How Long Does the NEBOSH General Certificate Last?

Quick answer

Treat the NEBOSH General Certificate as a lasting qualification record rather than a three- or five-year card. Confirm the printed award name, unit codes and issue date. If your organisation or client expects periodic CPD or a competence review, record that as a separate policy date — do not invent a NEBOSH card expiry that is not on the certificate.

Qualification versus site tickets

A NEBOSH certificate evidences a health and safety knowledge award. It does not replace task tickets such as First Aid at Work, face-fit testing, IPAF or asbestos awareness. Keep award rows and ticket rows separate on the matrix so a green NEBOSH cell never hides an expired site requirement.

• Record the exact award title — General Certificate is not interchangeable with every NEBOSH product
• Store certificate evidence against the worker, not a free-text H&S qualified note
• Add an internal review date only if your policy requires one
• Do not overwrite SMSTS, SSSTS or IOSH dates with a NEBOSH issue date

When a review date still helps

1. Agree whether managers need scheduled CPD or refresher learning.
2. Note membership or professional-body expectations separately from the award.
3. Review whether the person's role still matches the knowledge the course covered.
4. Update the matrix when new evidence arrives — not when a review is merely booked.

Honest limits

FieldClear tracks assigned requirements and dates you enter. It does not decide whether a role needs NEBOSH, interpret awarding-body rules or certify competence. Scheme and provider wording changes — verify with the certificate and awarding body. This guide is operational information, not legal advice.