Posted By Claire Sharp I would really like to take the nebosh gen cert as I want to eventually become a h/s advisor. Prob is i am a graduate in a lot of debt and my employer will not pay for me to do this course. Just wondering how everyone affords this? Do most people pay themselves or do their employers pay? Its about £1,500 and I dont want to be a mug and pay for it myself if most peoples employers pay! Any ideas?

Posted By Hazel Harvey Claire, As a graduate have a look at some of the post-graduate courses on offer. In some cases they will not be a great deal more that some of the NEBOSH Cert courses (particularly the distance learning ones). If you want to become a HS professional you will need a qualifiction at this level. The NEBOSH Cert. is a course for those who have responsibilities for H&S such as Managers and Supervisors but not necessarily prospective professionals (although some do do this course to give themself a taster of what is involved). All the universities offering programmes are listed in the membership section of this web-site.

Posted By Karen Todd Hi Claire, SHOP AROUND! I posted a reply to someone else's thread on the same thing. I am in Northern Ireland and I did my general certificate with Belfast Institute for £125 2 years ago. I did my Dip 1 with East Antrim Institute last year for £400. The prices are going up quickly each year, e.g. this year it is now £500 to do your Dip 1 with East Antrim Institute. There is also a BIG variation in the prices people charge. I think local techs rather than companies tend to be the cheapest option. Regards, Karen

Posted By John Fielding Hi Claire, you really would be paying a high price for the general cert course, i payed a total of 346 pounds for my course last year at North Lindsey Colledge Scunthorpe, so shop around there are cheaper venues available.

Posted By Jason Gould Youre right Geoff Not much profit at those prices for a private training company etc. I was explained this when I slated a bloke for charging £4999 for Dip 2. Colleges and local Institutes are getting on to the game and more and more provide the general cert. They always have a partnership with groundwork or other goverment sponsered agency and seem to claim large rebates, hence the lower cost. I have to say though, that some private providers do a great job such as RCC. Their material is considered overkill by some, but thats better than the underkill by colleges and institutes. I have struggled with the quality of coursework given for my dip 1, (notes etc was low grade) Im sure their are many exceptions to the rule but thats the impression I get from this market. So I guess its good sence to get cert from college etc and then consider cost Vs quality when embarking on the more indepth courses. Regards Jason

Posted By Peter Lee Another thing to ask the organisation you are thinking of taking your studies with, "whats your pass rate", when I did NEBOSH Diploma 1 our college had 11 passes out of 12, the notes where comprehensive and the lecturers slave drivers but hey, job done !

Posted By Chris Abbott I failed my NEBOSH Cert through one large training company Geoff - 19 people sat it, one guy passed. (Age range from 26 - 50. These were some of the most technical bright scientist from my company, some of which were already in the safety related field). This training company had no less than 6 trainers that came in over the 10 week period, set homework, but never feed back, had no idea about classroom management (they had to be told to open windows - late summer - because students were falling asleep....) cost of this course £1500 each student. I believe that the reason most of us failed, was not just the basic underpinning knowledge, but the confusion between the trainers, not knowing at what level we were at (how difficult can that be on a 10 day course) and not understanding their subject by just reading a book at us… Not preparing us for the examinations, not teaching us basic NEBOSH Speak.. 3 years later I booked the entire exams (and assessment) through Medway college and paid £50 (NEBOSH Fee) and studied by myself, with a very helpful book.. Thanks Allan! And passed. Frankly, I was soooooo unimpressed with the teaching methods of this very well known teaching company, that it put me off going to the more expensive course... Profit margins are ok, but not when the content and implementation fail to meet the course requirements. :) Chris

Posted By Mark1 I did the NEBOSH cert last year, i paid £210 at the local college. The level of teaching was superb, feedback great, and we were taught exactly what NEBOSH wanted from us. Most of us passed. Thanks to Keith Woodhead, who taught the course!

Posted By Karen Todd Geoff, I wonder the same thing too - because the college I took my NEBOSH Dip 1 at charged £400 for the course on which there were 14 people but pays lecturers approx £30/hr! Regards, Karen

Posted By Claire Sharp Well after many many hours of research, I physically can not find anywhere that charges less than 700 (anywhere in london, essex or kent). This is obv much better than 1,500 but when u lot tell me u only spent 2oo etc i just cant understand it!! Y cant i find anywhere that charges that little? But i really want to do it so this sept i will prob go learning shop in bluewater,kent and pay the 6-700. Does any1 know what this place is like? its not on nebosh website? Just dont want 2 fail!!!