NEBOSH IGC: Requirements, 2026 Assessment and Cost

The NEBOSH IGC (International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety) is a certificate-level health and safety qualification for managers, supervisors and people starting a safety career, studied in many countries outside the UK. It has no formal entry requirements, it is assessed through a scenario-based open book assessment and a practical risk assessment, and you must study it through an accredited Learning Partner.

The IGC changed in 2026. The units have new names and the second unit is now marked differently, so older guides and forum posts may be out of date. Below are the questions people ask most, answered from NEBOSH’s own pages as checked on 3 November 2026.

The basics

What is the NEBOSH IGC, and who is it for?

NEBOSH describes it as a qualification for managers, supervisors and anyone with health and safety management responsibilities, and for people starting a health and safety career. It covers how to manage workplace health and safety and how to assess risk, and NEBOSH says it is relevant to every type of workplace.

That covers two groups: people moving into dedicated roles such as HSE officer or site safety officer, and operational staff, such as site engineers, facilities supervisors or warehouse managers, who carry safety duties as part of a wider job.

What level is the IGC?

NEBOSH says the IGC is accredited at SCQF Level 6 with 11 credit points, which is comparable to RQF/CQFW Level 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is a certificate-level qualification, below NEBOSH’s diplomas.

What changed in 2026?

NEBOSH announced an update to its General Certificates on 7 January 2026. As of November 2026:

New unit names: IG1 became GIC1 and IG2 became GIC2.
Syllabus: NEBOSH calls the changes minor. Teaching of the revised syllabus began on 2 February 2026, with first assessments from 4 March 2026.
Unit 2 marking: GIC2 moved from met/not met to a points-based system with a 60% pass mark and an automatic mark breakdown.
Submission and results: GIC2 is now submitted on the online NEBOSH Assessment Platform, due 10 working days after GIC1. Both results are released on the same day, 60 working days after GIC1.
Old specification: final assessments on the October 2018 specification (IG1 and IG2) took place in August 2026. Learners who retake after that move to the equivalent GIC unit.

If you see “IG1” and “IG2” in a course advert today, ask the provider which specification it teaches.

NEBOSH IGC requirements

Are there entry requirements?

No formal ones. NEBOSH recommends English at a level equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or higher if you study and are assessed in English. That is worth taking seriously: both units ask you to write clear, reasoned answers about a workplace scenario.

Can I study in Arabic or another language?

NEBOSH lists Arabic, English, French, European Portuguese, Russian, European Spanish and Turkish, with availability depending on the Learning Partner. Ask your provider which languages it offers for both teaching and assessment.

Can I self-study for the IGC?

No. NEBOSH states that it is not possible to self-study for a NEBOSH qualification. You must register with a NEBOSH-accredited Learning Partner. Options include face-to-face, distance learning, in-company training and eLearning, in day or evening classes, block release or modular courses.

How long does it take?

NEBOSH gives a minimum of 63 taught hours plus about 40 hours of private study and background reading. It says fast-track learners can finish in 10 working days. Part-time or evening study takes longer; your Learning Partner will give you its schedule.

The NEBOSH IGC exam and assessment

How is GIC1 assessed?

GIC1 is an open book, scenario-based assessment, followed by a closing interview about your submission. NEBOSH’s update notice describes it as a 24-hour scenario-based assessment. You download the assessment from the digital platform, work on it, then upload your answers within the time slot.

Open book does not mean easy. NEBOSH’s FAQs explain that you may use textbooks and the internet but must reference external sources, and that the scenario-based questions test analysis, evaluation and application, so answers cannot simply be copied. Late submissions are not marked, and you are recorded as absent. Only PDF files are accepted.

What is the closing interview?

NEBOSH says closing interviews check that the submitted work is your own. The interviewer discusses your answers to test your familiarity with them and understanding, and checks your photographic ID. You also sign an Own Work Statement confirming you understand the rules on plagiarism and collusion.

How is GIC2 assessed?

GIC2 is a practical risk assessment and action plan for your own workplace, completed in 3 hours. Since March 2026 it has been marked on points with a 60% pass mark.

Your choice of workplace matters. Pick one you can observe properly, with a realistic range of hazards, and get permission from your employer before you start.

Who marks the work, and when do I get results?

External examiners appointed by NEBOSH mark the assessments. For English assessments, results are due within 60 working days, and under the 2026 arrangements both units’ results come out on the same day.

Is the IGC graded?

NEBOSH uses three grades, Pass, Credit and Distinction. It explains that once you meet the pass criteria for all units, your marks are added together to calculate your grade, and that the bands for each qualification are in its syllabus guide and on the back of your unit result notification. For comparison, under the 2018 specification the grade came from IG1 alone: Distinction at 75% and above, Credit at 65% to 74%, Pass at 45% to 64%. Check the current syllabus guide for the bands that apply to GIC1 and GIC2.

What if I fail a unit?

Speak to your Learning Partner to register for another assessment date. NEBOSH’s FAQs say Enquiries About Results must be made within one month of the results issue date, with payment made before NEBOSH processes them.

NEBOSH IGC cost

How much does the IGC cost?

NEBOSH does not publish a fixed price. Each Learning Partner sets its own fees, and NEBOSH says costs vary by Learning Partner, mode of study and level of support. It advises comparing several providers.

When you compare, ask each provider:

Does the fee include NEBOSH registration and assessment fees for both units?
What does a resit cost, and how many resits are supported?
Which specification do you teach (it should be GIC1/GIC2)?
How much tutor feedback do I get on practice assessments?
Can I be assessed in the language I am taught in?

Check that the provider is a NEBOSH-accredited Learning Partner before you pay.

Is the NEBOSH IGC worth it?

What recognition does it give?

NEBOSH lists these on its IGC page:

IIRSM: holders receive Associate Membership (AIIRSM).
IOSH: holders receive Affiliate Membership (AIOSH). With suitable experience, the IGC also meets the academic requirements for Technical Membership (Tech IOSH). NEBOSH’s page adds a condition: to be eligible for IOSH membership, assessments must have been taken in the UK, unless you registered with NEBOSH before 31 August 2022. If you are assessed in the Gulf or elsewhere, check with IOSH before relying on this route.
Abu Dhabi: NEBOSH says the IGC aligns with Level 4 of the Qudorat OSH Competency Framework for the General Practitioner registration category.

NEBOSH also says its assessments are taken in over 130 countries.

When does it pay off?

It is most useful when the jobs you want list it. Read 15 to 20 adverts for your target role and location and count how many name “NEBOSH IGC” or “NEBOSH or equivalent”. If most do, it is likely to help you get shortlisted; if few do, find out what local employers or regulators ask for instead.

As a Level 3-equivalent certificate, it is a foundation rather than an end point. For senior HSE roles, check whether adverts ask for diploma-level study. NEBOSH offers progression to awards and certificates in specialist areas (construction, process safety, environmental management, incident investigation) and to its diplomas.

How should I show it on my CV?

List the full title, grade if you achieved Credit or Distinction, and the year. Then show what you did with it: “Carried out monthly workplace risk assessments for a 120-person warehouse and closed 40 corrective actions in six months” (illustrative). Build that section in our resume builder, or start from the construction supervisor resume builder if your safety role is on site. Run the finished CV through the ATS resume score checker to see if “NEBOSH IGC” and related keywords are picked up.

FAQ

What is the difference between NEBOSH IGC and NGC?

NEBOSH runs a National General Certificate as well as the International one, and updated both in 2026 at the same time (NGC units are now GNC1 and GNC2). Choose with your Learning Partner based on where you work and what employers ask for.

Can I take the IGC online?

Yes. eLearning and distance learning are options, and both units are submitted on NEBOSH’s online assessment platform.

Is the IGC open book?

Yes. GIC1 is an open book, scenario-based assessment. You can use books and the internet but must reference sources and attend a closing interview.

NEBOSH IGC (International General Certificate): Requirements, Assessment, Cost Factors and Career Value