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NEBOSH National General Certificate

NEBOSH General Certificate is the UK’s most popular & respected health & safety qualification, suitable for managers, supervisors and team leaders. 
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LATEST COVID INFORMATION: Covid-Safe Blended Learning Now Available For General Certificate... See Below...

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Course Overview

The NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is one of the UK’s most popular and widely respected health and safety qualifications. More than 200,000 people have passed the General Certificate, and it is considered the industry standard. There is now an updated syllabus, reflecting the roles of a health and safety professional in the year 2020.

The NEBOSH National General Certificate course provides a valuable overview of the core aspects of occupational health and safety, equipping you with the skills to manage workplace risks effectively. 

The National Educational Board in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH) is an independent examination board delivering vocational qualifications in health, safety and environmental practice and management. 87% of UK employers ask for a NEBOSH qualification when they are recruiting for health and safety roles.

Study Phoenix’s NEBOSH National General Certificate course online, in the classroom or via in-house learning.

Classroom Courses & Covid

We continue to operate classroom courses safely throughout the UK, working with our venues to ensure they adhere to strict Covid-secure measures. We use larger training rooms to enable social distancing, follow government guidelines on hand sanitising, facemask wearing and no longer allow a buffet style food service. A copy of our Covid Classroom Risk Assessment is available on request.

Who is the NEBOSH National General Certificate course suitable for?

Relevant to every workplace, the NEBOSH National General Certificate is ideal if you are a manager or supervisor and have health and safety management responsibilities. We also recommend this course if you are embarking on a career in health and safety, or wish to advance your career.  

Course programme

NEBOSH National General Certificate programme

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.

To help you make the most of your studies and meet your professional goals, we also offer NEBOSH National General Certificate Audiobooks and Revision Modules.


The Audiobook to accompany this course is included free of charge when you purchase an E-learning course.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes of NEBOSH National General Certificate:

  • Effectively manage health and safety.
  • Identify and control common workplace hazards.
  • Measure if you’ve been successful.
  • Understand the UK’s legal requirements.
  • Confidently carry out risk assessments.
  • Develop and implement a detailed action plan.
  • Manage and minimise workplace risks.
  • Support and develop your company’s health and safety culture.

Duration

How long does the NEBOSH General Certificate take?

The duration of the NEBOSH National General Certificate depends on the study method:


The online exams are run by NEBOSH every two months. Follow this link to book your NEBOSH exam. 



Next steps

Many people who have passed the NEBOSH certificate progress to studying the NEBOSH National Diploma, which is a degree-level qualification.

NEBOSH National General Certificate Assessments

The updated NEBOSH National General Certificate course now consists of two assessments:

  • Unit NG1 includes an open book exam, which you do from home.
  • Unit NG2 is a practical risk assessment, carried out at your workplace. This is longer than the previous GC3 assessment.

If you are booking the classroom course, your exam cost will be included within the price. If you are booking on to the e-learning course your exams will be an extra fee and will need to be booked separately.

Exam dates are set by NEBOSH and can be found on our 'book a NEBOSH exam' page.

  • What is an Open Book Exam?

    An open book exam assesses the same learning outcomes as an invigilated, paper-based exam. With an open book exam, you can have access to textbooks, course notes and the internet. 
    You can complete an open book exam in your own home, or another suitable location. You will have up to 24 hours to complete the NEBOSH open book exam, but we find that most candidates only take 4 – 5 hours.

    The open book exam will assess your ability to apply your knowledge, as well as testing your analytical and critical thinking skills.

    Please note: Exam dates are set by NEBOSH. You can find exam dates here.

  • What is a closing interview?

    Following the open book exam is a short closing interview, which takes approximately 15 minutes. The purpose of the interview is to confirm that the work you have submitted is your own and that you did not have any assistance in completing your NEBOSH assessment. 

    The closing interview takes place via video call, which you can access via smartphone, tablet or computer.

    The interviewer will ask to see identification, you need to provide either your passport, driving license or national identity card. The interviewer needs to see the room that you are in to ensure you don’t have access to notes during the interview. 

    The interviewer will ask you questions based on your open book exam, your work and your submission.

    Your closing interview is not an assessment, so you won’t receive a mark. If the interviewer is happy that the work is your own, your mark will be published in line with NEBOSH timeframes.

    For more information, visit the NEBOSH guide to Open Book Exams.

    External examiners mark both assessments and are appointed by NEBOSH. Each examiner is chosen for their experience and expertise, ensuring candidates are assessed by the best in our industry.

Payment plans

Payment Plans are offered to self-funding UK students only. We require 30% of the total course fee upfront. Payments will be made monthly from the day your deposit was made and must be received within 7 days of this date. The balance of your account must be cleared in full, prior to you registering for examinations. Payment plans can be paid by: Credit/debit card or bank transfer. If you would like to organise a payment plan please get in touch.

Popular NEBOSH FAQs

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  • When and how will I receive my NEBOSH results?

    Results are notified by NEBOSH after completing the course. NEBOSH send out the results 10-12 weeks after the exams. Your certificates will arrive after the results have been announced.

  • When and how will I receive my NEBOSH certificate/diploma?

    Your certificate or diploma is sent to you by Phoenix after the results have been announced. Your certificates will arrive from Phoenix 10-12 weeks after the results have been announced.

  • Are there any entry requirements for NEBOSH Certificates?

    There are no entry requirements, which makes the NEBOSH Certificate an ideal starting point for your health and safety training. Learners must have a suitable standard of English language to understand and articulate the concepts contained in the syllabus.  

  • What happens if I fail the NEBOSH assessment?

    The Phoenix Pass Pledge will cover your additional studies, but you retake the exams at your own cost. 

View all FAQs

Why choose a NEBOSH course with Phoenix?

  • Accredited Partner

    Phoenix Health and Safety is a NEBOSH Gold Partner. This accreditation means our NEBOSH course materials, tutors, and learning environments are all stamped with excellence.

  • Expertise

    We are one of the UK's leading providers of training in health and safety. 

    Our tutors and mentors are widely respected for their expertise, experience and ability to provide an enjoyable learning experience. 

  • Student support

    We go the extra mile to make sure our course attendees receive the best possible support, through study guides and student groups.

    Many candidates find our Facebook community group particularly helpful while they are studying, as it enables them to compare notes with fellow students and ask questions.

  • The Phoenix Pass Pledge

    Every Phoenix NEBOSH course entitles you to continue studying free of charge if you fail to meet the required standard in examinations. However, this is rarely necessary. Our pass rate for NEBOSH General Certificate training courses is above industry average, with a high number of credits and distinctions.

The Phoenix NEBOSH National General Certificate is brilliant! I learnt so much in a short space of time and the course tutor made it so easy to understand and relate to my industry. This NEBOSH training has opened my eyes to the world of health and safety – I am now conducting risk assessments much more accurately as I now understand why and how to do them safely and correctly.

Natalie, Health and Safety Officer

NEBOSH National General Certificate

I found the NEBOSH General Certificate course intense but extremely interesting. The trainers were very knowledgeable and exceptionally supportive. I couldn’t have achieved my result without them. This NEBOSH qualification has given me more confidence in my current role and has also improved my career prospects. I will continue to develop my health and safety knowledge to improve my skill set. I am truly grateful for all the help and support I received from Phoenix.

Sonia, QEHS specialist

NEBOSH National General Certificate

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