The Guide to the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety

(November 2015 specification)

2. Qualification structure
2.1 Student enrolment

x At the start of their studies, students will enrol with NEBOSH. The enrolment period is 5-
years.
x On completion of the first successful unit, the enrolment start date will change to the same
as the declaration date (the date which appears on the unit certificate) of the successful
unit. The student will then have 5-years from this new date to achieve the qualification.
x All units will have a 5-year validity period. Units which are older than 5-years will no longer
be valid and will not count towards the qualification grading. Any such unit/s will need to
be retaken by the student to allow the student to complete the qualification.
x Once the oldest unit is no longer valid ie it is 5 or more years older than the current date,
the enrolment start date will move to the declaration date of the second successful unit.
x The student’s enrolment period will end:
o when the student has successfully completed all 4 units; or
o when all successful units have expired (ie the declaration date/s are 5 or more years
older than the current date; or
o 5-years from the enrolment start date if the student has not attempted any unit
assessment; or
o 5-years from the enrolment start date if unit assessment/s have been attempted but
the student has received a ‘Refer’ result and/or has been marked as ‘absent’.
x If a student cannot complete all 4 units within the 5-year completion time-frame they may
apply for a unit validity extension for each affected unit. Please refer to the ‘Enrolment
Policy for NEBOSH Diploma Level Qualifications’ for further information.

2.2 Common unit and exemption

The NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety shares a ‘common unit’
(Unit DNI) with the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.
Students can, therefore, take the assessments for Units IA, IB and IC and they will gain an
additional qualification.

The ‘common unit’ can be used as an exemption against the International Diploma in
Occupational Health and Safety for up to five years after the declaration date (the date printed
on the unit certification) of Unit DNI. Likewise, holders of the International Diploma in
Occupational Health and Safety will have five years to use their Unit DNI pass as an exemption
against the same unit for the National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

2.3 Unit assessments

The International Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is divided into four units. All
units are mandatory and there are no optional units. The student may choose to take the units
together or at different times.

Unit IA: Managing health and safety

x Unit IA is a taught unit which is assessed by a 3-hour written examination

© NEBOSH 2016 6