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To get a CSCS Industry Placement card you need to be registered on a construction-related qualification or training programme that includes a work placement of at least three weeks (such as a T Level, a Foundation Apprenticeship or a trade-related Level 2 or 3 Certificate or Diploma), show proof of that registration, and have passed the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test for operatives, or an approved alternative, within the last two years. The card lasts two years, cannot be renewed and does not lead straight to a skilled card.
That is the short version. CSCS updated this card in July 2026, so plenty of older articles online are now out of date. Here is how it works today, based on what CSCS publish themselves.
What is the CSCS Industry Placement card?
The Industry Placement card is one of the red CSCS cards. It exists so learners can get onto a real construction site for their placement while they are still studying, without holding a skilled card or being on an apprenticeship.
Think of it as a card for the classroom-to-site stage. It proves you are on a recognised programme and that you have covered the basics of site health and safety. It is not a card for working as a labourer or tradesperson in your own right. You can read more about how we support learners through it on our red Industry Placement card page.
Who can get an Industry Placement card?
CSCS say the card is for those on a construction-related qualification or training programme which requires a minimum three-week work placement. The examples they give are:
- T Levels
- Foundation Apprenticeships
- Trade-related Level 2 or 3 Certificates and Diplomas
- Foundation and Progression Qualifications (Wales)
- Sandwich degrees
Learners on any other publicly funded work placement can also apply. CSCS also point out that in some devolved regions, public funding allows placements shorter than three weeks, and the card can still be applied for in those cases.
One group that should not apply is anyone doing a Degree Apprenticeship. CSCS are clear on this: Degree Apprentices should apply for the red Apprentice card instead.
CSCS Industry Placement card requirements
There are three things you need before you apply.
1. Registration on a qualifying programme
You must be registered on a qualification or training programme that requires at least three weeks of work placement, or on another publicly funded work placement.
2. Proof of that registration
You prove your registration in one of two ways: a registration document, or the CSCS Enrolment Evidence Form, which you upload during the application. In practice your college or training provider is the place to get this paperwork, so ask them early rather than the week before your placement starts.
3. A health and safety test or approved alternative
You need one of the following, dated within the last two years:
- A pass in the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test for operatives
- A completion certificate for a one-day Construction Health and Safety Awareness course
- A Certificate of Unit Credit showing you have completed the Construction Health and Safety unit included in your induction or initial qualification
So the HS&E test is not the only route, but it is the most common one, and a pass also counts towards other CSCS cards later on. If your course has not covered the health and safety unit, you can book your CITB HS&E test with us. Our Stoke-on-Trent head office, Trent House, is an approved CITB test centre.
How to apply
Applications go through the My CSCS app or CSCS Online. Once approved, the digital card is available in the app straight away, and CSCS say physical cards should arrive within five working days.
On cost, CSCS have announced that from August 2026, training providers in England can claim back card and HS&E test costs for some eligible learners on Level 2 and 3 construction qualifications. Funding may be available, so it is worth asking your college or provider before you pay for anything yourself.
How long does the Industry Placement card last?
The card is valid for two years and cannot be renewed. This changed in July 2026: before that, the card lasted three years and the minimum placement was 30 days. CSCS shortened the validity to match the length of the qualifications the card covers. If you read elsewhere that it lasts three years, that information is out of date.
What card comes after the Industry Placement card?
The Industry Placement card does not lead to a skilled CSCS card, and finishing a T Level, Foundation Apprenticeship or other trade-related qualification does not make you eligible for one either. What comes next depends on your route:
- Starting an apprenticeship: you will be eligible for the red Apprentice card.
- Registering on an NVQ/SVQ or other recognised competence qualification: you will be eligible for the red Trainee card.
- Completing that apprenticeship or NVQ/SVQ: this is what opens the door to a skilled card.
For most learners heading into a trade, the NVQ is the step that matters. Our construction NVQ qualifications (awarded by GQA) are assessed on site, based on the work you actually do.
Industry Placement vs Red Trainee vs Red Apprentice card
All three are red cards and people mix them up all the time. The main differences, according to CSCS:
| Card | Who it is for | Validity | Renewable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry Placement | Learners on a programme with a placement of three weeks or more (T Levels, Foundation Apprenticeships, trade Level 2 or 3 Certificates and Diplomas) | 2 years | No |
| Apprentice | Those registered on a recognised construction apprenticeship, including Degree Apprenticeships | 4 years 6 months | No |
| Trainee | Those registered on a competence-assessed qualification (such as an NVQ), or who have achieved an approved non-competence training qualification | 5 years (competence route) or 2 years (non-competence route) | 5-year card: no. 2-year card: can be followed by a 3-year card once registered on an NVQ/SVQ |
The simple way to remember it: Industry Placement is for students on placement, Apprentice is for apprentices, and Trainee is for people working towards a competence qualification such as an NVQ. Only the last two are stepping stones to a skilled card.
Industry Placement card FAQs
Do I need the HS&E test for an Industry Placement card?
Not necessarily. You need either a CITB HS&E test pass for operatives, a one-day Construction Health and Safety Awareness course certificate, or a Certificate of Unit Credit for the Construction Health and Safety unit, all dated within the last two years.
Can I renew my Industry Placement card?
No. It is valid for two years and cannot be renewed. You move on to an Apprentice or Trainee card depending on your next step.
Can I get a skilled card after my T Level?
No. CSCS say completing a T Level, Foundation Apprenticeship or other trade-related qualification does not make you eligible for a skilled card. You get there by completing a recognised apprenticeship, NVQ/SVQ or other recognised competence qualification.
I am on a Degree Apprenticeship. Which card do I need?
The red Apprentice card, not the Industry Placement card.
Training that covers this
- Red Industry Placement card
- Book a CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test
- Red Trainee card
- Red Apprentice card
- Construction NVQ qualifications
- All CSCS cards
Read the source
- CSCS: Industry Placement card
- CSCS: Changes to the Industry Placement card (July 2026)
- CSCS: Apprentice card
- CSCS: Trainee card
Tell us what the job is
Say what the work involves and who is doing it, and we will say honestly which course or card it needs, including when the answer is that you do not need one.
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