Courses Available Online, Virtually and Classroom
Fully Certified NEBOSH, IOSH, IEMA Accredited
7-Day Customer Service
Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

How Long Does the NEBOSH Diploma Take to Complete?

April 2025


It's no secret that people are living busier lives. Time is a precious commodity, and we all like to get things done quickly to spend more time doing the things we enjoy. Unfortunately, some things can't be rushed, and developing new skills is one of them.

To pass your NEBOSH Diploma, you'll need to be motivated and committed. Depending on your mode of learning, you're going to have to find time to study around work and day-to-day activities. Sometimes you'll have to sacrifice the time you spend on things you enjoy.

That said, one of the great things about the NEBOSH Diploma is its flexibility. So, although there are several recommended study hours, it's up to you how you complete them.


NEBOSH Diploma Duration and Recommended Study Hours

NEBOSH recommends learners invest between 465 - 500 study hours to complete the Diploma course. This is broken down into:

  • Taught Hours
  • Private Study Hours

Required Taught Learning Hours

The NEBOSH Diploma completion time, requires approximately 180-200 taught hours. These are the hours spent learning new concepts through an online course or in a virtual classroom.

Online courses are the most flexible. It contains all the study materials required to fulfil the required hours of study; you will have 24/7 access to all the learning materials, so you are in control.

In an ideal world, you'll be able to adhere to the recommended self-study hours. If the NEBOSH Diploma course length proves to be a challenge, it may take you longer to feel confident enough to sit your assessments.

Most course providers will give you a limit as to how long you have access to your course materials, so make sure you check with them before you purchase.

Recommended Self-Study Hours 

The recommended timeframe when carrying your NEBOSH Diploma private study is 144 hours. Private study hours are the recommended number of hours you should spend doing additional research and background reading around a topic.

These private study hours are essential to building the amount of knowledge needed to pass the exams. It involves everything from reading journals, whitepapers and websites, to attending webinars and watching videos.

With the online NEBOSH Diploma course, you'll find all the additional resources you need to carry out this research. It'll contain links to useful websites, journals, videos, and activities for you to practice what you've learnt.
With virtual classroom courses, you'll be given a set of course materials from your tutor to read through. Your tutor will guide you as to where you can find additional resources. However, you'll have to go and retrieve them yourself.

Examination Process

NEBOSH allows you five years to complete the NEBOSH Diploma once you have passed the first unit you take. This time around, all assessments can be completed remotely.

You'll want to give yourself the best possible chance of passing your NEBOSH Diploma exams, so you'll need to factor in time for your revision, too. For more information about the NEBOSH Diploma Exams, please visit our exam hub.

  • A full-time block course would be expected to last for a minimum of six weeks (30 working days and 7 hours of learning a day). 
  • A part-time day course would be spread over at least 30 weeks, giving you the control to learn and study your way.

Total Recommended Study Time

If you want more information on the NEBOSH Diploma assessment, we got you covered! Check the new NEBOSH Diploma assessments guide here.

Whatever you do, don't be intimidated by the length and time required to complete the NEBOSH Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Managing Professionals qualification. You'll already be familiar with many of the topics covered in the course if you've completed the NEBOSH General Certificate. Although this is not a formal entry requirement, it's strongly recommend so you can maximise your chances at success.

Whatever your circumstances, whatever your situation, Astutis has you covered. Nothing will hold you back, your future awaits. For more information on the length and complexity of the NEBOSH Diploma, check out the National or International course pages below depending on which version you're considering.

There you will find customer FAQs, a free online course demo, course guides and a full breakdown of the syllabus and exam process.




Related Blogs

  • Is the NEBOSH Diploma Worth It? 6 Benefits for Employees Image
    Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

    Is the NEBOSH Diploma Worth It? 6 Benefits for Employees

    Find out the primary benefits for professionals that complete the NEBOSH Diploma, including career progression, peer recognition and opportunities for salary increases.
    15.04.25
  • Is the NEBOSH Diploma a Degree? Image
    Andrew Froude B.Eng (Hons), CMIOSH, MIIRSM, OSHCR

    Is the NEBOSH Diploma a Degree?

    The NEBOSH Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is the most comprehensive Health and Safety training course available. Discover the level of the course and whether the NEBOSH Diploma is equivalent to a degree.
    09.04.25
  • How Hard Is the NEBOSH Diploma to Complete? Image
    Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

    How Hard Is the NEBOSH Diploma to Complete?

    Unsure of how hard the NEBOSH Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals might be? We've broken down the difficulty of the course for potential learners, including exams.
    07.04.25
  • Does the NEBOSH Diploma Expire? Image
    Andrew Froude B.Eng (Hons), CMIOSH, MIIRSM, OSHCR

    Does the NEBOSH Diploma Expire?

    Find out whether the NEBOSH Diploma expires as a qualification and whether you need to resit or renew the course.
    07.04.25
  • How to Study the NEBOSH Diploma Image
    Toby Howell AIEMA BA PGDip

    How to Study the NEBOSH Diploma

    Unsure about how exactly to study the NEBOSH Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals? Luckily for you, you're in the right place! This blog will uncover every learning format which you can utilise to your benefit to study the NEBOSH Diploma. Read more here. 
    24.05.21
Section Curve
Case Studies

Real Life Stories

Find out how learners look back on their training with Astutis. Our case studies give our learners, both individual and corporate, a platform to share their Astutis experience. Discover how training with Astutis has helped past learners and delegates make the world a safer place, one course at a time.
More Image
Bottom Curve
What People Say

Hear What Our Learners Have To Say

We're always there for our customers. 98% of our learners rated their overall experience as good or outstanding. We will always pride ourselves on our customer service. But don’t take our word for it, here is what our customers have to say
  • "Clear and concise. A lot of information delivered in an easy to digest format. Trainer was engaging and positive, as well as easy to talk to and ask questions. Tech was good and all the materials provided/used were/are helpful."

    Kerrina
    09.04.2025
  • "Clear and concise. A lot of information delivered in an easy to digest format. Trainer was engaging and positive, as well as easy to talk to and ask questions. Tech was good and all the materials provided/used were/are helpful."

    Kerrina
    09.04.2025
  • "excellent trainer easy to follow and good mixture of team discussions."

    Keith
    03.04.2025
  • "covered a lot of my day to day tasks, easy to follow on the second week, found the first week it difficult to see what was required and understand."

    Keith
    03.04.2025
  • "Very impressed with the training content, it was delivered in a user friendly way and made easy to understand, communication and resources was excellent throughout"

    Mark
    02.04.2025
  • "Lots of detail but delivered in such a way to make it easy to understand, the resources and advice given throughout the course was first class."

    Mark
    02.04.2025
  • "The tutor was excellent, and the course was designed so that the information was easy to digest and understand through real-life scenarios. The problem-based learning approach and active participation in classroom discussions and homework exercises helped me pass the exam on my first attempt."

    01.04.2025
  • "The two weeks of comprehensive in-class training, coupled with the gaps between the exams, provided ample time for preparation and reflection on what I learned in the classroom. NG2 was very interesting, and the classroom exercises helped me grasp the theme of assessment, specifically how (RMs) were assessed."

    01.04.2025
  • "The online learning portal was easy and straight forward to use, it was well laid out and had fantastic online resource sections which were great for printing out to have to hand - especially handy for highlighting important points. I had purchased the NEBOSH Managing Health and Safety book to help with my study, but in all honesty, the information in the portal covered all the relevant material anyway. I only needed to phone for assistance on a couple of occasions, but found the guidance helpful and quick."

    Chris
    25.03.2025
  • "Having a secondary role at work as a Health and Safety coordinator means passing the NEBOSH General Certificate is a great indication of the knowledge and understanding I have achieved so far. This is a staple qualification in this field and I now have the confidence to venture into Health and Safety in a more primary role and as a progression of career."

    Chris
    25.03.2025