning |
NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety |
Level 3 |
In the classroom, Live Online, E-learning |
NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) |
Level 3 |
In the classroom, Live Online, E-learning |
NEBOSH National Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management |
Level 3 |
In the classroom, Live Online |
NEBOSH HSE Introduction to Incident Investigation |
Level 2 |
In the classroom, Live Online |
NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety |
Level 6 |
In the classroom, Live Online, Distance Learning |
Although the General Certificate is low on the NEBOSH framework, the exam is still seen as an intermediate qualification.
Alternatively, if you’re new to the safety sector, an excellent place to start with OSH accreditation is with IOSH courses, which are more aimed at entry-level learners.
Many learners complete the IOSH Working and Managing Safely courses before moving into the more safety-industry-specific NEBOSH certificates.
It’s also worth mentioning that there are National and International versions of the NEBOSH General Certificate. Although these tests are similar, the national connotation focuses more on specific UK safety laws such as the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) (HASWA).
Here’s a quick overview of who this course if for:
The global workplace safety market is set to grow 10% year on year, with more roles being created to satisfy growth. However, most roles in this sector will require you to have NEBOSH qualifications.
The specific OSH knowledge and skills imparted as a result of this certificate will ensure you’re well-placed to perform safety-focused roles such as:
These are just a few examples of the potential positions you can pursue with a NEBOSH General Certificate.
However, the key thing to remember here is that the certification opens up many more employment doors than it closes.
If you’re not set on a career in safety management, completing a NEBOSH diploma can also enhance your pathway in the wider employment world.
A desirable line on your CV, this qualification demonstrates to would-be employers that you possess the aptitude to learn new skills quickly. Additionally, it signposts your commitment to self-development.
If you’d like to know more about the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, or our other NEBOSH courses, take a look at our NEBOSH FAQ page or get in touch with our team of NEBOSH experts.
Tel: 02921 680075
E-mail: [email protected]
The NEBOSH National General Certificate syllabus tackles the UK’s key legal requirements for health and safety.
World-class health and safety experts and learning providers build and review the course contents. The syllabus reflects employer needs, so the skills you learn are immediately relevant regardless of the industry you work in. It represents current legislation and reflects health and safety challenges faced by every industry.
In this course, you will hone your health and safety skills and explore how to effectively manage health and safety, learning to identify and control common workplace hazards. It also shows you how to measure your success.
The NEBOSH General Certificate is split into two units, NG1 and NG2:
For more information, read our guide “NEBOSH General Certificate Syllabus & Course Content“.
Because the NEBOSH General Certificate is more in-depth than other accreditations like the IOSH Managing Safely course, it takes longer to complete.
Where the IOSH course takes around 3 days to complete, the NEBOSH General Certificate is a 10-day course.
Put another way, this course requires 80-120 hours of study on average.
However, with TSW Training, you do have the freedom to complete your studies in your own time via a classroom course, virtual sessions, or through an e-learning process.
Everyone learns in different ways and at different paces. Some opt for a few hours of dedicated study per week, whereas others prefer an intensive learning schedule condensed into a shorter period.
The NEBOSH NGC is relevant for any organisation and can deliver a significant positive impact on health and safety.
By studying the concepts contained in the course, learners will gain improved health and safety knowledge and skills, and the ability to contribute to organisation-wide performance.
A NEBOSH General Certificate offers various career opportunities in occupational health and safety and the broader job market.
If you aim to manage others in an OSH setting, want to study other aspects of health and safety, or would simply like to improve your management of risks, then this is the perfect place to start.
But there are other benefits to taking a NEBOSH General Certificate, including:
The course is assessed in two parts; you will need to sit an online open-book exam and a practical risk assessment. To gain the NEBOSH National General Certificate, you’ll need to pass both.
Find out more about the NEBOSH National General Certificate assessments in our comprehensive guides:
NEBOSH Open Book exams are run once every month, throughout the year. The exam is a digital assessment that you will access at 11 am on the chosen exam date and have 24 hours to complete.
NEBOSH National General Certificate results are released for each of the two assessments around 50 working days following the chosen assessment date.
For example, if you sat the exam on the 2nd of November, you would expect to receive your results by the 20th of January.
The NG1 open book exam is marked out of 100 and has a pass mark of 45.
Learners are provided with their mark plus a ‘pass’ or ‘referred’ grading based on their score.
The NG2 practical assessment is marked by NEBOSH and you are provided with either a ‘Pass’ or ‘Referral’.
If you receive a referral, you are provided with a feedback report on your practical assessment paper, outlining the areas you need to develop to achieve a pass.
To gain your NEBOSH General Certificate you must complete and pass both NG1 and NG2 assessments.
Once you receive a ‘pass’ in both of the assessments you will receive your NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
Once you have a NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety you can:
After this, you may decide to proceed to other NEBOSH courses, such as the NEBOSH National Diploma (making you eligible for Graduate IOSH status) and then on to chartered status (CMIOSH), the premier qualification and status for safety professionals.
“We know assessments can be challenging, but our expert training team will be on hand to support you with any concerns and make sure you are ready to sit the assessment.
Don’t worry – we’ll make sure you have everything you need!” – Stuart Davies, Managing Director at TSW Training
The NEBOSH General Certificate is designed to prepare people to manage health and safety in the workplace. Therefore, you can expect it to be a challenge.
Of course, exam difficulty can vary from person to person. But as a NEBOSH Gold Standard Learning Partner, we offer leading assistance to give you the best chance of passing.
Since NEBOSH introduced the open-book examinations in 2020, the national average pass rate has risen from approx. 50% to 60-70%.
However, you could drastically improve your chances of passing by getting us on your side. Our gold partner status means we have reached the highest standards in delivering occupational health and safety training courses.
In addition, TSW has been delivering leading OSH courses for nearly six decades. It’s this knowledge and commitment that has seen our pass rate for IOSH courses move to over 99%.
A score of 45 and above is enough for a pass on your NEBOSH General Certificate. However, there are grade brackets to be aware of:
The course is split out over two core areas a- written exam NG1/IG1 and NG2/IG2 which is a practical risk assessment.
You are given 24 hours to complete the first section (NG1/IG1), which ordinarily takes around 3 hours. But it’s worth mentioning that you cannot move on to NG2/IG2 until you have passed that first section.
The examination board will send out your results within 50 working days of sitting the second assessment.
Following the NEBOSH National General Certificate, you can continue on the NEBOSH educational pathway and work towards a Diploma or Masters qualification. But, you don’t need to stick with NEBOSH to further your skills and knowledge.
The International and National NEBOSH General Certificate are very similar – they’re both level 3 qualifications that give you a Technical IOSH Membership.
The qualifications differ when it comes to legislation and laws – the National is focused on the UK’s key legal requirements.
The National General Certificate will serve your career well wherever you work in the world. If you have no plans to work overseas, you don’t need to take the International qualification.
To find out more about the similarities and difference, take a look at our article “What’s The Difference Between The International And National NEBOSH General Certificate?“
Your course materials and books are included in your course fees and we’ll post them to you ahead of your start date. If you would like to do some wider reading, make sure it’s relevant to the current syllabus – you can run books and materials past your trainer to check they’re going to help your studies.
The NEBOSH NG1 open book exam is completed on an exam date of your choosing, but we will advise you on a date that aligns with your studies. Day 1-5 of the course focuses on the NG1 subject matter, so your exam is best sat shortly after the completion of day 5 of the course.
You’ll complete the NG2 risk assessment as soon after the last study day as possible. On days 6-10 your NEBOSH trainer will guide you through working examples, the principle from which you’ll apply in your own workplace risk assessment.
Some of the job roles you may be eligible for with a NEBOSH National General Certificate include:
This course is available on our open programme, with a calendar of virtual and classroom events. You can book a place for yourself, for an employee or for a group of staff.
This course can be delivered exclusively for your organisation, in any location or virtually through Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Read more on our in-house training services.
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Make an enquiry and one of our dedicated Learning Advisors will contact you to listen to your needs and help you find the right solutions.
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