How Much Does a CSCS Card Cost?

What the £66 card booking covers

The card booking is the application itself. When you book through Coteca, the price covers:

• The £36 fee CSCS charges for the card.
• Checking your qualification and test details before the application goes in.
• Submitting the application and following it up with CSCS.
• VAT.

Once CSCS approves the application, your digital card appears in the My CSCS app. You can apply on the app yourself and pay CSCS directly, but many people prefer to have the paperwork checked first so it isn’t sent back.

What the £47 test booking covers

Every CSCS card needs a pass in the CITB HS&E test, or an accepted alternative, from the last two years. Coteca’s £47 booking includes the £23.50 CITB test fee, booking the right version of the test at a centre near you, and access to revision material.

There are three main versions of the test: Operatives, Specialists and Managers and Professionals. Booking the wrong one is the most common way people end up paying twice, so check which one your card needs before you pay. Our guide to which CSCS card you need matches each card to its test. You can also practise for free on the Coteca CITB test revision site.

Training costs by card

The card and test prices are the same whatever card you apply for. The training is what changes. Here is what each card needs:

If you already hold the right qualification, you only pay for the test and the card. If you are experienced but have no paperwork, an NVQ is usually the quickest route because it is assessed on site, in the job you already do.

How to avoid paying twice

1. Book the right test. Each card needs a specific version of the HS&E test.
2. Apply within two years of your test. After that, the pass can’t be used and you’ll need to sit it again.
3. Apply for the right card. A rejected application for the wrong card still costs you time, and often a second fee.
4. Send clear documents. Blurry or cropped certificates are a common reason applications get sent back.

Renewals and replacement cards

A renewal is a new application, so you pay a card fee each time, and most cards also need a recent test pass. Coteca handles renewals and lost card replacements too. Our guide on how to renew a CSCS card explains the timing and what you need.

Can my employer pay?

Many employers pay for the test and card, especially for new starters and apprentices. Some also fund NVQs so their teams can move onto Blue or Gold cards. If you’re already working for a contractor, ask before you pay out of your own pocket.