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Find the right CSCS card for your job, see exactly what you need and apply online with Coteca for £66.
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A CSCS card is the ID card most UK construction sites ask to see before you start work. CSCS stands for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. Your card shows two things: that you have passed a health and safety test, and that you hold the right training or qualification for the job you do.
Each card colour stands for a level. Green covers labouring, Blue covers qualified trades, Gold covers senior trades and supervisors, Black covers managers and Red cards are for people still working towards a qualification. This guide covers every CSCS card type, the CITB test, how to apply online, renewal and what it costs through Coteca.
Site managers check these cards to make sure everyone on site understands basic health and safety and is qualified for the work they carry out. The card shows your photo, name, occupation and expiry date. Every card also comes as a digital card in the My CSCS app, and employers can check it with the CSCS Smart Check app.
No law says you must hold a CSCS card. In practice, most main contractors and house builders will not let you on site without one, or without a card from a partner scheme such as CPCS for plant operators. If you want steady work on UK sites, treat it as essential.
Find the row that matches the work you do now, then click the card name to read its full guide.
| Card | Who it’s for | What you need | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Labourer | General labouring and site support | Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, plus the Operatives test | 2 years first time, then 5 years |
| Red Apprentice | Registered construction apprentices | Apprenticeship registration, plus the CITB test or the one-day HSA course | 4 years 6 months |
| Red Trainee | People registered on a construction qualification | Registration on an approved qualification, plus the CITB test | 5 years, not renewable |
| Red Experienced Worker | Experienced workers finishing an NVQ | Registration on an NVQ in your trade, plus the CITB test | 1 year, not renewable |
| Red Provisional | Short-term supervised work | A CITB test pass and an employer who supervises you | 6 months |
| Blue Skilled Worker | Qualified tradespeople | NVQ or SVQ Level 2, or a completed apprenticeship, plus the Operatives test | 5 years |
| Gold Advanced Craft | Senior and advanced trades | NVQ or SVQ Level 3 in your craft, plus the CITB test | 5 years |
| Gold Supervisor | Supervisors, foremen and team leaders | NVQ or SVQ Level 3 or 4 in supervision, plus the Supervisory test | 5 years |
| Black Manager | Site, project and construction managers | NVQ or SVQ Level 5, 6 or 7 in construction management, plus the MAP test | 5 years |
| White AQP / PQP | Graduates and professional body members | An approved degree, HND or HNC, or professional membership, plus the MAP test | 5 years |
Still not sure? Our guide on which CSCS card you need goes through each card by job role, and the qualifications accepted for each card lists them by colour.
Want more detail on each step? Read our full guide on how to get a CSCS card in the UK.
When people talk about the CSCS card test, they mean the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test. It is a multiple-choice test on a computer, taken at a test centre or online. For most cards you need a pass from the last two years when you apply.
There are three main versions, and booking the wrong one is the most common reason people pay twice. The Operatives test covers Green, Red and Blue cards and most Gold Advanced Craft cards. Specialist tests cover certain trades and the Gold Supervisor card. The Managers and Professionals (MAP) test covers Black, AQP and PQP cards.
The Operatives test has 50 questions in 45 minutes, and you need 45 correct to pass. Coteca books the CITB test for £47, including the £23.50 CITB fee. Practise first with our free CITB mock tests, or read the CITB HS&E test guide for every version in detail.
You can apply online yourself, but small mistakes such as the wrong test version or a name mismatch can get an application declined. Coteca checks your documents, books your test if you need one and submits the application for you. Pick your card below.
Most CSCS cards last five years. To renew, you normally need a CITB HS&E test pass from the last two years. Your qualification stays on record, so you do not need to redo your NVQ. Start your renewal a few months before the expiry date so you are never on site with an expired card.
There are a few exceptions. Most Red cards cannot be renewed, so you finish your qualification and move up to a full card. A first Green Labourer card lasts two years, and you renew it for five years by showing you still work as a labourer. AQP and PQP holders reapply rather than renew. Our guide on how to renew a CSCS card covers each case.
If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, order a replacement through the My CSCS app or CSCS Online. The new card keeps the same expiry date as the old one. While you wait, you can still show your digital card in the app.
Employers check cards with the free CSCS Smart Check app. It confirms that a card is genuine, in date and issued for the right occupation. As a card holder, you can see your own card, expiry date and qualifications in the My CSCS app.
Book the right test first. Each CSCS card needs a specific version of the HS&E test. If you are unsure which one, call us before you book.
Through Coteca, a CSCS card costs £66 (£55 + VAT), which includes the £36 CSCS card fee. The CITB HS&E test is £47, including the £23.50 CITB fee, so the test and card together come to £113. Any training or NVQ you still need is priced separately.
Read how much a CSCS card costs for the full breakdown by card.
If you already hold the qualification, the whole process can take one to two weeks. Test slots are often free within days, and CSCS says physical cards should arrive within five working days of approval. The qualification is usually the slow part, especially an NVQ. See how long a construction NVQ takes if you still need one.
Tell us what you do on site and what paperwork you have. We'll point you to the right card, book your test and handle the application.
Book your CSCS cardCall 0208 099 4324A CSCS card shows you have passed a CITB health and safety test and hold the right training or qualification for your job. Most UK construction sites ask to see one before you start work.
Through Coteca, it costs £66 (£55 + VAT), including the £36 CSCS card fee. The CITB HS&E test is £47.
Yes. Almost every card needs a CITB HS&E test pass from the last 2 years. The Apprentice card also accepts the one-day Health and Safety Awareness course instead.
Labourers need Green, qualified trades need Blue, senior trades and supervisors need Gold and managers need Black. If you are still working towards a qualification, a Red card usually fits.
Blue, Gold, Black, AQP and PQP cards last 5 years. A first Green Labourer card lasts 2 years. Red cards last between 6 months and 5 years, and most cannot be renewed.
Yes. The Green Labourer card needs the Level 1 Award, not an NVQ. Experienced tradespeople can get a Red Experienced Worker card once they register on an NVQ.
Yes. You can apply through the My CSCS app or CSCS Online, or let Coteca check your documents and submit the application for you.
Yes. Once your application is approved, your digital card appears in the My CSCS app, and the physical card arrives by post.
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