Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
The CITB Construction Skills Certification Scheme was created to raise standards across the construction industry, confirming identities and skill levels in many areas of construction employment, from bricklayers and plasterers to supervisors and managers. However, the route to gaining your CSCS card can seem complicated at first, especially if it is your first time going through the process. Whether you are an individual looking to gain their CSCS card, or a business looking to put their employees through the training, Raeburn Training will guide you through the process.
How Do I know if I Need a CSCS Card?
Having a CSCS card is not actually a legal requirement to be able to get onto a work site. So why would you need one?
It is up to the contractor or client whether a CSCS card is required for you to get onto a work site or not. Even though the CSCS card is not a legal requirement for you to get onto a work site, you are legally requirement for all employees to have the necessary training to carry out the required work. (The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015) A CSCS Card is a great way to prove that you have the required training for the job along with a basic understanding of health and safety. CSCS Card are becoming a mandatory requirement for more and more contractors and businesses, not matter how big or small to ensure that people on their sites are meeting the legal requirements.
What Has Changed?
As of the end of 2024, Construction Skills Certification Scheme announced that there will be a slight change regarding the green labourer card which is effective from the 1st of February 2025. These new rules mean that any individual who is applying for their INITIAL green labourer card will have a reduced expiry date from five years down to two. If the worker then continues to work within a labouring role, they can go onto renew their card for five years. However, these rules have been brought into place to stop the oversupply of labourer cards across the UK. So, to be able to do this you must be able to provide supporting evidence that you are still employed within a labouring role.
To support these rule changes the CITB health, safety and environmental test that accompanies the two – year card application how has an increased validity. It has increased from two years to three years, this is to allow it to be used for renewal without any financial burden.
How Do I Get a CSCS Card?
Here at Raeburn Training, we guide and support individuals through the process of gaining their CSCS card whether you are an individual or a business looking for their team to gain or renew their card. The type of card that you apply for is all down to your skills, qualifications and experience. However, the most common card is the green labourer’s card. You can find more about other cards here (insert link)
There are three steps towards gaining your CSCS card: Qualification, CSCS Touch Screen Test and the Card Application.
Step One – Qualification
To be able to gain your green labourer card you must have a qualification. For a green labourer card, the qualifications can include an entry level health and safety training course. For example, health and safety awareness or REHIS Elementary Health and Safety, certificate. This is to prove that you have an achievement of a trade or qualification.
Book a space on our Health and Safety Awareness or REHIS Elementary Health and Safety training courses (links)
Step Two – CITB HS&E Test
More commonly known as the CSCS Touch Screen Test is the second step towards gaining you CSCS card. There is strict rules and conditions when it comes to taking you CSCS test at our internet test centre in Kirkcaldy, with up to six people completing their test each session.
The CSCS test consists of fifty questions, and the to pass you must achieve 45/50. There are four main topics that the questions cover, these are working environment, occupational health, safety and high-risk activities. The CITB database has over 1000 questions, and you will be allocated 50 random multiple-choice questions when sitting your test. Raeburn training does not have access to the database and has zero control over what questions you will be given.
There are many ways to prepare yourself for sitting your CSCS test. You can download the CITB Op/Spec HS&E test app from the app or play store. The app gives you access to revisions materials and allows you to participate in mock CSCS tests. Find out more about what happens on the day of your test here. (insert link)
If you would feel more comfortable with the questions being read out to you as well as written out, there is an audio voice over option available in English for all types of CSCS tests. Furthermore, if English is not, you first language, you may request a voice over in the following languages. Bulgarian, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian and Spanish. Just make sure to let us know at the time of booking.
If you have completed your health and safety training, you can book your CSCS touch screen test here. (insert link)
Step Three – CSCS Card Application
Here at Raeburn Training, we are happy to support our clients when it comes to applying for their CSC. If you hold a CSCS Card that is above a green labourer’s card they are treated as a renewable. This means that the supporting qualification you hold does not expire. However, the green labourer’s card can’t be renewed. This card requires a full application to be filled out at expiry each time which means you would also need to renew you supporting qualification at this point.
