What is NEBOSH?

What is NEBOSH?

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) is an awarding body with charitable status. They offer a wide range of qualifications designed to train people in the health, safety and environmental management needs of all workplaces, across a number of different industries.

Formed in 1979, NEBOSH is now a major force in the world of workplace training and qualifications, attracting around 50,000 candidates each year.  This popularity is apparent throughout the world, with exams taken in over 120 countries.

According to the NEBOSH website, the company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, the highest accolade for trade success, back in 2014, to celebrate NEBOSH’s “outstanding achievement in international trade”.

NEBOSH qualifications

The variety of courses offered by NEBOSH is vast, with options covering a broad spectrum of industries. The qualifications offered by NEBOSH are provided by over 600 course providers around the world, all of which are recognised by the necessary professional membership bodies – such as the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) or the Institution of Occupational Safety (IOSH).

All of the NEBOSH qualifications are globally recognised, making them a great asset to anyone who potentially sees themselves working overseas in the future.

Typically, NEBOSH qualifications come in different levels, with three main categories. These are:

NEBOSH Awards –  The range of NEBOSH Award-level qualifications are designed to give candidates a basic understanding of health and safety principles and practice. This means that they can be a great introduction to other higher NEBOSH qualifications, or for those who only require an entry-level education into a certain topic or area.

NEBOSH Certificates –  NEBOSH Certificate-level qualifications are a more indepth overview than the Awards. These Certificates are intended to provide people with “an excellent foundation in health and safety for managers, supervisors and people starting out on a career in health and safety” – meaning that they can give you a great amount of practical knowledge for you to apply in your day-to-day roles.

NEBOSH Diplomas –  According to the NEBOSH website, NEBOSH Diplomas are professional qualifications for health, safety and environmental practitioners.

Within these different levels there are a variety of course lengths, depending on the type of qualification, as well as the course provider you choose to study with. NEBOSH suggest that Certificate courses “can take from two weeks for a “block release” course to three months for a “day release” course. Diploma courses can take between nine and thirty six months to complete, depending on the course providers timetable and the pace at which you wish to proceed in your studies.”

NEBOSH certificates

NEBOSH qualifications will give successful candidates a certificate as proof of their successful completion of the course. These certificates are valuable documents, as employers or academic institutions may ask to see them as proof that you hold the award or have completed certain training. This is why it’s important to keep them safe.

If you do happen to lose your certificate then there are still ways NEBOSH can help if an employer is requesting to see your documents. However, due to the Data Protection Act there are some rules and regulations that must be met in order for this to happen. Visit the NEBOSH website for more information if you’ve misplaced your certificate.

NEBOSH examinations

Dependent on the level of qualification you choose, and the centre in which you do it, NEBOSH exams can either be at set times or at times decided by the course provider. According to NEBOSH, the exams and assessments used by the board are set by qualified staff and external examiners, so that you know you’re in good hands.

NEBOSH qualifications do not expire, meaning that once they have been successfully completed you won’t have to retake them in order to maintain your certification. However, it’s always advisable to stay on top of your training requirements to make sure that your skills don’t fall behind. Certain fields, including health and safety, can change over time, with things like new legislation and professional requirements meaning that it’s a good idea to make sure that your training is always up to date. NEBOSH qualifications are regularly reviewed to make sure that the syllabuses are relevant to current industry standards.

Once you have completed your NEBOSH training programme, the exam scripts are sent back to the NEBOSH offices in order for them to be standardised, marked and thoroughly checked over. This helps to make sure that the results process is accurate and consistent across all courses and disciplines. It can take up to three months from the date of your exam until the time your results are made available.

NEBOSH training centres

NEBOSH qualifications are provided through a selection of accredited training centres based around the world – 600 course providers across the globe. All of the NEBOSH course providers are checked to make sure that they meet requirements necessary in order to keep providing NEBOSH courses, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.

Although the qualification remains the same, different course providers and training centres can differ in the way they deliver the course. This can also mean differences in the type of venue, the location, the amount of support provided by the teaching staff and also the cost. It’s a good idea to do some research into different training providers before you commit to starting a course, so that you know you’ve chosen a programme and format that works for you.

Technical stuff

NEBOSH maintain a number of technical standards in order to ensure that their qualifications are relevant, and continue to hold weight in the working world. Here are some technical outlines from the NEBOSH website:

  • Technical standards are overseen by a Qualification and Technical Council, with representatives drawn from national institutions.
  • NEBOSH is an awarding body approved by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Accreditation, which has a UK-wide regulatory remit.
  • In addition, NEBOSH maintains Investors in People (IIP) status and is also an ISO 9001:2008 registered organisation.

NEBOSH courses from SAMS

SAMS are one of the many NEBOSH accredited training centres designed to help educate people in a variety of useful workplace qualifications. Take a look at our extensive range of qualifications, including things like NEBOSH Level 3 General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety. Or, give us a call to discuss your specific needs.