Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we receive. If the question you have is not answered here, please get in touch by clicking on Contact Us.
All Learning Partners must meet the minimum requirements in order to achieve and maintain accreditation with us.
We cannot make a recommendation to you and nor do we disclose examination pass rates for individual Learning Partners.
Learning Partners differ in their teaching formats, the amount of support they provide, venue type and location and hence cost. We recommend that you contact a number of partners to discuss their services so you can make a choice of which best suits you.
Details of our Learning Partners are available by looking at the Where to Study section of the website.
Related questions
How do I choose a Learning Partner?
What modes of study are available?
In the UK:
- IOSH the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
- APS the Association for Project Safety
- IFPO the Institute of Fire Prevention Officers
- IIRSM the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management
For details of qualifications accepted by each professional body please contact them directly or view the FAQ "How do I acquire professional status with a membership body?".
As a starting point, we would suggest the NEBOSH Award in Health and Safety at Work. It sits in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at SCQF Level 5 with 3 SCQF credit points. SCQF Level 5 is comparable to NQF/QCF Level 2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland or GCSE level.
This 3-day course covers the basic health and safety principles and practices essential in the workplace. These include:
- Understanding risk assessments and control strategies;
- Applying these control strategies to a number of common workplace hazards, including fire, electrical, transport and manual handling.
Further information can be found on our Qualifications Page.
Once this has been achieved post-16 learners may consider progressing to our Certificate-level qualifications such as the National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
NEBOSH qualifications are primarily intended for adult (post-19) learners operating in the workplace and have not been designed to meet national technical, funding and other criteria for vocational qualifications that can be offered to 14-19 learners in UK schools.
For further information on the restrictions on qualifications that can be offered in schools in the UK, please consult other FAQs in this section regarding learners aged 14-19.
NB: It is the responsibility of maintained schools and academies to check the suitability and eligibility of qualifications offered on school premises or during school time or school-funded activities with the relevant local authority and/or national education department (England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland).
No liability is accepted by NEBOSH for information provided by external websites or for any decisions made on the basis of information given here.
Established in 1995, the Association for Project Safety (APS) is a multi-disciplinary membership body for professionals who operate in, or have an interest in, Health and Safety Risk Management in the Construction Industry. Amongst APS members are the country’s leading surveying, health and safety, architectural, project management and engineering professionals. Many of the country’s leading practices are also APS Corporate Members. Together the membership of the Association is committed to shaping and sharing best practice in construction health and safety risk management.
Further information can be found on the APS website.
The Institute of Fire Prevention Officers (IFPO) is a fire safety professional membership body. The IFPO’s aims and objectives include:
- To promote the advancement of fire safety education generally
- To maintain high professional standards amongst members
- To direct anyone with a need for fire safety information to those members with the skills and knowledge to satisfy that need
- To encourage appraisal, evaluation, research and study in the field of fire safety
- To represent the interests of members on bodies and committees dealing with statutory controls, regulations, standards and codes of practice
- To promote international liaison amongst fire safety professionals
- To maintain an approved Competency Council Register of Fire Risk Assessors
Further information can be found on the IFPO website.
The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) is an educational charity and professional body for those managing risk. It offers practical education, training, advice, networking and resources to help people and organisations be resilient to manage the challenges they face.
As an independent charity, IIRSM speaks freely, helping businesses, public organisations, charities and policymakers appreciate the vital role that sustainable and targeted risk management plays – from saving money to saving lives.
Further information can be found on the IIRSM website.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the chartered professional membership body for health and safety professionals.
IOSH was founded in 1945 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards, supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and guidance on health and safety issues.
Further information can be found on the IOSH website.
NEBOSH qualifications can support you in your application for IOSH membership. The membership category you are eligible for will depend on your experience and qualifications. For current guidance on membership categories and entry requirements please visit the IOSH website. Where applicable, this information will also be listed on the "Professional recognition" section of the individual qualification page: view all NEBOSH qualifications.
Unit Certificates and Qualification Parchments are awarded by NEBOSH to the person named on the certificate to denote their successful completion of the assessment and not to the organisation or individual(s) that funded the learners course of study.
Certificates also contain personal details protected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and are therefore the property of the learner.
Related questions
For Award level and Certificate level qualifications; learners will receive one parchment on completion of the full qualification. These are sent to the Learning Partner for distribution to learners.
For Diploma learners based outside of the UK; Unit Certificates and Qualification Parchments are sent to the Learning Partner for distribution to learners
For Diploma learners based in the UK; Unit Certificates and Qualification Parchments are sent directly to the learner’s address.
Related questions
In designing qualifications we are bound by statutory regulation.
This means that we have to specify to the regulatory authorities in our application to accredit a qualification with them, the time period over which units can be linked together to form qualifications.
The regulatory authorities do not set hard and fast rules regarding the time period in which a unit can be combined with other units and count towards a qualification; however, NEBOSH has to demonstrate to them that the time period is valid. In the case of health and safety law, which does change over time, 5 years was accepted by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
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Why is my National/International Diploma mark capped at 45% when used as an exemption?