Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card
A Skilled Worker Licence, or Blue CSCS Card, allows the holder to legally work as a skilled worker in the United Kingdom.
Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card
Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
Get Licenced What is the Skilled Worker Licence?
This licence comes in the form of a Blue CSCS Card or Skilled Worker CSCS Card. CSCS cards are issued as part of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme and are valid for 5 years. The scheme aims to maintain safety on construction sites and in the workplace generally. To acquire a CSCS card, you must complete health and safety assessments.
Eligibility
You are eligible for this card if you have either: Achieved a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in construction or completed an employer sponsored apprenticeship which included the achievement of a City and Guilds of London Institute Craft Certificate.
How do I apply for a Skilled Worker Licence?
You can apply via the CSCS website for a cost of £30.00. Once you have submitted the application and paid, CSCS will post your card the next working day.
Please note:
If you have not completed the CITB’s Health, Safety & Environment Test a total fee of £49.50 must be paid upon application – £19.50 for the CITB’s Health, Safety & Environment Test and £30.00 for the card processing.
CITB's Health, Safety and Environment Test
As part of your CSCS Card application, you will also need to pass CITB’s Health, Safety & Environment test. This is conducted at external test centres which will need to be booked on the CITB Website. There are 50 multiple choice questions and it costs £20. Although the test is quite straightforward, you are advised to revise some of the practice questions before sitting the test.
Renewal
To renew your Blue CSCS Card, you will need to refresh the qualifications you used to obtain the card. This is to ensure that your knowledge is current and you are up-to-date with any changes in the law. Therefore, renewing your CSCS Card will cost you the same as a new one: £30.
Refresher Training
You can take refresher courses or training at any time. Certificates or qualifications are valid for a period of 2-3 years from the date of completion. You can apply for your CSCS Card during this period.
FAQs
CSCS Cards are issued as part of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. The scheme aims to increase safety on construction sites and to ensure that those working in the construction industry have the necessary health and safety knowledge. Having a card contributes towards the overall safety and standard of a construction site.
The CSCS Card is not a legal requirement, but is highly recommended, as many contractors only employ those that have the card. Some construction projects may also have certain conditions regarding CSCS Cards, meaning you will need the card to work at certain sites.
The application cost to obtain a CSCS card is £30. However, there are also other costs for external tests or courses which increase the price.
Who pays for your CSCS Card depends on the agreement that you have with your employer. Some employers will pay for their staff to obtain a CSCS Card, others will expect the employee to pay for it themselves.
It takes up to 5 working days for your CSCS card to arrive. You will need to contact CSCS directly and apply for it. Make sure that you have your assessment certificate handy, as this will be required when you apply.
Blue CSCS cards are valid for 5 years and must be renewed after this time. Depending on the qualifications that you used, you may need to take some tests again.
Once 5 years have passed and your CSCS Card has expired, you will need to apply for a new one. For your new application, you will also need fresh qualifications and pay the £30 processing fee again.
To be eligible for a Blue CSCS Labourer Card, you need to be above the age of 16 and have taken the necessary qualifications such as Level 2 NVQ/SVQ or Level 2 NVQ Diploma in construction or an equivalent qualification (i.e. City and Guilds Craft Certificate).
Our recommendation is to attend the Health and Safety Awareness Course by CITB and pass the external Health, Safety and Environment Test.
As part of getting your Blue CSCS Card, you need to attend and pass the CITB’s Health and Safety Awareness Course. The course lasts for 1-day and is taught in a classroom setting by a qualified instructor. He or she will cover the core syllabus as laid out by CITB. There will be a mixture of techniques used, including videos, group work and practical demonstrations.
Your involvement in the course is part of the Health and Safety Course assessment. There will also be a short multiple-choice test at the end of the day.
Passing the Health, Safety and Environment Test, also known as the CSCS Test, is part of getting your Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card. It is an external assessment that is conducted at test centres around the country. It costs £20 to take the test and consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Your test result is valid for 2 years, meaning you can apply for your CSCS Card during this period.
The Health and Safety Test is valid for 2 years. When you apply for your Blue CSCS card, your test is extended by the duration of the card i.e. 5 years.
The CITB’s Health, Safety and Environment test is quite straightforward and requires basic knowledge of health and safety. You will need to use common sense to answer the questions. We would recommend doing some preparation using practice questions.
To sit the test, you will need to book a spot at an external Test Centre using the CITB website. There are test centres all across the UK. You will have the option of selecting a time and location that suits you.
The Health, Safety and Environment Test is multiple choice and will be on a computer. There are 50 questions and you simply select your answer on the computer screen. The test will last for about 45 minutes. There are 12 questions about particular circumstances and 38 about general health and safety.
Those taking the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test must score at least 47 out of 50 to be considered a pass.
