Online, Virtual and Classroom Courses
Fully Certified NEBOSH, IOSH, ISEP Accredited
7-Day Customer Service
Dafydd Jenkins MSc, BSc (Hons), FdSc, GradIOSH, SIIRSM

Astutis Introduces: NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety New Online Course

Discover everything you need to know about the online course and why you should consider online learning over a classroom course!

October 2019

Taking the NEBOSH General Certificate Online format is one of the most convenient ways to get your entry qualification into health and safety. You can work from anywhere, from any device with the online course meaning you can complete the Certificate in your own time, at your own pace.

What’s the difference between the NEBOSH General Certificate Online and Classroom courses?

In theory, very little. Whether learning online or in the classroom environment those who pass the assessment will ultimately receive the same NEBOSH General Certificate qualification.

The only real difference is the route taken to reach that point. Classroom learning requires you to be present and attend a venue at specific times. By contrast, e-learning allows for greater flexibility, which means you can learn from the comfort of your own home, on a train or anywhere.

This means you can take the course around your existing responsibilities including family life, work commitments or even other courses! It means less disruption and it is often a more cost effective way of learning.

Why pick the online e-learning course?

Home learning is becoming a hugely popular way to study. In fact, since the year 2000 e-learning has grown by 900% which is reflected in the growth in students choosing to take the NEBOSH Certificate online. This is largely down to the flexibility it brings.

Companies can be reluctant to grant extended time out of the business for employees to work towards qualifications. E-learning provides the option of studying in your spare time, meaning everyday productivity will remain high.

There is also no real urgency to pass the course quickly. Students have 12 months to complete all modules and the assessment itself which actually only requires a recommended 113 hours of study. With online learning, this time can be broken down in a way that works best for you. Just over 2 hours a week over a year will bring you up to that total for example.

The course material is bright, engaging and interactive – helping those with limited prior experience in health and safety to gain insight and context. Research shows that e-learning increases retention rates by 25 – 60%! Similarly, those with a background in the sector are free to focus only on modules in which they are less experienced, as opposed to following a set structure laid out by a tutor in a classroom.

Research conducted by Astutis found no real difference in the rate of first time passers between classroom and online learners, proving there is no disadvantage to studying in your own time.

There is little in the way of entry requirements for the NEBOSH General Certificate online. You don’t need any special software or a state-of-the-art computer. All you need to access your training materials is a laptop, PC, tablet or smartphone.

NEBOSH General Certificate online taster

If you want to get a feel for the materials for the online NEBOSH General Certificate, a short trial version of the course is available. It is identical to the real thing and you can make sure that you get the training you’re expecting before committing. Access your online course preview here!

What is the NEBOSH General Certificate Online like?

  • The e-learning platform is a modern, interactive and engaging experience that is designed by in-house learning designers and multimedia developers. Everything you need to pass is in this course. It will teach you what you need to know and prepare you to complete activities that test your knowledge and reinforce your learning.
  • A thriving online community and active tutor will be available to you and you'll have continual access to your tutor via email and over the phone if needed. The forum meanwhile, provides an excellent way to communicate with other learners to share study techniques.
  • Exam guidance and help using a step-by-step guide to prepare you for the exam and practical. It builds your knowledge on all the topics with activities, short answer questions and practice exam questions with feedback at every stage. You also have practice exams (that are marked) using past papers, webinars and revision guides!

Is the e-learning NEBOSH Certificate the same value as the classroom?

The NEBOSH Certificate is awarded no matter what method you choose to study, there is no difference between a qualification earned by studying online or in the classroom. Everyone has different demands from their employer and it won’t affect your qualification if your circumstances require you to study the e-learning version of the NEBOSH Certificate.

Astutis are proud to offer the NEBOSH General Certificate in a myriad of learning formats to help maximise the potential of each and every learner. Take a look at all of our formats on the NEBOSH General Certificate page.

Related Blogs

  • 151 Dead in Hong Kong Blaze | The Fire Safety Failures Behind the Tragedy Image
    Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

    151 Dead in Hong Kong Blaze | The Fire Safety Failures Behind the Tragedy

    Discover what caused the Wang Fuk Court fire and the critical fire safety lessons for construction and renovation projects from this devastating tragedy.
    02.12.25
  • How to Approach Employee Wellbeing as an OSH Professional | An Ultimate Guide Image
    Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

    How to Approach Employee Wellbeing as an OSH Professional | An Ultimate Guide

    Discover how to approach employee wellbeing using the HSE's Management Standards framework, with practical steps for occupational safety professionals.
    01.12.25
  • A Guide on Martyn’s Law for the OSH Professional | What You Need to Know Image
    Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

    A Guide on Martyn’s Law for the OSH Professional | What You Need to Know

    Discover how Martyn's Law impacts health and safety professionals. Learn the two-tier system, compliance steps, and implementation timeline.
    26.11.25
  • The 5 Biggest Stories from COP30 You Need to Know Image
    Oliver Newman AISEP, BA (Hons)

    The 5 Biggest Stories from COP30 You Need to Know

    Discover the key outcomes from COP30 2025, from $1.3 trillion climate finance to fossil fuel disputes and 800,000 UK green jobs by 2030 for businesses.
    26.11.25
  • UK Health & Safety Statistics 2025 Analysis | Actions for Businesses Image
    Brenig Moore DipNEBOSH, CMIOSH, CEnvH

    UK Health & Safety Statistics 2025 Analysis | Actions for Businesses

    Explore the latest UK workplace health and safety statistics for 2025. Expert analysis reveals trends and practical prevention strategies.
    25.11.25
  • 160 World Leaders Missed COP 30, But UK Businesses Can't Afford To Image
    Kathryn Jenkins PISEP, MSc, BSc (Hons), LLB (Hons)

    160 World Leaders Missed COP 30, But UK Businesses Can't Afford To

    Discover how COP 30 impacts UK businesses through net zero laws, compliance requirements, and 800,000 green jobs coming by 2030. Essential guide.
    21.11.25
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
  • "Excellent support received from all team. Thank you very much"

    Umer
    26.11.2025
  • "Great learning experience"

    Umer
    26.11.2025
  • "Great resources for the course, great communication from Astutis regarding resits etc. I enjoyed the webinars."

    19.11.2025
  • "The course was fantastic - the course content along with the resources and webinars provided by Astutis gave me really great support throughout."

    19.11.2025
  • "Very well delivered course. The trainer was very knowledgeable and created a very relaxed but informative training session. The course handouts were of very good quality."

    Richard
    18.11.2025
  • "The course delivered exactly what it was supposed to. The trainer was very approachable and created a relaxed and informative learning environment."

    Richard
    18.11.2025
  • "trainer was very knowledgable answered questions with ease"

    Gary
    18.11.2025
  • "i was very impressed with instructors knowledge."

    Gary
    18.11.2025
  • "Great on line platform - easy to understand and good pace. The end test - you really had to think about - it’s tested knowledge - great option for learning CDM"

    Neil
    12.11.2025
  • "Great on line platform and great pace for learning"

    Neil
    12.11.2025