NEBOSH National General Certificate

Widely respected across the UK and internationally, the NEBOSH National General Certificate is recognised by employers, professional bodies and health and safety experts as one of the qualifications that genuinely matters in this field. Delivered over ten days, it builds the practical skills to create a safe working environment, carry out thorough risk assessments, and advise fellow workers across scenarios ranging from safe machinery operation to hazardous chemicals and fire. Health and safety professionals already holding the IOSH Managing Safely Course often progress onto this qualification for a deeper, more technical grounding.

Whether delegates are starting a career in health and safety management, refreshing existing knowledge as a practising advisor, or simply want a deeper understanding of low-risk workplaces, this Level 3 qualification covers the ground needed. The NEBOSH National General Certificate is a mandatory requirement for most health and safety roles, and successful delegates are awarded the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, accepted by IOSH in meeting the academic requirements for Technician Membership (Tech IOSH).

For those working specifically in construction, the NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction Certificate covers the same core principles with a construction-specific focus, worth considering instead of, or alongside, this general qualification. Anyone with fire-specific responsibility may also want to look at the NEBOSH Fire Safety Certificate as a focused add-on once this broader certificate is complete.

There are no formal prerequisites for booking this training course, though a good understanding of written and spoken English is recommended.

By the end of the NEBOSH National General Certificate, delegates will have the knowledge to set up and maintain a safe workplace, protecting workers from the risk of injury and work-related health conditions. Candidates will also be able to:

• Explain the UK's legal health and safety requirements
• Identify common workplace hazards and how to avoid them
• Understand the health risks associated with unsuitable working conditions
• Conduct a thorough risk assessment
• Check that a site or workplace is compliant with HSE legislation
• Put adequate safety measures in place and assess their effectiveness
• Create a detailed action plan
• Recommend procedures for dealing with workplace accidents
• Foster a positive health and safety culture
• Effectively minimise workplace risks

The NEBOSH National General Certificate is split into two units, covering the following elements:

• GNC1, Health and Safety Management: why we should manage workplace health and safety, how health and safety management systems work, managing risk through understanding people and processes, and health and safety monitoring and measuring

   

• GNC2, Risk Assessment: physical and psychological health, musculoskeletal health, chemical and biological agents, general workplace issues, work equipment, fire, and electricity

   

• Health and Safety Practical Application, where the course attendee carries out a practical assessment of a workplace and prepares a management report

To pass the NEBOSH National General Certificate, candidates must successfully complete two assessments. The first is an open-book exam based on unit GNC1, completed at home or another quiet space, working through tasks based on a given workplace scenario to test critical thinking alongside course knowledge. A 15-minute video call interview follows, allowing the examiner to discuss the submitted work and confirm identity via photo ID. The second is a practical assignment based on unit GNC2, submitted directly to NEBOSH to demonstrate applied skills in a real situation. Both assessments are marked by an external examiner appointed by NEBOSH, and both must be passed to achieve the qualification. Results are typically announced 10 to 12 weeks after submission of the practical assignment, with certification issued by NEBOSH shortly after.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate is a mandatory requirement for most health and safety roles, and suits anyone responsible for health and safety in the workplace or with a general interest in creating safer working practices. This includes, but isn't limited to, directors, general managers and supervisors, health and safety managers, health and safety representatives, operational managers, HR managers, facilities managers, environmental managers, and public service workers.

There are no formal prerequisites for booking the NEBOSH National General Certificate, though a good understanding of written and spoken English is recommended. Candidates will also need Wi-Fi access to download the open-book exam paper.