NEBOSH International General Certificate

What is the NEBOSH International General Certificate Course?

The NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) in Occupational Health and Safety is a globally recognised qualification, suitable for both beginners and professionals. It provides a solid foundation in managing workplace hazards, assessing risks, and applying international health and safety standards (such as ILO codes of practice).

This online NEBOSH IGC self-paced course starts from £474 (VAT inc), offering the flexibility to study at your own pace from home or work. Upon completion, learners gain practical skills and knowledge highly valued by employers worldwide.

Who Is the NEBOSH International General Certificate For?

The NEBOSH International General Certificate is designed for managers, supervisors, and team leaders responsible for workplace health and safety. It is also suitable for beginners seeking to build a career in occupational health and safety or to enhance their professional skills across various industries.

This course is ideal for:

• Managers and supervisors with health and safety responsibilities
• Team leaders overseeing operational safety
• Employees starting a career in health and safety
• Professionals seeking a globally recognised qualification
• Staff in manufacturing, construction, or office environments
• Those managing international or multi-site operations

NEBOSH IGC Syllabus: What You'll Learn

In early 2026, NEBOSH updated and refreshed the International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety syllabus. The previous units (IG1 and IG2) have been updated to GIC1 and GIC2. While the core health and safety principles remain robust, the updated structure streamlines the learner journey, introduces an online portal submission for both units, and applies a precise points-based marking system for the practical assessment.

GIC1 focuses on health and safety management systems, while GIC2 covers practical workplace risk assessment. GIC1 is assessed via a digital open-book exam, and GIC2 via a practical risk assessment based on your workplace.

Unit Breakdown and Elements:

Unit GIC1: Management of Health and Safety
Covers the core principles of safety management and is assessed via an online open-book exam.

• 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 GIC2: Practical Risk Assessment
Covers specific workplace hazards and risk assessment methods, assessed via a practical application.

• 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

Entry Requirements

The NEBOSH International General Certificate course has no formal academic entry requirements, making it completely accessible to both beginners and professionals. However, because the course and assessments are conducted in English, learners must have a sufficient standard of the language to read, understand, and articulate technical health and safety concepts effectively.

NEBOSH recommends that learners have an English language proficiency equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher to ensure they can fully engage with the content and complete the written assessments successfully.

NEBOSH IGC Course Duration

The NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety qualification requires a balanced mix of taught instruction and personal study time. Learners are expected to complete approximately 63 guided learning hours, plus around 40 hours of private study and assessment practice, for a total of roughly 103 hours across both units.

For learners taking the NEBOSH International General Certificate online course, these hours can be scheduled flexibly around your existing employment or personal commitments. You can choose to spread your studies across several weeks or accelerate your learning, provided you are thoroughly prepared for the scheduled GIC1 and GIC2 assessment windows.

NEBOSH IGC Assessment 

The qualification is assessed through two mandatory components that validate both your theoretical comprehension and practical application skills. Both assessments are now submitted completely online via the NEBOSH Assessment Platform.

GIC1 – Digital Open-Book Examination:
GIC1 is an online, scenario-based, open-book examination. Rather than memorising facts, you are presented with a realistic workplace scenario and given a strict 24-hour window to complete and upload your written analysis.

The provisional pass mark for this unit is 45 out of 100 marks. Following the exam, learners complete a mandatory, unmarked Closing Interview with their Learning Partner to verify identity and confirm the work is entirely their own.

GIC2 – Practical Risk Assessment:
GIC2 is a hands-on risk assessment conducted in a real workplace environment. You will systematically identify hazards, evaluate risks, and draft a professional corrective action plan. Your completed GIC2 assignment must be uploaded to the portal within 10 working days of your GIC1 exam date.

Moving away from the old pass/fail model, the updated GIC2 uses a strict points-based marking system with a minimum pass mark of 60%. Detailed mark breakdowns are automatically provided upon grading.

NEBOSH IGC Grading and Results: A major update to the syllabus is the introduction of a points-based marking system for the practical unit (GIC2/GNC2). Instead of a basic "Met/Not Met" status, candidates now receive an exact numerical score out of 100 for their practical risk assessment.

To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum score of 60%. Despite this new transparency in component marks, NEBOSH continues to issue its traditional single grade classification on your final certificate. Your overall qualification is still graded as a Pass, Credit, or Distinction. This final grade classification is determined solely by your GIC1 (theory exam) score, provided that you have successfully passed the GIC2practical unit.

💡 Each year, NEBOSH releases its global examination schedule well in advance, allowing you to plan your studies, enrol early, and prepare thoroughly for your assessment window. For 2026, NEBOSH has already published the dates. You can check out the image below with the official dates to find the upcoming digital open-book exam slots and submission deadlines that best fit your schedule:

What Is the Price of the NEBOSH International General Certificate Course?

Enrolling in our online self-paced NEBOSH International General Certificate training course costs £395 (£474 including VAT), which grants you full access to our interactive e-learning modules, study aids, and tutor support resources.

To fully finalise your qualification and register for grading, the official NEBOSH registration and examination fee is £290, which covers both the GIC1 and GIC2 assessment sittings. If you ever need to retake a specific component, individual unit resits are available at £145 each.

To make funding your professional development easier, you can select Klarna at checkout to pay 30 days later or split your course costs into 3 interest-free monthly instalments.

What You’ll Receive

Upon successfully passing both units, you will receive the official NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety parchment. The qualification is credit-rated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Accreditation at SCQF Level 6 (broadly equivalent to a UK A-Level or RQF Level 3) and carries 11 SCQF credit points, giving it substantial global standing.

Achieving this Nebosh IGC certificate also fulfils the academic prerequisites for Associate Membership (AIIRSM) of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.

Furthermore, it meets the academic requirements for Technical Membership (Tech IOSH) of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, though IOSH generally requires assessments to be completed via a UK-accredited process or sitting alongside relevant professional experience.

Course Delivery: Online Self-Paced

The NEBOSH International General Certificate online gives you the freedom to secure your qualification around your schedule without missing work. All rich media course materials, mock exams, and interactive elements are hosted securely online, allowing you to seamlessly navigate the 103 hours of study at your own speed.

At the start of your course, you’ll:

• Gain instant access to the digital portal containing all syllabus elements, hazard identification guides, and video resources.
• Learn how to systematically plan out your study blocks to effectively balance your guided hours and private research.
• Receive step-by-step framework guidance to confidently prepare for the GIC1 open-book scenario and the GIC2 practical documentation.

You can revisit complex modules as often as necessary. Dedicated tutor support is readily accessible throughout your enrolment, giving you the structure of a premier training course alongside complete personal flexibility.

Common Questions

What professional memberships can I receive after completing the NEBOSH IGC?

Successful candidates qualify for Associate Membership (AIIRSM) with the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management. It can also satisfy the academic standards required for Technical Membership (Tech IOSH) with IOSH, subject to relevant workplace experience and specific regional sitting regulations.

How is the practical assessment (GIC2) completed and graded?

The practical assessment requires you to execute a real-world risk assessment in your workplace. You will identify hazards, assess severity, and pitch a commercial action plan. This is uploaded to the NEBOSH platform within 10 working days of your exam and is marked out of 100, requiring a 60% score to pass.

How are the assessments monitored and verified?

All timelines, authenticity declarations, and text submissions are logged via the secure NEBOSH platform. To protect the integrity of the qualification, every learner must complete a mandatory, unmarked closing interview with their learning provider to verify their identity and ensure compliance with plagiarism policies before results are finalised.

What if I am following the old syllabus (IG1/IG2)?

Learners registered under the legacy October 2018 specification must complete their outstanding units within their standard 5-year registration window. The final opportunity to sit for or resubmit legacy IG1 or IG2 assessments is in August 2026. If not completed by this date, you must transition to the new specification.

If I transition to the new syllabus, do I need to repurchase the course?

No. If you are a registered learner who needs to transition from the legacy syllabus to the updated GIC1/GIC2 structure, your active platform access remains fully valid. You can study the updated syllabus content without repurchasing the course, though your exams must be booked under the new unit criteria.