NEBOSH revised both the National and International General Certificates in Occupational Health and Safety. Teaching under the revised syllabus began on 2 February 2026, first assessments ran from 4 March 2026, and the final assessments under the old October 2018 specification took place on 6 August 2026.
If you are enrolling now, you are on the revised syllabus. There is no longer a choice to make.
The changes are relatively minor, which reflects the qualification’s continued strength. Satisfaction among certificate holders remains high. The most significant adjustments affect how the practical unit is administered and assessed.
What changed
| Area | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unit codes (international) | IG1 / IG2 | GIC1 / GIC2 |
| Unit codes (national) | NG1 / NG2 | GNC1 / GNC2 |
| Unit 2 marking | Pass or Refer | Points-based, with a published mark scheme |
| Results | Released per unit | Both units released together |
| “Incident” | NEBOSH definition | Follows the ISO 45001 definition |
How the assessments work
Both assessments are submitted through the NEBOSH Exam Portal, and you must pass both to achieve the qualification.
GIC1: the open book examination
NEBOSH emails your Exam Portal credentials directly to you three days before your exam date. Use that time to get familiar with the platform rather than meeting it for the first time on the day.
Your paper is available from 11:00am UK time. You have 24 hours to complete and submit it, although it is designed to take around three hours of actual work.
Afterwards you complete a short closing interview, usually about 15 minutes, at a slot you choose. It does not affect your marks. Its only purpose is to verify your identity and confirm that the work was yours.
GIC2: the practical risk assessment
This unit tests whether you can apply what you have learnt in a real workplace. You carry out a risk assessment of your own workplace: identifying a range of hazards, evaluating the risks, and proposing control measures and preventive actions.
The minimum pass mark is 60%. You have 10 working days from your registered assessment date to submit through the NEBOSH platform. NEBOSH suggests allowing around four hours for it, enough to show genuine understanding rather than to rush something through.
Results
Results are issued within 60 working days of your assessment date, sent directly from NEBOSH. Under the revised syllabus both units are released together rather than separately.
Recognition and membership
The revised qualification keeps its SQA Accreditation at SCQF Level 6 (equivalent to RQF and CQFW Level 3). Certificate holders remain eligible for:
- Affiliate Membership (AIOSH) with IOSH, and the qualification continues to meet the academic requirements for Tech IOSH with appropriate experience
- Associate Membership (AIIRSM) with IIRSM
Questions
If you are studying towards your NEBOSH GIC with us, or thinking about enrolling, get in touch and we will talk through how this affects your plan. You may also find our guide to the GIC useful.
Further reading: the NEBOSH resources pages and their announcement of the changes.
Updated in August 2026, now that the transition described here is complete. Originally published in January 2026.