NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk

The NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk was developed with the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management, and it deliberately looks wider than occupational health and safety. It is about identifying, evaluating and managing organisational risk of any kind, and it is studied entirely online.

Structure1 unitAssessed by onscreen multiple-choice examination

Study time~29 hoursMinimum 28 hours e-learning, plus 1 hour for the assessment

Enrolment90 daysFrom receipt of your joining instructions

ResultsImmediateOn-demand assessment, certificate printable straight away

Who it is for

This qualification suits you if

You manage risk across an organisation rather than within one specialism
You work in health and safety, quality or business continuity and want the wider view
You are asked about risk management maturity in tenders and pre-qualification questionnaires
You want a recognised risk qualification you can complete around a full-time job

Before you commit

There are no formal entry requirements, but the course is only available in English
NEBOSH recommends a standard of English equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or higher
It is available by e-learning only, so there is no classroom or live online route
The 90-day enrolment period includes the assessment, not just the study
It is not accredited by a UK regulator, though it is broadly comparable to RQF Level 3

What it covers

The syllabus covers risk as a discipline in its own right, including the parts that occupational health and safety training tends to leave out.

The principles of risk and risk management, and the process and framework based on ISO 31000
Identifying and evaluating risks, and understanding their impacts for an organisation
The relationship between psychology and decision making, and why people misjudge risk
Analysing the environment an organisation operates in, and identifying the risks and opportunities in it
Treating opportunity as part of the picture rather than only downside
How risk management, business continuity, crisis management and organisational resilience fit together

Assessment and certification

Your knowledge and understanding of the syllabus are tested by an onscreen multiple-choice examination, with one hour allowed. The assessment is available on demand, so once you have worked through the e-learning you can take it whenever you are ready, and the result is returned immediately. Pass and you can print your certificate straight away. The e-learning fee normally includes the course, up to two attempts at the assessment and your certificate. Holders are eligible for Associate membership of IIRSM and entitled to 25% off the first year's subscription. The qualification is not accredited by a UK regulator, but is broadly comparable to SCQF Level 6, comparable to RQF Level 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Risk, not just safety

Almost everything else in the NEBOSH range sits inside occupational health and safety. This one does not, and that is why it exists. If your risk register runs wider than injuries, taking in supply chain, reputation, continuity and the rest, this is the qualification in the range that speaks to it. Safety professionals moving into broader risk roles are the people who tend to get the most from it.

How it works

E-learning only

There is no classroom route for this qualification. You study online through a licensed Learning Partner, at your own pace.

90-day window

Access runs for 90 days from your joining instructions, and the assessment has to be completed inside that period.

Assessment on demand

No fixed sittings. Finish the course, sit the one-hour assessment when it suits you, and get the result immediately.

Common questions

Can I study this in a classroom?

No. The NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk is offered by e-learning only, through Learning Partners licensed by NEBOSH to deliver it. If you want a tutor-led risk qualification, the NEBOSH HSE Award in Managing Risks and Risk Assessment at Work is a one-day classroom or live online option, though it is narrower and sits inside health and safety.

How long does it take?

NEBOSH sets a minimum of 28 hours for the e-learning and a further hour for the assessment. You have 90 days from receipt of your joining instructions to complete both, and the assessment has to fall inside that window.

How is it assessed?

A one-hour onscreen multiple-choice examination, taken on demand once you have finished the e-learning. The result is returned immediately and the certificate can be printed straight away. The course fee normally covers up to two attempts.

Is this a health and safety qualification?

Not exactly. It was developed with IIRSM and covers risk management across an organisation, including business continuity and resilience. If what you need is occupational health and safety specifically, the NEBOSH General Certificate or IOSH Managing Safely are the qualifications employers name.

Compare IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk courses below

Envico lists NEBOSH IIRSM Certificate in Managing Risk e-learning courses from licensed Learning Partners. Also worth comparing: the HSE Award in Managing Risks for workplace risk assessment, or the full NEBOSH range.