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NEBOSH Environmental Management Courses by Location
The Two Units
GNC1 — Management of Health and Safety
The theory unit. It covers why health and safety matters, how organisations manage it, the legal framework, risk assessment principles, incident investigation, and measuring and reviewing performance.
Assessment is a 24-hour scenario-based open book assessment, submitted through the NEBOSH Assessment Platform. You are given a realistic workplace scenario and answer a set of tasks against it. Open book does not mean easy — the questions test whether you can apply the syllabus to a situation, not whether you can recall it.
GNC2 — Risk Assessment
The practical unit. You carry out a full risk assessment in a real workplace — ideally your own — and produce an action plan with prioritised, justified controls.
It is submitted online through the same platform, and must be uploaded within 10 working days of your GNC1 assessment date. From 2026 it is marked on a points-based scheme with a 60% pass mark, and you receive a mark breakdown showing where the points came from.
What changed in 2026, and does it affect you?
NEBOSH reviewed both General Certificates and confirmed the syllabus itself was largely fit for purpose, so the content changes were minor. The substantive changes were administrative:
- Units renamed — NG1 became GNC1, NG2 became GNC2. The unit titles did not change.
- Unit 2 submission moved onto the NEBOSH Assessment Platform, in line with Unit 1.
- Unit 2 marking moved from a met / not met outcome to points-based marking with a published mark scheme.
- Results for both units are now released together, 60 working days after the GNC1 assessment date.
If your CV or training records refer to NG1 and NG2, they describe the same qualification. There is no need to retake anything, and holders of the older certificate are not disadvantaged.
Studying the General Certificate
Who it is for
Managers and supervisors who need to understand health and safety properly rather than in outline, and anyone moving into health and safety as a career. It is the qualification most commonly named in health and safety job adverts at practitioner entry level.
There are no formal entry requirements, but it is a substantial qualification. Delegates need a reasonable standard of written English, since both units are assessed in writing.
How much work is involved
Considerably more than a short course. Alongside taught time, expect a significant amount of private study, plus the time to plan and write up the GNC2 risk assessment.
The practical unit is where most people underestimate the commitment. Line up a real workplace and a genuine work area before you start — a process, a department or a site you have proper access to.
Classroom, live online or e-learning
Classroom delivery runs as a block or as day release and suits people who want tutor contact and a cohort. Live online instructor-led keeps both but removes the travel.
Self-paced e-learning gives complete flexibility and is the cheapest route, but it demands real self-discipline over the study period. Whichever you choose, the assessments and the certificate are identical.
About NEBOSH
The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health is an independent awarding body founded in 1979. It sets the syllabus and the assessments and approves the Learning Partners who deliver the training, but does not run courses itself.
The General Certificate is accredited and credit rated by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Browse all NEBOSH courses.
Where It Fits
The General Certificate is the middle rung of a fairly clear progression:
- IOSH Managing Safely — three days, for managers who need working knowledge of risk as part of a wider role. Not a health and safety qualification as such.
- NEBOSH General Certificate — the practitioner entry point, and the qualification employers name when recruiting for health and safety roles.
- NEBOSH National Diploma — Level 6, for those pursuing chartered status and senior practitioner roles.
Working in a specific sector? The NEBOSH Construction Certificate and the NEBOSH Fire Certificate apply the same approach to construction and fire risk. For roles based overseas, the International General Certificate covers the same ground against international standards rather than UK law.
Common Questions
Is the NEBOSH General Certificate still called NG1 and NG2?
No. The units were renamed GNC1 and GNC2 in February 2026, with teaching of the revised specification starting on 2 February and first assessments on 4 March. The unit titles, Management of Health and Safety and Risk Assessment, are unchanged, and the old codes still describe the same qualification on existing certificates and CVs.
Does the NEBOSH General Certificate expire?
No. There is no expiry date and no refresher requirement. Some employers ask for evidence of continuing professional development alongside it, particularly for practitioner roles, but the certificate itself remains valid indefinitely.
How long do results take?
Results for both units are issued together, 60 working days from your GNC1 assessment date. The printed certificate follows separately, several weeks after the results notification.
Can I do the practical risk assessment if I am not currently working?
It has to be based on a real workplace, so you need access to one. If you are between roles, speak to the Learning Partner before booking — some can help arrange a suitable workplace, but this needs sorting out at the start rather than at submission.
Is the e-learning version the same qualification?
Yes. Classroom, live online and self-paced e-learning all lead to the same NEBOSH National General Certificate. The assessments are identical and are taken through the NEBOSH Assessment Platform regardless of how you studied.
Is NEBOSH or IOSH better?
They answer different questions. IOSH Managing Safely is a three-day course for managers who need working knowledge of risk as part of their job. The NEBOSH General Certificate is a substantially