Is NEBOSH a Good Qualification for your Health & Safety Career?
The NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is a highly-respected and sought-after qualification that is nationally recognised as the ‘go-to’ professional workplace health and safety certification – and it’s highly beneficial for both employees and businesses. While NEBOSH might be relevant to almost any sector, it’s particularly important to health and safety in the construction, manufacturing and facilities management industries.
As a gold learning partner, Kentec Training offers a fully bespoke learning experience from some of the health & safety industries’ leaders, ensuring delegates from across all industries are well-versed in health and safety management upon completion of their course. Outcomes mean certified professionals have the skills needed to reduce risk, enforce compliance and raise workplace standards.
We’ve explained here the reasons why NEBOSH is the ideal health & safety qualification to hold, who the course is for, and how it compares with alternative certifications.
What Is a NEBOSH Qualification?
NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is the awarding body, and gold training providers like Kentec Training offer tuition, assessments, and examinations, with formal certification awarded upon successful completion.
We’re focusing today on the National General Certificate, a course that teaches workplace safety principles, relevant health and safety legislation, and how professionals can manage risk effectively.
Part of the reason NEBOSH qualifications are regarded as important is that course content extends past simply teaching awareness, and incorporates:
- How to apply health and safety in real-world scenarios
- Understanding and meeting legal responsibilities
- Managing risks in hazardous environments
- Directly influencing the safety culture in an organisation
In many cases, NEBOSH acts as a stepping stone for those looking to take on dedicated health and safety roles or tasks with managing teams or projects in high-risk settings.
Why Is NEBOSH Considered a Good Qualification?
There are several contributing factors behind the reputation of NEBOSH as an in-demand qualification, including the following:
- Strong Industry Recognition: NEBOSH certifications are recognised by employers and businesses nationwide and further afield. Most jobs in health and safety either require or prefer applicants with NEBOSH certification.
- In-Depth Knowledge: In contrast with shorter or introductory courses, NEBOSH covers legislation, risk assessment, hazards and controls, and investigating incidents in detail, ensuring delegates also know how to apply that knowledge in practical situations.
- Career Progression: NEBOSH is often mandatory for health and safety adviser, officer or site safety manager positions and can lead to professional development routes like higher-level qualifications.
- Transferable Skills: NEBOSH qualifications aren’t sector-specific, which means they have a broad range of applications in construction, manufacturing, warehousing and the public sector, to name but a few.
NEBOSH vs IOSH: Which Is Better?
It is common for delegates to compare NEBOSH courses and those from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), so here is how they differ, looking specifically at the IOSH Managing Safely course.
NEBOSH is a more in-depth qualification, teaching a comprehensive understanding of the legal, practical and technical aspects of managing workplace hazards. Our NEBOSH course runs over 12 days across three weeks, and is intended for health and safety professionals and advisors. The standard cost per delegate is £1,525 + VAT.
IOSH Managing Safely is focused on health and safety awareness and management, making it better suited to supervisors, line managers and team leaders rather than dedicated safety professionals or advisors. It runs over three days at a standard cost of £495 + VAT.
IOSH Managing Safely is better suited for managers who need a good understanding of how to manage teams safely and ensure adherence to an organisation’s health & safety policies. In contrast, NEBOSH is more appropriate for those who perform specialised advisory and leadership roles, such as personnel who’re tasked with writing an organisation's health & safety policies - rather than directly enforcing them.
Who Should Take a NEBOSH Course?
NEBOSH is a good option for delegates who are working towards a long-term career in the field or accepting greater responsibility for organisational safety, with a range of attendees, including:
- Managers responsible for overall health and safety
- Supervisors wanting to progress into safety-focused roles
- Professionals working towards a health and safety career
- Delegates within higher-risk safety-conscious industries
While there aren’t any specific prerequisites or qualifications that NEBOSH course attendees need to be eligible, the course is far more detailed than entry-level certifications, so a good understanding of workplace safety is beneficial.
Is NEBOSH Worth It?
For most delegates and companies, NEBOSH is an excellent investment. For employees, it means they hold a recognised qualification, have improved ongoing career opportunities and can demonstrate their knowledge of workplace safety and compliance.
Employers benefit from improved risk management protocols, reduced incidents and near misses, enhanced compliance with UK regulations, and the assurance of effective safety leadership within their teams.
Is the NEBOSH National General Certificate Hard to Pass?
Not necessarily, although that might depend on your existing knowledge. It’s certainly more advanced and detailed than basic health & safety courses, but it is accessible with the right tuition, study, and engagement with the course leader and materials. Our entire team here at Kentec Training ensures that you are supported throughout your time with us and beyond. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to get in touch with our support team on 0333 666 0555 - we’re happy to help.
Why Is a NEBOSH Qualification Better Than IOSH?
Neither certificate is necessarily better than the other, but the NEBOSH General Certificate is arguably the ‘step up’ from IOSH Managing Safely qualification, with NEBOSH being better suited to health and safety professionals and advisory roles. Whereas the IOSH Managing Safely course is designed to teach the awareness and management of generalised workplace safety to management / team leader personnel.
What Comes Next After NEBOSH?
Delegates who have completed a NEBOSH qualification may determine that they have sufficient knowledge to carry out their duties. However, there are options to transition into dedicated health and safety roles, apply for membership of professional bodies, or progress to higher-level qualifications such as the NEBOSH Diploma. For further reading, please visit our blog post: You’ve passed your NEBOSH General Certificate, What's Next? | Kentec Training
Related Guides and Resources
National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)
