FAQs

The “Qualifications can cross Boundaries” leaflet is published by the regulators in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The document itself states under ‘how to use this leaflet’: “This makes it possible to draw broad comparisons, rather than direct equivalences, between qualifications and their levels for each country.”  It is a useful guide for comparing standards and difficulty of qualifications across frameworks but it is not intended to not make definitive statements about direct equivalence or specific exemptions.

While it provides a comparison for levels, the “Qualifications can cross boundaries” chart does not compare credit values, i.e. the length or size of the qualification, the amount of time that it would take a typical learner to complete the qualification or learning programme. This varies between qualification types and between specific qualifications.

The leaflet also states: “Entry requirements for jobs and courses often vary within a country. This means you will need to check the specific requirements with the employer or institution for the job or course that you are interested in”. It is ultimately the decision of the receiving organisation involved as to deciding whether or not to accept a particular qualification for exemption and the equivalent credit value they assign to an exemption for a specific programme.

Further information can be found in the leaflet itself which is available here:

SCQF - Understanding Qualifications

Related questions

What level are NEBOSH Award Qualifications?

What level are NEBOSH Certificate qualifications?

What level are NEBOSH Diploma qualifications?

If you are unable to locate a NEBOSH Learning Partner in a location near to you, we do have Learning Partners that are able to deliver our qualifications by Open and Distance and E-learning. These Learning Partners can be found by searching in the Where to Study section of our website.

You will need to select your preferred country and the qualification you are interested in and then check the "Open and Distance Learning" and/or "E-Learning" box.

We always recommend comparing or contacting more than one Learning Partner before registering to make sure you are happy with the delivery methods used and costs before registering. More information on selecting a NEBOSH Learning Partner to study with is available in the guidance section of the NEBOSH website: Choosing a NEBOSH Learning Partner. 

If you feel that you have been disadvantaged during your assessment you may be able to apply for Special Considerations.

Special consideration can be applied for learners who are present for the assessment but may have been disadvantaged by temporary illness, bereavement, injury or adverse circumstances that arose at or near the time of assessment.

If you would like to apply for any of the above arrangements please contact your Learning Partner directly to discuss your requirements. Your Learning Partner will then complete your application on your behalf within seven working days of the assessment date.

For more information please see the Policy and procedures for access arrangements, reasonable adjustments and special consideration.

NEBOSH does have a procedure in place for when a learners assessment performance has been affected by something outside of their control. In such cases learners may apply for special considerations through their Learning Partner.

You will not be eligible for special consideration if:

Preparation for the assessment is affected by difficulties during the programme of study (including revision), on the part of either:

• the learner (e.g. due to illness, work/domestic problems, etc.), or
• the Learning Partner (e.g. due to lack of proper facilities, changes in or shortages of staff, industrial disputes, etc.).

Where the circumstances prior to the assessment are of a temporary nature and are such that an effect on performance is reasonably foreseeable, the learner is advised to postpone the assessment until a later date.

Learners may be eligible for special consideration because of:

• temporary personal illness or accident/ injury at the time of the assessment
• bereavement at the time of the assessment; or bereavement occurring before the time of the assessment, where an anniversary has been reached at the time of the assessment or there are ongoing implications such as inquests or court cases
• serious disturbance during the assessment
• alternative assessment arrangements that were agreed in advance of the assessment that proved inappropriate or inadequate.

All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

For more information please see the Policy and procedures for access arrangements, reasonable adjustments and special consideration.

Holders of the following qualifications may use the specified designatory letters after their name:

• NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals (July 2020) 

           “DipNEBOSH” 

• NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (August 2004, September 2006, February 2010, November 2015 specifications)

“DipNEBOSH” 

• NEBOSH National Diploma Part 2 in Occupational Safety and Health (September 1997, September 1999, June 2000, February 2003 specifications)

"Dip2.OSH" or “DipNEBOSH”

• NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (May 1988 specification)

"Dip2.OSH" or “DipNEBOSH”

• NEBOSH International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals (July 2020)

  "IDipNEBOSH” 

• NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (July 2008, August 2011 and November 2015 specifications)

 “IDipNEBOSH” 

• NEBOSH National Diploma in Environmental Management (March 2008, September 2010 and September 2016 specifications)

“EnvDipNEBOSH” 

• NEBOSH Specialist Diploma in Environmental Management (December 1992, January 2002, August 2003 specifications)

"SpDipEM" or "EnvDipNEBOSH”

• International Diploma in Environmental Management (September 2016 specification)

 "IEnvDipNEBOSH"

Further designatory letters may be available for use upon obtaining membership of a membership body.

Related questions

How do I acquire professional status with a membership body?

No. Once all the units of a NEBOSH qualification have been successfully completed, the qualification achievement does not expire and NEBOSH does not require qualifications to be periodically re-taken.

However, in a dynamic field such as health and safety, new legislation, standards, best practice and professional body requirements do evolve over time. As a result, NEBOSH qualification syllabuses are reviewed and updated regularly.

NEBOSH would recommend that longstanding qualification holders maintain a current knowledge of the subject area and would benefit from undertaking the latest version of the qualification to provide up-to date knowledge, understanding and workplace application. This is entirely optional.

Existing qualification holders who wish to update their knowledge can do so by;

• taking the most recent version of a qualification they already hold; View all NEBOSH Qualifications
• taking a complementary qualification which covers the topic at a higher level or covers a related topic; View all NEBOSH Qualifications
• refreshing knowledge with the latest NEBOSH publications; View and purchase NEBOSH books online - NEBOSH Shop

Learning Partners can be found using the search facility in the Where to Study section of the NEBOSH website.

NEBOSH does have an Enquiry About Results policy (EAR). This allows learners who are unhappy with the mark achieved to request for their assessment to be remarked. There are two types available:

Enquiry Type 1: clerical check

This is a clerical check to ensure all parts of the script(s)/practical assessment/assignment/project have been marked and that marks have been totalled correctly.  

Enquiry Type 2: re-mark

This is a re-mark of the script by a different examiner, who is a higher level than the original examiner. This type of enquiry does not include a clerical check.

All EAR requests should be made directly to NEBOSH within one month of the results issue date. Full payment must be made before the EAR request can be processed.

If as a result of the EAR, a learner has their unit result changed from a refer to a pass or has their qualification grade revised upwards, the revised result will be issued and the EAR fee and any relevant re-registration fee already paid (where the learner hasn't already sat the examination), will be reimbursed in full. 

If the outcome requires the reissue of a Unit Certificate and/or Parchment, this will be done free of charge. 

Please see our Enquiries About Results Policy and Procedures for more information.

EAR costs can be found on our most recent Learner Fees List.

Related questions

I would like to see my marked examination script because the result does not match my expectations

How do I book a resit?

How can I gain feedback on my performance to assist with future improvement

NEBOSH sends Award and Certificate Level certificates and parchments by recorded delivery in the UK and by trackable delivery to overseas locations in board-back envelopes to ensure they are received by the Learning Partner and to avoid damage. 

Please note, unit certificates are no longer issued for Certificate level qualifications, learners will receive one parchment on completion of the full qualification. 

NEBOSH send Diploma Level certificates and parchments directly to learners whose postal address is in the UK via Royal Mail and for learners whose addresses are outside of the UK directly to their learning partner.

NEBOSH recommends that Learning Partners send original and replacement certificates to learners via a trackable delivery service.

Original certificates are normally sent out within 20 working days of the date on the relevant Unit Result Notification letter. Please wait until this timescale has elapsed before contacting your Learning Partner or NEBOSH.

However, if Learners/Learning Partners fail to inform NEBOSH within 40 working days of the URN letter issue date that they have not received their certificate/parchments they will be charged for replacing a certificate claimed not to have been received.

NEBOSH will not accept any liability for certificates lost in transit between Learning Partners and Learners or once they have been received by learners. In such cases requests for replacements certificates will not be processed without payment being received in full with a completed request form. 

Where damaged or incorrect certificates are returned to NEBOSH for replacement it is recommended that learners and learning partners return them via a trackable delivery service. NEBOSH will not accept any liability for original certificates returned to NEBOSH by Learning Partners or learners that are lost in transit.

For more information see our Policy regarding candidate certificates including corrections and reissues.

NEBOSH takes all reports of suspected malpractice extremely seriously and will always conduct a thorough investigation in line with our Malpractice Policy 

If a learner suspects a fellow learner of cheating during the assessment, and it was not reported to the invigilator or course tutor, they should report the incident in writing immediately to their Learning Partner (e.g. the course tutor) and provide NEBOSH with a copy of their written account.

Learning Partners are required to report to NEBOSH without delay any instances of suspected malpractice that they are made aware of.

Please note that the outcome of the investigation and any sanctions imposed will not be disclosed to the individual making the complaint because of NEBOSH's responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Information on recent malpractice cases and the action taken by NEBOSH are published in our quarterly Ethical Practice Report. 

If you believe that the conduct of your course by the Learning Partner was not satisfactory (e.g. quality of tuition, quality of learning support, access to learning resources, administrative arrangements or venue), in the first instance you are recommended to contact your Learning Partner and proceed through their complaint procedure. 

If you are not able to resolve the problem, please see our complaints procedure.