The NEBOSH Construction Certificate Explained

The NEBOSH construction certificate is equal to a National Qualifications Framework Level 3 qualification. It is aimed at those supervising and managing construction projects and is also suitable for those engaged in facilities management.

A key advantage of completing the NEBOSH construction certificate is that National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) qualifications are recognised throughout the world as a prestigious standard to achieve. It is also recognised by IOSH and can be used to qualify for Tech IOSH membership. This means that you have the kudos of two well-known professional bodies to add to your CV!

Course Detail

The Construction Certificate course can run from between 12 to 18 days, depending on the training provider that is hosting it. All providers cover the same syllabus which includes three modules, each  comprised of a number of elements. Delegates are expected to attend around 80 hours of face to face study for open courses. This is in addition to the 49 hours of personal study needed to pass the NEBOSH exams.

NGC1 Module – Management of Health and Safety

The NEBOSH construction certificate shares its first module with the General Certificate in Health and Safety. This is the NGC1 module - Management of Health and Safety. It covers the following elements:

• Foundations in health and safety
• Policy
• Organisation
• Planning and auditing health and safety management systems

NCC1 Module – Managing and controlling Hazards in Construction Applications

The second module is NCC1 - Managing and controlling Hazards in Construction Applications. This encompasses 12 elements focused on recognising and controlling a number of hazards including:

• Chemical
• Biological
• Psychological
• Physical
• Vehicles
• Working at height

It also covers UK legislation in relation to construction health and safety.

NCC2 Module – Construction Health and Safety Practical application

The third module is NCC2 - Construction Health and Safety Practical application. This differs from the previous two modules as it is not assessed via a traditional written exam. This module consists of a practical report, using the information learned in the first two modules to complete a risk assessment for the workplace. The combination of knowledge and understanding and then being asked to practically apply it, means delegates have good around skills, making them very employable. This practical assignment must be completed within 14 days of the other exams.

Conversion Courses

For those holding an NGC1 module from another NEBOSH course, there is a construction conversion course available. This means that candidates who have been successful in completing NGC1 can receive the NEBOSH construction certificate by completing the two modules specific to construction NCC1 and NCC2.

This is a very popular course as it allows previous NEBOSH graduates to make use of the qualifications they already have in a different field.

Distance Learning

Some providers are offer distance learning NEBOSH courses. Instead of attending a face to face classroom based course, the delegate can study in their own time and at their own pace. This suits the self-motivated student and those with very busy schedules use the distance learning option as a way to study and work at the same time.

Candidates who study in this way are still required to put the same amount of study hours in as those who take the conventional face to face training.