What is the NEBOSH General Certificate?
The NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is a level 3 qualification. NEBOSH training tells you what you need to know and do to make your workplace safer, how to control hazards and risks, and prevent accidents and injury.
The NEBOSH National General Certificate is held by more than 200,000 health and safety workers because it offers the highest standard in health and safety qualifications. It has been designed by industry experts, to reflect the needs of the modern workplace and provide you with all the knowledge and skills you need to make your current or future organisation safer.
Is the NEBOSH course for you?
This course is for managers, supervisors and staff from all types of organisations, who need a broad understanding of health and safety issues.
The general certificate will help you manage risks effectively. Many people take the NEBOSH National General Certificate as a first step toward a career in health and safety. It provides valuable knowledge and is a sound foundation for further professional study in health and safety.
The NEBOSH Certificate is a widely respected qualification that meets the requirements for Technician Membership of IOSH and Associate Membership of IIRSM.
For more information, view our 'who's it for?' article.
How long is the NEBOSH General Certificate course?
The NEBOSH General Certificate course takes place over a 10-day period and requires between 80-120 hours of study. This time is made up of taught and self-study time.
You will typically attend your course between 9 am and 5 pm.
You'll have five learning days delivered over five consecutive weeks to cover NG1 content, followed by a week break, before diving into a further five days on NG2 (the practical assessment) delivered over five weeks.
A Fast Track to NEBOSH qualification
The NEBOSH General Certificate is well known for its demanding time commitment, but did you know you can condense the learning into just 5-6 weeks?
The Fast Track course content is just the same as the standard course, you just get the qualification done and dusted in less time.
The Fast Track course is delivered over six weeks. You'll have five consecutive learning days, a two-week break, then five more consecutive learning days, followed by the exam.
The fast track requires a high level of commitment, over a shorter period of time. It is right for you if you can commit to 10 days of training over a three week period and can fit in the self-study during that time.
If this is the right route for you, look out for our 'Fast Track NEBOSH General' events below. To find out more about the fast track and how its different visit our fast track blog.
Course cost
Reasons to take your NEBOSH with TSW
- We're a NEBOSH Gold learning partner, meeting NEBOSH's exceptional standards
- We only work with the best trainers. Your trainer is NEBOSH qualified, has practical experience in the field and is an inspiring and rehearsed trainer
- We provide Gold levels of support throughout your qualification; our trainers are available 24/7 to answer your questions and prepare you for your examinations
- Our exam pass rates are above the national average, so you can be assured that you have the best chance of success
- Our NEBOSH graduates shape our course delivery. We ask for feedback and consistently improve our approach, so you get the best experience
Meet our Head of NEBOSH delivery (and NEBOSH trainer extraordinaire)
When you take your qualification with TSW you are in very safe hands.
Luke Pitt is a chartered health and safety practitioner and qualified teacher. He holds two fellowships with the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management and the Royal Society for Public Health.
He has been a registered member of the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (created by the HSE) since its inception. Awarded the standard of Recognised Safety Practitioner by IIRSM, he spends spend a lot of time mentoring H&S practitioners in the industry for IOSH.
NEBOSH General course content
The NEBOSH General Certificate syllabus tackles the UK's key legal requirements and how to effectively manage health and safety by identifying and controlling common workplace hazards. It also shows you how to measure your success.
The course syllabus
The syllabus is maintained by NEBOSH and a panel of experts and learning providers. It represents current legislation and reflects health and safety challenges faced by every industry.
Unit NG1: Management of Health and Safety
- Element 1 - Why we should manage workplace health and safety
- Element 2 - How health and safety management systems work and what they look like
- Element 3 - Managing risk - understanding people and processes
- Element 4 - Health and safety monitoring and measuring
Unit NG2: Risk Assessment
- Element 5 - Physical and psychological health
- Element 6 - Musculoskeletal health
- Element 7 - Chemical and biological agents
- Element 8 - General workplace issues
- Element 9 - Work equipment
- Element 10 - Fire
- Element 11 – Electricity
Health and safety best practice that protects businesses
The qualification is highly relevant for any organisation and can deliver a significant positive impact with improved performance organisation-wide:
- A reduction in workplace injuries and work-related illness
- Signal your commitment to creating a safer workplace
- Improve organisational reputation and secure more business
- Create a better working environment, leading to increased motivation and performance
- In-house expertise, meaning a more proactive approach to safety
We believe that the NEBOSH General Certificate is the most respected level 3 health and safety qualification in the world - it's the right course for your business. Every business in the UK should invest in this training to preserve its longevity and promote staff wellbeing.
Your NEBOSH General Certificate book
TSW uses market-leading course books from RRC, to support you on the course and in passing your exam and practical assessment.
The books cover unit NG1 and NG2 in great detail, providing you with everything you need for success. The books are also a great resource for Managers, Supervisors and employees to use when dealing with health and safety back in the workplace.
A few example pages from our full-colour A4 course workbooks:
How is the NEBOSH General Certificate Assessed?
The qualification is assessed in two main parts:
- NG1 - One open-book examination (OBE) to assess what you have learned and know about health and safety. Read more about the new NEBOSH open exams.
- NG2 - A practical risk assessment to assess your application of health and safety knowledge (what you can do). You will complete a risk assessment in your workplace and develop an action plan that is immediately useful and valuable for your organisation. Once you have completed your risk assessment, you will submit it to us via e-mail or post. It is recommended that you spend about 3 hours on this practical assessment.
To gain the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, you will need to pass both the exam and risk assessment elements.
