SafetyXAcademy is a small, specialist provider in Rotterdam focused on one thing only: the NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC). You study at Veerhaven / Westplein 12, with everything delivered in English — lessons, materials and the online open-book exam. It is built for international HSE professionals, safety officers and English-speaking expats — whether you are based in the Netherlands, elsewhere in Europe, or relocating from abroad.
Want the full overview first? Read our complete NEBOSH IGC guide — cost, the IG1 & IG2 exam, lead time and career paths.
SafetyXAcademy is not a large institute with dozens of programmes. We are deliberately niche: one course, one focus. That means:
Wherever you work, the NEBOSH IGC is the qualification employers ask for internationally. It is the standard entry point for HSE officers, safety officers and safety contractors around the world.
NEBOSH is a UK-based examination board that issues HSE qualifications used worldwide. The NEBOSH IGC is its international foundation certificate in occupational health and safety, recognised by employers in 120+ countries.
With NEBOSH IGC you can apply for roles such as HSE officer, safety advisor or safety officer in areas including:
The exam consists of an online open-book theory exam (IG1) and a practical risk assessment (IG2) in which you assess a real workplace. You do not need to travel abroad for the exam — you can sit it from wherever you are based.
Our role at SafetyXAcademy is to prepare you thoroughly: we make the NEBOSH theory clear and practical, practise exam questions together, and coach you through writing your IG2 practical assessment — all in English.
The official NEBOSH syllabus is built around risk management, legislation and practically improving safety on the work floor. We translate that theory into concrete examples from ports, offshore and industry.
Core principles of occupational health and safety, roles and responsibilities, safety policy and HSE culture. You learn how to bring structure to an organisation as a safety professional.
Systematically identifying hazards, assessing risk and choosing suitable controls. This also forms the basis for your NEBOSH practical assessment (IG2).
Physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic risks in sectors such as terminals, factories, construction sites and offshore. With plenty of real-world examples.
Process safety, fire and explosion risks, hot work, permits to work, working at height and contractor management. Highly relevant for offshore workers and industrial projects.
Investigating accidents and near misses, root-cause analysis, reporting and actions to prevent recurrence. This is how you build a safer workplace step by step.
Many countries have their own national safety diploma, but these rarely transfer across borders. The NEBOSH IGC offers a comparable level and is internationally recognised. Looking to progress further later? The NEBOSH Diploma is the natural next step internationally — for now, our focus is getting you through the IGC.
Many visitors want to know how the NEBOSH IGC compares to a local national safety certificate and to the higher NEBOSH Diploma. A short comparison:
| Level | NEBOSH IGC | National certificate | NEBOSH Diploma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | International certificate | Country-specific qualification | Higher international diploma |
| Use | Entry level HSE / safety officer worldwide | Entry level within one country | Senior safety / HSE manager roles |
| SafetyXAcademy focus | Yes – this is our specialism | No | Not yet (possibly later) |
In short: if you only ever plan to work in one country, a national certificate can be fine. But if you want the freedom to work across Europe and on international projects (ports, offshore, industry), the NEBOSH IGC is the logical, future-proof choice.
Many students use NEBOSH IGC to broaden their career: as an HSE contractor, freelance safety advisor or in a permanent safety officer role. Think of:
We can't guarantee a job, but we do help you orient: how to present yourself as an HSE contractor, what clients expect from a safety professional, and where to find interesting safety officer vacancies. See our HSE jobs & contracting page for more.
The NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) is a globally recognised qualification in occupational health and safety. SafetyXAcademy prepares you for it in Rotterdam, fully in English, with an English online open-book exam.
Yes — lessons, materials and the exam are all in English. You don't need to speak Dutch. The course is designed for international professionals and English-speaking expats.
It's a serious qualification, but very achievable if you're motivated. Plan for 8–10 hours of self-study per week. During the classroom days in Veerhaven Rotterdam we work through the theory step by step and practise exam questions and the practical assessment.
Yes. The course is designed for working professionals. Part is online at times that suit you, plus a number of classroom days in Rotterdam. Many participants keep working full-time throughout.
No formal prerequisites are required. What helps is an interest in safety and basic knowledge of work processes. Site experience, industry/port background or a technical education all fit well. If in doubt, we run a short intake with you.
Join the waiting list for the next NEBOSH IGC course in Veerhaven Rotterdam, with no obligation. We'll email you the start dates, practical info and intake options.