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What Is the CITB Health & Safety Awareness Course?

A one-day course for people new to site. It is one of the routes to a green CSCS labourer card.

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The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course, often shortened to HSA, is a one-day course for people starting out in construction. It covers the basics of staying safe on site and your responsibilities to others.

It is accepted as an alternative to the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment when you apply for a green CSCS labourer card.

1 daycourse length
5 yearscertificate validity
Green cardaccepted route

HSA vs Level 1 Award

Both lead to the green card. The main difference is validity.

CITB HSALevel 1 Award
Length1 dayUsually 1 day
Validity5 yearsLifetime
Leads toGreen CSCS cardGreen CSCS card

What you learn

The course covers your legal duties, site hazards such as working at height and manual handling, how to report accidents and near misses, and environmental awareness. There is a short multiple-choice test at the end.

For the full green card picture, read green CSCS card requirements.

Route to a green card with HSA

  1. Book the HSA courseOne day, in a classroom or online.
  2. Pass the HS&E testOperatives level. £47 through Coteca, including the £23.50 CITB fee.
  3. Apply for the card£66 through Coteca (£55 + VAT), including the £36 CSCS fee.

Mistakes to avoid on the green card route

The Health and Safety Awareness course is one of the quickest ways into construction, but people still lose time on avoidable errors.

  • Booking the wrong course. Make sure the course you book is accepted for the Green CSCS card. The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course and the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment are both used for this.
  • Skipping the CITB test. The course alone is not enough. You also need to pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test for operatives.
  • Applying with mismatched details. Your name on the course certificate, test result and card application must match your ID.
  • Expecting the green card to last forever. It is valid for five years and cannot be renewed. Plan your next qualification during that time.

From course to card in five steps

  1. Book and complete the one-day course.
  2. Revise for the CITB HS&E test using free mock tests.
  3. Book and pass the operative test.
  4. Apply for your Green Labourer card with your certificate and test result.
  5. Start planning an NVQ Level 2 so you can move to a Blue card before the green one expires.

Read our full green card requirements guide, or ask us to book the course and test together using the form above.

Useful links

Book your training with Coteca

From the HS&E test to SMSTS and SSSTS, Coteca books CITB courses at centres across the UK and online.

See CITB coursesCall 0208 099 4324

Frequently asked questions

Is the HSA course the same as the CITB test?

No. The HSA is a one-day training course. The HS&E test is a separate touchscreen test. A green card needs both.

How long is the HSA certificate valid?

Five years.

Can I take the HSA course online?

Yes, it runs as a live online course as well as in a classroom.

Should I choose HSA or the Level 1 Award?

Both work for a green card. The Level 1 Award does not expire, which can make renewals simpler.

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