• Gain a globally respected qualification that enhances your professional credibility and supports long-term career development in health and safety.
• Develop practical and immediately applicable skills to manage workplace risks, improve safety culture, and protect your organisation and colleagues.
• Meet key professional membership requirements, including eligibility for IOSH Technician (TechIOSH) and IIRSM Associate membership.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate will give you invaluable knowledge and skills and a globally respected health and safety 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

All unit examinations and the practical assessment must be taken / answered in English only. Therefore, to participate in this course, delegates will be required to read, write, speak and understand English. For example, delegates should be able to read and understand conversational and business English.  ​NEBOSH recommends that delegates undertaking this qualification should reach a minimum standard of English equivalent to an International English Language Testing System score of 6.0 or higher in IELTS tests.

It is recommended that delegates have a good understanding and experience of Health and Safety prior to attending the course. Please call us on 01603 677107 to discuss the course level and requirements prior to booking.

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 can help to:

• Minimise workplace injuries and illnesses
• 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

For more information on how NEBOSH qualifications can benefit your organisation, visit NEBOSH's Guidance for Employers page.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate covers the main legal requirements for health and safety in the UK, identification and control of workplace hazards, and the practical application of this knowledge.  The syllabus is mapped to the National Occupational Standards for Health and Safety owned by ENTO. 

The qualification is divided into two units, each of which is assessed separately:

Unit GNC1: Management of Health and Safety

• Why we should manage workplace health and safety
• How health and safety management systems work and what they look like
• Managing risk – understanding people and processes
• Health and safety monitoring and measuring

Assessed by a question paper exam (one 20-mark question and ten 8-mark questions)

Unit GNC2: Risk assessment

• Physical and psychological health
• Musculoskeletal health
• Chemical and biological agents
• General workplace issues
• Work equipment
• Fire
• Electricity

Assessed by a practical assignment which is normally carried out at the delegate’s work premises and involves a physical inspection of a workplace to assess the hazards. It is designed to test a delegate’s ability to complete a health and safety assessment and produce a management style report on their findings. 

The assignment will be explained during the course by the tutor. 

Full NEBOSH Syllabus Guide

Unit GNC1: Management of Health and Safety - 49 hours

• 29 hours of tuition
• 20 hours of private study.

Unit GNC2: Risk Assessment - 59 hours

• 39 hours of tuition
• 20 hours of private study.

Your study therefore, needs to be based around 68 taught hours and approximately 40 hours of private study.

Assessment is a two-step process:

• GNC1 - An open-book examination over a 24-hour period, to assess what you know. This is scenario-based and will include a closing interview, you will be asked questions about your submission.
• GNC2- A practical risk assessment to assess what you can do. Delegates will complete a risk assessment and develop an action plan for their workplace – this is immediately useful and valuable.

Assessments are marked by external examiners appointed by NEBOSH. These examiners are chosen for their experience and expertise to ensure that learners are assessed by the very best from our industry.

It is the delegate’s responsibility to submit their written assessment within the timescale, any assessments not returned by the deadline will result in the delegate failing this section of the course.  See session dates for more details.

• Exam registrations for Units GNC1 and GNC2
• Course materials
• Study guides
• Lunch and refreshments for all Norwich classroom courses

On successful completion of both units (GNC1 & GNC2), the delegate will receive the overall NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Qualification Parchment.  

Delegates will need to pass both units within a five-year period to achieve the overall qualification. The five-year period commences from the result declaration date of the first exam.

When both unit certificates have been awarded (ie, have achieved a Pass in units GNC1 and GNC2), the marks are added together and a final grade is awarded as follows:

• Pass: 45 - 64 marks
• Credit: 65 - 74 marks
• Distinction: 75 marks or more

The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety has been accredited and credit rated by the Qualifications Scotland Accreditation. It sits in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at SCQF Level 6 with 11 SCQF credit points.

SCQF Level 6 is comparable to RQF/CQFW Level 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The course runs from 9:00am through to 5:00pm for each of the 10 days of training. Refreshments are available from 8:45am.

The revision day consists of a half day session (9am - 1pm). 

The GNC1 exam is an open book exam available from 11am on exam day until 11am the following day.

We provide:

• NEBOSH registration, exam & certificate
• Course book & material
• Note pad and pen
• Polos!

Also includes:

• Free on-site parking
• Lunch & refreshments. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements. 
• Free WiFi

Our Norwich on-site parking (NR3 1UB) is free and situated 5 minutes walk along the river to our training centre at St James Mill. If you arrive by train, it is about 20 minutes on the Riverside walk or a short taxi ride to get to us. View full directions for Norwich and all our other venues.

You will learn in a relaxed environment with a small group of people. A specialist tutor will guide and encourage you through all the learning necessary to develop your skills, and questions are always welcome.

We aim to provide you with an effective, quality, learning experience to support your studies and to prepare you fully for the NEBOSH exams and assessments.

Your tutor is there to support you during the training and leading up to the exam and full completion of your qualification, so please discuss any questions with them, they are always happy to help. We also have a dedicated team of assessors and staff to support you through your learner journey. 

During the course, you will learn about revision and exam techniques, and additional support is available if required. Please contact us for more details. 

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) was formed in 1979 as an awarding body with charitable status. They offer a comprehensive range of globally-recognised qualifications designed to meet the health, safety and environmental management needs of all places of work.

NEBOSH Qualifications:

• Give practical skills that keep workplaces safer
• Help build careers with a modular qualification structure
• Relevant to every workplace
• Are recognised by professional membership bodies such as IOSH

Read more about NEBOSH

How long does the NEBOSH General Certificate take?

The NEBOSH National General Certificate course typically takes 10 days of classroom training, plus time for the open-book exam (GNC1) and practical risk assessment (GNC2).
In total, learners should plan for around 68 taught hours and 50 hours of private study.

What is the difference between the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and the NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management?

The NEBOSH National General Certificate is a Level 3 qualification suitable for those starting or developing a career in health and safety.

The NEBOSH National Diploma is a Level 6 qualification, aimed at experienced health and safety professionals seeking to advance to senior positions.

The Diploma is more in-depth, requires a greater time commitment, and is more academically demanding.

Who is the NEBOSH National General Certificate suitable for?

This qualification is ideal for:

• Managers, supervisors, and team leaders with health and safety responsibilities
• Employee representatives involved in workplace safety
• Individuals starting a career in health and safety or aiming to progress in this field

It's relevant to every workplace and provides essential knowledge to help maintain safe working environments.

Is the NEBOSH National General Certificate worth it?

Yes, the NEBOSH National General Certificate is widely regarded as one of the most valuable and respected health and safety qualifications in the UK and internationally. 

It provides a solid foundation in occupational health and safety and is ideal for individuals looking to start or progress in a career in health and safety management. 

What happens if I have to resit my NEBOSH assessment?

If you do not pass either the GNC1 or GNC2 assessment, you can resit the failed unit. Additional fees apply for resits, and you'll need to register for a new assessment date.

You must successfully complete both units within a five-year period starting from the date of your first passed unit.