The NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) is one of the most recognised health and safety qualifications worldwide, and it is assessed in two very different ways: an open-book examination and a practical risk assessment. There is also a syllabus change under way for 2026 that is worth knowing before you enrol. Here is how each part works and how to pass.

What the IGC is, and who it is for

NEBOSH describes the IGC as "ideal for managers, supervisors and anybody with health and safety management responsibilities", and "also perfect for those embarking on a health and safety career". There are "no entry requirements for this qualification", though NEBOSH notes learners should have "a suitable standard of English language". Expect "a minimum of 63 taught hours and approximately 40 hours of private study".

The two assessments

The qualification is built from two units, assessed independently.

  • Unit 1, the open-book examination. NEBOSH describes it as "an open book examination to assess what you know", which is "scenario based and will include a closing interview". It is a digital open-book format: NEBOSH says it "allows learners to sit their NEBOSH assessment in their own home or another safe and suitable location", with "24 hours to access, complete and submit" the assessment. Open book does not mean easy: it rewards applying knowledge to the scenario, not copying definitions.
  • Unit 2, the practical risk assessment. Here you "complete a risk assessment and develop an action plan" for a real workplace. This is the "what you can do" unit, submitted digitally by a deadline.

Grades are reported as Pass, Credit or Distinction (note NEBOSH uses Credit, not Merit). On the current specification, the overall grade is banded, with Distinction at "75 marks or more", Credit at "65 to 74 marks", and Pass at "45 to 64 marks".

The 2026 syllabus change

If you are planning ahead, note this. NEBOSH is moving to a 2025 specification, with unit codes renamed (IG1 becomes GIC1, IG2 becomes GIC2). NEBOSH states that "teaching of the revised syllabus will begin on 2 February 2026, with the first assessments taking place from 4 March 2026", and that the "final assessments against the current syllabus" run to a stated closing date. Under the new specification, Unit 2 moves to a points-based marking system with "the pass mark will be 60%". Before you enrol, check with your training provider which specification you will be assessed against, since that determines your syllabus and materials.

How to pass each part

  • For the open-book exam, practise applying knowledge to scenarios. The format tempts people to plan on looking everything up, but the 24-hour window and scenario style reward candidates who know the material and can apply it quickly. Prepare as if it were closed book, and use the openness only to confirm.
  • For the practical, do a real risk assessment. The practical is not a theory test. Walk a genuine workplace, identify hazards, evaluate risks and write a usable action plan. Practising on a real environment beats rehearsing templates.
  • Respect the closing interview. Unit 1 includes a closing interview, so be ready to stand behind your own answers.

Practise under real conditions

The open-book unit is still a timed, scenario-based assessment, and the candidates who do well have rehearsed answering under realistic conditions rather than relying on the book. Full, timed practice that scores you by topic shows where your understanding is thin so your study targets it. CandidatesPrep's simulator runs timed, scored practice, and training providers preparing NEBOSH cohorts can track readiness across a whole group.

The bottom line

The NEBOSH IGC combines an open-book, scenario-based exam with a hands-on practical risk assessment, and is graded Pass, Credit or Distinction. Prepare for the exam as if it were closed book, do a genuine risk assessment for the practical, and if you are enrolling around 2026, confirm with your provider whether you sit the current or the new specification.

Preparing for the NEBOSH IGC, or training a safety cohort? Practise under timed conditions, or book a demo to see how training providers track readiness on CandidatesPrep.