NEBOSH National General Certificate

Benefits of the NEBOSH National General Certificate

Benefits for Individuals 

The NEBOSH National General Certificate will give you invaluable knowledge and skills AND a globally respected qualification that supports your current role and your long-term career. 

The qualification is: 

• Relevant to every workplace
• Ideal for managers, supervisors, or anybody with health and safety management responsibilities
• Perfect for those embarking on a health and safety career  

Benefits for Employers 

According to the Health and Safety Executive, workplace injuries and ill-health cost UK businesses over £15 billion per year. To go home safely at the end of the working day is a right, not a privilege. The National General Certificate is trusted by many prestigious. 

It can help to: 

• Minimise workplace injuries and illness 
• Boost employee wellbeing 
• Demonstrate your commitment to health and safety, which can help win business 
• Strengthen your health and safety culture 
• Ensure your organisation has valuable in-house health and safety expertise 

World Class Experience

We are one of the top global leaders in health, safety, wellbeing and environment training. We pride ourselves on creating a positive learning experience for all our students. With expert trainers, exceptional pass rates and innovative, engaging materials, it is no wonder our students rate us as excellent. We are also a NEBOSH gold learning partner.

Exceptional Study Support

Throughout your studies, you will receive continuous support from our team.

Students get free access to all our excellent online interactive digital learning resources and Study Support Hub, with additional resources, tutor guidance and forums to talk with tutors and other learners. From the very start of your studies, our expert tutors are committed to guiding you through your qualification, providing supportive learning and application of your knowledge in real-world scenarios, enabling you to confidently achieve your qualification.

Why we care

You will be joining our large cohort of students who have successfully completed their professional development with us. You will also be supporting our global charitable activities in our dedication to making sure no-one is injured or made ill through their work.

Pass promise

We are so confident in our NEBOSH National General Certificate Course, that we are offering you a pass promise. In the unlikely event you don’t pass first time, we will continue to support you, provide access to our digital resources and free tutor support to help you prepare for your next exams.

Students studying with us also benefit from:

• Market leading pass rates
• Unique study support Hub
• Pass Promise
• Free exam prep sessions
• Free tutor surgeries
• Flexible learning methods
• Flexible finance options.

With in-depth focus on the things that matter, the NEBOSH National General Certificate covers: 

• How to effectively manage health and safety 
• How to identify and control common workplace hazards 
• How to measure if you’ve been successful 
• The UK’s key legal requirements 

Learning Outcomes 

On completion of the qualification, you will be able to: 

• Justify the need for health and safety improvements; 
• Advise on duties under the main pieces of UK health and safety legislation; 
• Help their organisation to manage contractors; 
• Work within a health and safety management system; 
• Positively influence health and safety culture and behaviour; 
• Carry out a general risk assessment (using a 5-step approach) of their workplace; 
• Recognise workplace changes and their impacts and understand how to minimise these impacts; 
• Develop basic safe systems of work that include emergency arrangements and know when to use a permit-to-work system; 
• Take part in incident investigations;  
• Help their employer check the effectiveness of the health and safety management system through monitoring, auditing and review. 

The qualification comprises two units:

Unit NG1 covers the management of health and safety and is assessed via an open-book exam completed online.

Unit NG2 covers hazards and risk assessment and is assessed via a practical risk assessment based on a workplace.

If you are studying digitally the units are studied at your own pace, for classroom courses unit NG1 is taught in week 1 and NG2 in week 2.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate programme consists of 11 elements across two units:

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

Course requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification, however it is important that learners have a suitable standard of English language in order to understand and articulate the concepts contained in the syllabus.

Enrolment period

Most students complete this course within 6 months. NEBOSH allows you up to 5 years to complete both assessments, we will provide access to resources and support until you complete your qualification.

Unit NG1: Open book examination is completed online via the NEBOSH exam portal, to which you have 24 hours access.   On average you should allocate approximately 5 hours to complete the exam. You’ll be awarded a grading for the NG1, as outlined below

• Pass: 45-64 marks
• Credit: 65-74 marks
• Distinction: 75+ marks.

Unit NG2: Workplace-based risk assessment task. Completed in a workplace and submitted to BSC via email. NG2 is marked either a pass or refer (fail).

You must successfully pass both units to achieve your full NEBOSH General Certificate.

A copy of the full syllabus can be downloaded here.

For Virtual Classroom bookings the examination fees are included within your booking. 

For Digital Learning and Face to Face courses there is an additional fee that you must book separately: 

Additional fee for NEBOSH Examinations: £230 +VAT.

For more information on assessments please see our NEBOSH Certificate Assessment Information page.

NEBOSH will email you your results directly approximately 50 working days from your assessment.

You can see when your results are due on the NEBOSH website.

You will receive your certificate parchment within 8 weeks of the successful completion of both unit assessments.

NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM).

Once completed, our students often continue their studies by completing a NEBOSH Fire Safety, NEBOSH Construction, Foundation in IEMA or a NEBOSH Diploma.  Please contact us to discuss your options.

British Safety Council will:

• Use suitably qualified and experienced tutors to deliver the tuition
• Cover all the specification learning outcomes
• Provide or direct you to the information you need to pass the qualification
• Provide you with expert advice on revision and examination technique
• Respond in a timely manner to any queries
• Be diligent and courteous at all times

You must:

• Attend all scheduled sessions
• Contribute to group discussions in a positive manner
• Endeavour to be active, rather than passive in terms of learning
• Complete the required number of revision hours
• Pay particular attention to advice regarding revision and examination technique
• Bring any learning difficulties to our attention at the earliest opportunity