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NEBOSH IGC 2026
Syllabus Update

The NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety has been reviewed and updated for 2026. This guide explains the revised syllabus timeline, the move from IG1/IG2 terminology to GIC1/GIC2, practical risk assessment changes, and what learners should check before studying.

This guide helps you
understand

GIC1

Open book examination

GIC2

Practical risk assessment

45%

GIC1 provisional pass mark

60%

GIC2 pass mark

Before reading this update

Learners often discover the 2026 update after seeing old IG1/IG2 videos, older exam advice, new
GIC1/GIC2 terminology, or conflicting information from blogs and social media.

What changed in NEBOSH IGC 2026?

Students need a clear summary before they read assessment-specific guidance.

Is IG1 now GIC1?

Old terminology is stillvisible online, so this page clarifies the updated naming.

Can I use old materials?

Old materials may help with concepts, but assessment guidance must be checked against current NEBOSH information.

Quick answer: what changed?

NEBOSH reviewed and updated the National and International General Certificates in Occupational Health and Safety for 2026. The qualification still has two unit assessments, but the unit names and the administration of the second unit have changed. NG1/IG1 are renamed GNC1/GIC1, while NG2/IG2 are renamed GNC2/GIC2.

Source: NEBOSH Updates to the General Certificate

Key dates timeline

Use this timeline to understand the transition at a glance. Always confirm your own assessment route
with your Learning Partner.

7 January 2026

NEBOSH published the update announcement for the General Certificate qualifications.

2 February 2026

Teaching of the revised syllabus begins. New learners should confirm whether they are studying the revised specification.

4 March 2026

First assessments against the revised syllabus and updated unit two assessments begin.

5 August 2026

NEBOSH's certificate digital-assessments page lists the final NG/IG1 English-only assessment date for the 2018 specifications.

6 August 2026

NEBOSH's update announcement lists this as the final assessments against the current syllabus. October 2018 specification.

Important note for students

Do not rely only on a blog, video or social media post for transition dates. Confirm your route with your Learning Partner or current NEBOSH guidance before planning assessment or resit decisions.

Key dates timeline

Use this timeline to understand the transition at a glance. Always confirm your own assessment route
with your Learning Partner.

7 January 2026

NEBOSH published the update announcement for the General Certificate qualifications.

2 February 2026

Teaching of the revised syllabus begins. New learners should confirm whether they are studying the revised specification.

4 March 2026

First assessments against the revised syllabus and updated unit two assessments begin.

5 August 2026

NEBOSH's certificate digital-assessments page lists the final NG/IG1 English-only assessment date for the 2018 specifications.

6 August 2026

NEBOSH's update announcement lists this as the final assessments against the current syllabus. October 2018 specification.

Important note for students

Do not rely only on a blog, video or social media post for transition dates. Confirm your route with your Learning Partner or current NEBOSH guidance before planning assessment or resit decisions.

Key terms explained simply

NEBOSH IGC = NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

GIC2 = the updated International General Certificate unit name for risk assessment.

IG2 = the older International General Certificate practical risk assessment unit name under the earlier specification.

Scenario-based assessment =an assessment where learners apply knowledge to a scenario instead of only recalling facts.

GIC1= the updated International General Certificate unit name for management of health and safety.

IG1 = the older International General Certificate unit name for management of health and safety under the earlier specification..

Revised syllabus = the updated qualification specification, unit naming and assessment route

Practical risk assessment = a workplace-based risk assessment and action plan.

Old vs new terminology

The most visible change for many students is terminology. Older content often says IG1 and IG2.
Updated content uses GIC1 and GIC2 for the International General Certificate.

IG1/IG2

Older International General Certificate unit names from the earlier specification. You may still see these in older videos, PDFs and tutor notes.

GIC1/GIC2

Updated International General Certificate unit names for the revised specification: GIC1 for management of health and safety and GIC2 for risk assessment.

Learner warning

If a video, PDF, article or tutor note only mentions IG1 and IG2, check whether it has been updated for the GIC1/GIC2 route before relying on it.

What are GIC1 and GIC2?

Management of health and safety

GIC1 is the updated International General Certificate unit name linked to management of health and safety. It continues as a 24-hour scenario-based assessment according to NEBOSH's update announcement.

Risk assessment

GIC2 is the updated International General Certificate unit name linked to risk assessment. Unit two continues as a practical risk assessment, with changes to submission, marking and results.

What changed in the practical risk assessment route?

Unit two keeps the practical focus, but NEBOSH states there are changes to how it is submitted,
marked and how results are issued.

Assessment platform

The updated unit two will be submitted by the learner through the NEBOSH Assessment Platform.

10 working days

The submission deadline is 10 working days after the GNC1/GIC1 assessment.

Points-based

Marking moves from met/not met to a points-based system with a pass mark of 60%.

Same day for both units

Results for both units are issued on the same day, 60 working days from the 24-hour scenario-based assessment

What this means for students

Who is affected by the update?

Different learners need to check different things depending on their status.

Follow GIC1/GIC2

Use current GIC1/GIC2 terminology and current learner guidance. Check that course materials refer to the updated specification.

Confirm your route

Check whether you are studying the older IG1/IG2 route or the updated GIC1/GIC2 route. Avoid mixing assessment advice.

Check transition rules

Confirm assessment dates, language options, specification and resit route with your Learning Partner and current NEBOSH guidance.

Check staff route

Confirm which syllabus and assessment route your staff will follow and make sure outdated materials are reviewed

Can old IG1/IG2 materials still be used?

Old materials may still help with general concepts

Older resources may still explain hazard, risk, controls, risk assessment, safety culture and workplace hazards. Use them only as concept support.

Do not use old materials blindly for assessment details

Do not rely on old submission rules, marking advice, unit names or syllabus guidance without checking the current GIC1/GIC2 route.

Student action checklist

Before starting or continuing NEBOSH IGC study, check these points.

What this update does not cover

This page explains the 2026 update and transition logic. It does not cover course fees, batch schedules, discounts, registration forms, full GIC1 open book preparation, full GIC2 practical risk assessment instructions, exact assessment answers, pass-rate claims, salary claims or job claims.

The correct learning path is:

Understand the 2026 update - Read the NEBOSH IGC Learner Guide - Open the NEBOSH Open Book Assessment Guide - Open the NEBOSH Risk Assessment Practical Guide - Visit SFAST's NEBOSH course page when ready.

What to read next

Read the NEBOSH IGC Learner
Guide

Use this if you want the full learner route. GIC1/GIC2 meaning, readiness checklist and study pathway.

Open the NEBOSH Open Book Assessment Guide

Use this if your main question is about GIC1 and scenariobased assessment.

Open the NEBOSH Risk Assessment Practical Guide

Use this if your main question is about GIC2, workplace risk assessment and action planning.

Read the Risk Assessment Guide

Use this if you need to understand hazards, risks, controls and existing/additional controls.

Read Hazard vs Risk

Use this if you are unsure about source of harm versus likelihood and severity of harm.

Compare NEBOSH and IOSH

Use this if you are unsure whether NEBOSH, IOSH, both or basics-first is right.

Need help confirming which NEBOSH route applies to you?

If you are unsure whether your study route follows IG1/IG2 or GIC1/GIC2, or you want to confirm current SFAST delivery options,
speak with a SFAST advisor before checking course dates.

FAQs Questions

What changed in the NEBOSH IGC 2026 update?
The NEBOSH General Certificate qualifications were reviewed and updated for 2026. Unit names changed from IG1/IG2 to GIC1/GIC2 for the International General Certificate, and the second unit practical risk assessment has updated submission, marking and results processes.
What is GIC1?

A simple template should include the activity or task, hazard, who may be harmed and how, existing controls, further controls, responsible person, target date and review data.

What is GIC2?

Write the specific source or situation that can cause harm, such as “moving forklift traffic near pedestrian walkway,” not vague phrases like “unsafe area.”

Is IG1 now GIC1?

It means identifying the people exposed to the hazard and explaining the possible harm, such as “warehouse staff and contractors may be struck by moving forklifts.”

Is IG2 now GIС2?

Existing controls are the control measures already in place, such as training, guarding, barriers, signs, procedures or ventilation.

When does revised teaching start?

Further controls are additional actions needed to reduce the risk, such as installing barriers, improving ventilation, replacing equipment or updating procedures.

When do first assessments begin?

NEBOSH states that the International General Certificate is accredited and credit-rated by Qualifications
Scotland Accreditation at SCQF Level 6 with 11 SCQF credit points.

Can I use old IG1 and IG2 materials?

No. Examples can help you understand structure, but your risk assessment should match your own workplace, task, hazards and controls.

What should current learners do?

It can help learners understand how to record hazards, controls and action plans, but it should not be used as a copied NEBOSH GIC2 report.

Does this page replace the SFAST NEBOSH course page?

Some workplaces use risk matrices, but this page focuses on clear recording of hazards, controls and actions. Use the format required by your employer, Learning Partner or relevant guidance.

Source basis and review note

How this guide is researched

This guide is based on official NEBOSH General Certificate update information, the official NEBOSH International General Certificate page, NEBOSH digital assessment information, NEBOSH GIC learner guidance, NEBOSH GIC2 guidance and SFAST'S NEBOSH & IOSH learning-hub structure..

This page should be reviewed whenever NEBOSH updates the General Certificate, GIC1/GIC2 assessment guidance, digital assessment dates, learner guidance or transition information.

Source basis

NEBOSH General Certificate updateis used for revised syllabus dates, old-to-new unit naming, practical risk assessment changes and key dates.

NEBOSH International General Certificate page is used to confirm the IGC update, revised teaching date and first assessment date.

NEBOSH certificate digital assessmentsis used or certificate assessment timing and NG/IG1 a GNC/GIC1 references.

NEBOSH GIC learner guide is used to identify current learner guidance and specification context.

Student-first NEBOSH & IOSH learning ecosystem for learners who want to understand safety qualifications before choosing structured training.

Learning links

SFAST NEBOSH & IOSH Learning Hub Guide page only. Course fees, schedules and registration belong on commercial course pages.

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