.NEBOSH General National Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety

The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety has been reviewed and updated for 2026

Over 250,000 people hold a NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Why? Because it’s the gold standard in health and safety qualifications.

Thousands of leading experts and organisations have helped us update the most widely respected health and safety qualification of its kind in the world. This means that it’s designed to reflect the needs of today’s employer giving learners everything they need to know and do to make their workplace safer.

Relevant to every workplace, the NEBOSH National General Certificate is ideal for managers, supervisors and anybody with health and safety management responsibilities. It’s also perfect for those embarking on a health and safety career and gives you a stepping stone to success.

Trusted by many prestigious organisations such as Thames Water, Kier and the Football Association, it can help to:

• Minimise workplace injuries and illness
• Boost employee wellbeing
• Demonstrate your commitment to health and safety, which can win business.

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

According to the Health and Safety Executive, workplace injuries and ill-health cost UK businesses over £21.6 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 organisations such as Thames Water, Kier and the Football Association as well as many others.

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.

What will successful learners know?

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

What will successful learners be able to do?

Risk assessment is central to the qualification. Through study and workplace application, successful learners will be able to:

• 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

Assessment

This modern qualification combines activities, learning and interactive materials to provide you with an interesting and engaging experience. It focuses on key skills that means you can instantly apply the knowledge you gain and add value to your organisation.

Assessment is a two-step process:

• GNC1 – An open book examination 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 (3 hours). Learners 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.

Course duration and Syllabus

The course duration is 10 days (plus assessments and online support/guidance if required)  and consists of the following elements:-

1. Why we should manage workplace health and safety
2. How health and safety management systems work and what they look like
3. Managing Risk – Understanding people and processes
4. Health and safety monitoring and measuring
5. Physical and psychological health
6. Musculoskeletal health
7. Chemical and biological agents
8. General workplace issues
9. Work equipment
10. Fire
11. Electricity

RCES (UK) Ltd can also provide this training inhouse  at your organisation, just contact us to advise of location and learner numbers and we can provide you with a quotation.  To book on to one of our public courses, please complete the booking form.  For further information complete our course enquiry form.