NEBOSH National vs International Diploma | What's the Difference?

The NEBOSH Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is globally regarded as one of the most comprehensive health and safety training qualifications money can buy. The training can help propel pivotal health and safety understanding and enhance career advancement.

It should not be forgotten the density of the qualification. It is not a small task. If taken entirely seriously and with the right motivation, the course will save lives and change lives.

The course comes in two similar, yet different, versions;

• The NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is especially designed for professionals based in the UK, as it predominantly covers law specific to this country.
• The NEBOSH International Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Management Professionals is designed for international professionals who require an understanding of the concepts introduced in the course so they may be applied anywhere in the world.

This blog will look at the core differences between the two different incarnations of the qualification to help you identify which version is best and more applicable to you.

Main Differences Between the NEBOSH National and International Diplomas

The first thing to remember is that we traditionally advise our learners that the International Diploma is probably the correct version if they are based outside of the UK.

One of the main differences stems from the regulatory bodies and geographical law. For instance, a learner from Germany or Saudi Arabia wouldn't maximise the impact of their training if they were studying UK health and safety regulations. Instead, the International Diploma trains learners on international best practices.

So, the course content is the same. The only aspect of the course that changes are addressing regulation and law. So, in short, if you work in the UK and see yourself remaining there, the National Diploma is best for you. On the other side, the International Diploma is best for you outside the UK. 

The assessment process is the same for both qualifications. All learners will have three assessments, structured in three different units, DN1, DN2 and DN3, in the UK (DI1, DI2 and DI3 for the International course).

Governments and businesses worldwide recognise the International Diploma, and the reputation the qualification offers the learner is accepted as the benchmark.

Despite the courses being very similar, there are some price differences. Learners can purchase the NEBOSH International Diploma starting from £1490.00 (Excluding VAT.). Meanwhile, learners based inside the UK can buy the NEBOSH National Diploma starting from £1760 (Excluding VAT.). There are differing learning methods available for each course.

Learning Methods Available & Pricing

It's more than just Geography. The International Diploma incorporates a wide array of legislation that allows it to apply to every country in the world, outside of the UK. It is a one size fits all qualification that genuinely makes an international qualification.

For in-depth guidance on our NEBOSH National Diploma, you can take a look at our guide on everything you need to know about the National version of the course. Alternatively, you can head over the relevant course page below to view FAQs, access a free course demo and view the full course syllabus.