CSCS Certificate

A Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card is proof that someone is qualified to work on a construction site. It ensures they’ve received the necessary training and can meet safety standards. Although they are not a legal requirement most construction companies in the UK will require them.

There are many different types of CSCS cards for different levels of skill and experience:

• Academically Qualified Person – for people with the following qualifications:
  
  • certain construction related degrees
  • HNDs certificates
  • HNCs certificates
  • CIOB certificates
  • certain NEBOSH diplomas and certificates
• Apprentice – for people currently in an apprenticeship who will complete it within four years and six months;
• Blue Skilled Worker – for people with either of the following qualifications:
  
  • A construction related NVQ/SVQ level 2
  • An SVQ at SCQF level 5
  • completed an CSCS-recognised apprenticeship
• Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager – for supervisors, managers, and technical workers with one year of on the job experience within the last three years and are to complete either of the following qualifications:
  
  • an approved construction related Technical, Supervisory or Management (TSM) NVQ Level 3
  • an approved construction related Technical, Supervisory or Management (TSM) SVQ Level 3
  • an SVQ at SCQF level 6 or higher

• Experienced Worker – for people with one year of on-the-job experience within the last three years who are to complete either of the following qualifications:
  
  • an approved construction-related NVQ Level 3
  • an approved construction-related SVQ Level 3
  • an SVQ at SCQF level 6 or higher
• -Gold Skilled Worker – for people who have the following qualifications:
  
  • a construction-related NVQ level 3
  • a construction-related SVQ level 3
  • an SVQ at SCQF level 6.
  • an CSCS-recognised apprenticeship
  • an employer-sponsored apprenticeship that included the achievement of a City and Guilds of London Institute Advanced Craft Certificate
• Industry Placement – for people doing a construction-related qualification programme (with proof) with at least thirty days of work placement
• Labourer – for only unskilled workers
• Manager – for people in technical occupations with the following qualifications:
  
  • a relevant construction management/technical related NVQ at level 4, 5, 6, or 7
  • a relevant construction management/technical related SVQ at level 4, 5, 6, or 7
• Professionally Qualified Person – for people who are members of CSCS-approved professional bodies
• Provisional – a temporary card for people working on probation
• Supervisory – for people in supervisory of technical occupations with the following qualifications:
  
  • a Construction Related Supervisory/Technical NVQ or SVQ Level 3 or 4
• Trainee – for people who have registered for a competence-assessed qualification, like an NVQ, or a non-competence assessed training qualification

Most cards are valid for around five years and require you to have passed the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test within the last two years at the level matching your respective card.

To apply for a CSCS card:

1. Identify which card suits you best with their card finder; you must already have any relevant experience needed for that card, like exams, courses, NVQs, certificates;
2. You must pass the CITB Health, Safety, and Environment Test
3. Wait at least 1 day before beginning your CSCS application
4. Create an account at cscsonline.uk.com as an individual applicant
5. Click the “Apply for a card” button on your account page and follow the instructions on screen

To find out more, visit cscs.uk.com

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