& 
Black CSCS Manager card
A site manager, contracts manager or project manager running construction work.
- Valid for
- 5 years
- CITB test
- Managers and Professionals (MAP)
- You need
- You hold a construction management or technical NVQ or SVQ at Level 4, 5, 6 or 7
- Renewable
- Yes
Card checker
Which CSCS card do I need?
Two questions. No sign up, nothing stored, and it tells you the qualification and the test as well as the card.
The pathway
How to get the Black Manager card
-
1
Do the management NVQ
Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management is the usual route to the black card. It is assessed on the job, so you carry on working while you build the portfolio.
-
2
Pass the Managers and Professionals test
Known as the MAP test. It is the Operatives content plus management and legal material.
-
3
Add SMSTS if the site asks for it
SMSTS is not a CSCS requirement and it will not get you a black card on its own, but most principal contractors ask for it alongside one.
Applying for the card
Apply on the CSCS website£36Paid to CSCS, not to us. Do not pay more than this: CSCS say the standard application fee is all it costs.
You qualify for this card if
- You hold a construction management or technical NVQ or SVQ at Level 4, 5, 6 or 7
- You have passed the Managers and Professionals CITB test
Course and test on the same day
We run our own CITB Health, Safety and Environment test centre, so you do not have to finish the course here and then go and find a test somewhere else. Course in the morning, test in the afternoon, one trip.
The GQA route
Getting this card through GQA
GQA award the Level 6 management NVQ for glazing, fenestration and related occupations, and the card that comes out of it is the same black Manager card.
GQA Qualifications are the awarding organisation for glazing, fenestration, curtain walling and glass processing. We are a GQA approved centre, so the qualification and the card come from the same place.
Renewal
When this card runs out
Yes, on the usual CSCS renewal process.
The other cards
Other CSCS cards
Red Industry Placement card
A student or learner doing a work placement that forms part of a construction qualification.
2 years
Red Provisional card
Someone brand new to construction who needs to get on site quickly while they sort out a qualification.
6 months
Green Labourer card
A general site operative doing labouring work. It is not for skilled trades.
2 years on the first card, then 5 years on renewal
Gold Supervisor card
A site supervisor, foreman or ganger running a team on site.
5 years
Gold Advanced Craft card
An experienced tradesperson who has taken their trade to Level 3.
5 years
Blue Skilled Worker card
A qualified tradesperson: bricklayer, joiner, plasterer, painter, glazier, roofer, tiler and so on.
5 years
White Academically Qualified Person card
Someone with a construction related degree, HNC, HND or an accepted NEBOSH or CIOB qualification.
5 years
White Professionally Qualified Person card
A current member, at a professionally qualified grade, of a CSCS approved professional body.
5 years
Red Trainee card
Someone registered on a construction qualification and working towards it. There are now two different routes with two different cards.
5 years on the competence route, 2 years on the non competence route
Red Apprentice card
Someone registered on a recognised construction apprenticeship.
4 years and 6 months
Red Experienced Worker card
Someone who has done the work for years but never got the qualification. This is the card that buys you time to fix that.
1 year
Red Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card
An experienced supervisor, manager or technical worker who has not yet got the qualification to match.
3 years
Black CSCS Manager card: common questions
No. SMSTS is a five day Site Safety Plus course, not a regulated qualification, and CSCS does not accept it for the black card. You need a Level 4 to 7 construction management NVQ. Plenty of sites ask for SMSTS as well, which is why the two get confused.
A construction management or technical NVQ or SVQ at Level 4, 5, 6 or 7. The Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management is the common route.
The Managers and Professionals test, usually called the MAP test.
Five years.
From the blog
Course guides and news
The latest plain-English guides to choosing the right course, card or qualification.