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What is NEBOSH?

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is the leading examining body for the UK health and safety industry.

February 2018

This blog was updated in August 2023 

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is the leading examining body for the UK health and safety industry. Their globally-recognised qualifications are designed to teach learners the skills and knowledge to manage health, safety and environmental issues in all places of work. Around 50,000 people take a NEBOSH qualification each year, all around the world.

How Many Types of NEBOSH Qualifications Exist?

NEBOSH qualifications range from basic level health and safety awards, to foundation certificates, specialist certificates and higher level diplomas. That means that there is a NEBOSH course to suit all levels of learners; from front line employees, right through to those just starting off in their career and aspiring health and safety practitioners.

NEBOSH National General Certificate


The NEBOSH National General Certificate (NGC) is the most popular health and safety qualification in the UK. As a level 3 qualification, equivalent to A-levels, it provides a solid foundation for managing health and safety within the modern workplace, as well as offering a clear route to higher-level qualifications. Specialist certificates build on the knowledge gained from the NGC and take a more focused approach in a particular industry, including construction, fire, risk management, oil and gas and the environment.

If you work outside the UK find out more about the NEBOSH International General Certificate.

NEBOSH National Diploma


NEBOSH’s flagship qualification, the NEBOSH Diploma, has quickly become established within the industry as the sign of a competent health and safety practitioner. Equivalent to a bachelor degree, it demonstrates the ability to manage risk at a strategic and operational level.

Find out more about the different types of NEBOSH qualifications in our post 'Which NEBOSH Course is right for you?'

Where is NEBOSH Recognised?

NEBOSH qualifications are recognised all over the world as the gold standard in health and safety training, opening up a world of opportunity for those working in multi-national organisations or hoping to work abroad. Learners from over 125 countries registered for a NEBOSH qualification during 2016/17, highlighting the level of influence NEBOSH qualifications have on raising standards in global health, safety and environmental workplace management. 

NEBOSH qualifications are recognised in all industries. In fact, 92% of HSE job advertisements in 2017 requested some form of NEBOSH qualification and/or IOSH membership as an essential requirement, not only highlighting the importance of health and safety in the modern workplace, but the potential job opportunities available for those who hold a NEBOSH qualification.

Professional Membership

NEBOSH qualifications are recognised by professional bodies as a route to entry. Being a member of a recognised health and safety body will help solidify your skills to potential employers as well as support your professional development with CPD and networking opportunities.

Professional Membership is often a key reason why learners study a NEBOSH Qualifications. Discover the many reasons as to why a NEBOSH qualification might be right for you.

Find out more about the different membership options available to you in our post ‘where can your NEBOSH course take you?’

For more information about our range of NEBOSH courses click below!

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  • "I was very satisfied with the service provided by Astutis. The NEBOSH training was well structured, informative, and supported by high-quality learning materials. The online learning platform was easy to use, and the tutors and support team were helpful and responsive throughout the course. I particularly appreciated the practical approach to the training, which helped me understand how to apply health and safety principles in the workplace. Overall, my experience with Astutis was very positive, and I would recommend their training to other health and safety professionals."

    Jean Claude HABIYAREMYE
    24.09.2026
  • "I found the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Health and Safety Leadership Excellence to be a very valuable and practical course. It helped me understand how effective leadership can influence safety culture, employee engagement, and overall health and safety performance. I particularly appreciated the focus on leadership behaviours, communication, influencing people, and creating a positive safety culture rather than simply focusing on rules and compliance. The course also helped me reflect on my own leadership approach and identify areas where I can improve. Overall, the course was well structured, engaging, and highly relevant to my role and professional development. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to strengthen their health and safety leadership skills and make a positive impact in the workplace."

    Jean Claude HABIYAREMYE
    24.09.2026
  • "Service was good , on the odd occasion I needed support was able to use the chat service or email service team and issues very quickly resolved. Also easy to place order using SAP process order number via my company purchasing system."

    Mark
    09.09.2026
  • "The course was very well presented , the learning portal very intuitive and material thorough and relevant to the syllabus. As I studied self led via distance learning this was important to me. The progress tools enabled me to stay on track with my target assessment dates and booking of the module assessments themselves was very straightforward and efficient. As such I'd recommend Astutis to others having completed both general certificate and diploma with them. Thanks Astutis!"

    Mark
    09.09.2026
  • "The team were always punctual in response when needed."

    Martin
    09.09.2026
  • "The Course was well structured and materials were easy to access. I'm old scholl and previously opnly attended classroom courses, however I found the structure of the online portal was easy to seperate into "bite-size" chunks to achieve the balance between working and learning simultaeneously."

    Martin
    09.09.2026
  • "Astutis were recommended to me by a health and safety manager so booked NEBOSH general certificate with them, and they are a really good training provider. The course materials are well laid out and there is plenty of help and support. Really can't fault them."

    Peter
    25.08.2026
  • "The NEBOSH general certificate is a difficult course and the hours have to be put in to pass. There is no short cut. The course materials from Astutis are really good and as well as that there are videos available that help you to prepare, my advice, listen to the course and watch the videos over and over until it is engrained into you."

    Peter
    25.08.2026
  • "Excellent service and a great learning experience. The course content was clear and well-structured, and the support provided throughout the learning journey was very helpful. I would highly recommend Astutis."

    Ghadeer
    13.08.2026
  • "The course was well-structured, informative, and easy to follow. I found the content very useful and relevant to my professional development."

    Ghadeer
    13.08.2026