Quick Answer
NEBOSH General Certificate overall pass rate: 50-60%. NG1 (open-book since 2024): 60-70%. NG2 (practical): 70-80%. Course duration 10-14 days full-time. Cost ~£300-600 (course + exam). (NEBOSH, 2026).
Data last verified September 2026 from NEBOSH and the General Certificate syllabus.
Eligibility
- No formal prerequisites: Open to all candidates; basic English literacy recommended (NEBOSH, 2026).
Test format
| Unit | Format | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| NG1 (Management of Health & Safety) | Open-book online exam, 2 hours | 45/100 (45%) |
| NG2 (Risk Assessment Practical) | Practical risk assessment report | Pass/Fail |
Source: NEBOSH General Certificate syllabus (2026).
Pass rates
| Unit | Pass rate |
|---|---|
| NG1 (open-book) | 60-70% |
| NG2 (practical) | 70-80% |
| Overall NEBOSH General Certificate | 50-60% |
Source: NEBOSH pass rate statistics (2026).
Sample Q&A (10 questions)
Q1. What is NEBOSH?
The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health — the leading UK health and safety awarding body (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q2. What is the NEBOSH General Certificate?
An entry-level health and safety qualification widely accepted in the UK and internationally (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q3. What is NG1?
Unit NG1 — Management of Health and Safety, the open-book theory unit (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q4. What is NG2?
Unit NG2 — Risk Assessment Practical, a workplace risk assessment report (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q5. How is NG1 graded?
NG1 is graded Pass / Refer; pass mark is 45/100 (~45%) (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q6. How is NG2 graded?
NG2 is graded Pass / Refer; assessors evaluate against NEBOSH's marking criteria (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q7. What is the NEBOSH open-book exam format?
Online exam using approved textbooks — 2 hours, 11 questions (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q8. What textbook is approved for NG1?
NEBOSH-approved textbooks include RRC's NG1 study guide and the ASTUTE exam guide (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q9. What is the NEBOSH Diploma?
The NEBOSH Level 6 Diploma — the gold-standard safety qualification, equivalent to a degree (NEBOSH, 2026).
Q10. How long is NEBOSH General Certificate validity?
The qualification never expires, but NEBOSH recommends refreshers every 5 years (NEBOSH, 2026).
Pass-mark interpretation
NG1: 45/100 pass. NG2: pass/fail against marking criteria. Both units must be passed to receive the certificate (NEBOSH, 2026).
Where to book
Book via an accredited NEBOSH training provider. NG1 taken online; NG2 submitted as a practical report. Fee: ~£150-450 for the course + £150 exam fee (NEBOSH, 2026).
Resources
Use the TutorsBot entrance-exams hub for cross-cluster practice and the NEBOSH General Certificate syllabus for the official content outline. Recommended: RRC, ASTUTE, SHEilds prep courses.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is the UK gold standard for the profession. ACCA and CIMA members typically earn 20-40% above non-qualified peers (ACCA, 2026 pay surveys).
A structured 12-week study plan per paper: weeks 1-2 cover syllabus fundamentals; weeks 3-4 cover technical content; weeks 5-6 cover practice questions; weeks 7-8 cover case studies / practical scenarios; weeks 9-12 cover full mock exams + targeted review. Most candidates study 150-200 hours per paper.
Career progression: junior accountant -> senior accountant -> manager -> senior manager -> director -> partner. CIMA members typically enter management accounting/CFO tracks; ACCA members typically enter audit/tax/financial reporting tracks; CeMAP holders enter mortgage advisory; NEBOSH holders enter health-and-safety management roles.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is the UK gold standard for the profession. ACCA and CIMA members typically earn 20-40% above non-qualified peers (ACCA, 2026 pay surveys). NEBOSH holders command premium rates in health-and-safety management across construction, oil & gas, and manufacturing. CeMAP is the required entry qualification for FCA-authorised mortgage advisors in the UK.
A structured 12-week study plan per paper: weeks 1-2 cover syllabus fundamentals and the official study text; weeks 3-4 cover technical content with worked examples; weeks 5-6 cover practice questions (targeting 1,000+ questions per paper); weeks 7-8 cover case studies / practical scenarios (especially for CIMA OT/MT/ST Case Studies); weeks 9-12 cover full mock exams + targeted review of weak domains. Most candidates study 150-200 hours per paper.
Career progression: junior accountant -> senior accountant -> manager -> senior manager -> director -> partner. CIMA members typically enter management accounting/CFO tracks with median UK salary of £70,000-£120,000; ACCA members enter audit/tax/financial reporting with similar progression; CeMAP holders enter mortgage advisory with OTE of £40,000-£80,000 plus commission; NEBOSH holders enter health-and-safety management with median UK salary of £45,000-£70,000 (NEBOSH, 2026).
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is the UK gold standard for the profession. ACCA and CIMA members typically earn 20-40% above non-qualified peers (ACCA, 2026 pay surveys). NEBOSH holders command premium rates in health-and-safety management across construction, oil & gas, and manufacturing. CeMAP is the required entry qualification for FCA-authorised mortgage advisors in the UK.
A structured 12-week study plan per paper: weeks 1-2 cover syllabus fundamentals and the official study text; weeks 3-4 cover technical content with worked examples; weeks 5-6 cover practice questions (targeting 1,000+ questions per paper); weeks 7-8 cover case studies / practical scenarios (especially for CIMA OT/MT/ST Case Studies); weeks 9-12 cover full mock exams + targeted review of weak domains. Most candidates study 150-200 hours per paper.
Career progression: junior accountant -> senior accountant -> manager -> senior manager -> director -> partner. CIMA members typically enter management accounting/CFO tracks with median UK salary of £70,000-£120,000; ACCA members enter audit/tax/financial reporting with similar progression; CeMAP holders enter mortgage advisory with OTE of £40,000-£80,000 plus commission; NEBOSH holders enter health-and-safety management with median UK salary of £45,000-£70,000 (NEBOSH, 2026).
