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Blue CSCS Skilled Worker card
A qualified tradesperson: bricklayer, joiner, plasterer, painter, glazier, roofer, tiler and so on.
- Valid for
- 5 years
- CITB test
- Operatives
- You need
- You hold a construction related NVQ or SVQ at Level 2 in your trade
- 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 Blue Skilled Worker card
-
1
Do the Level 2 NVQ in your trade
If you are already working in the trade, the NVQ is assessed on the job from what you do every day. There is no classroom block and no time off the tools.
-
2
Pass the right CITB test
Operatives or Specialists depending on your occupation.
-
3
Apply to CSCS
The blue card lasts five years. When you are ready, the Level 3 NVQ takes you to gold.
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 related NVQ or SVQ at Level 2 in your trade
- Or you completed a recognised construction apprenticeship
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
Glazing and fenestration go through GQA. We have a dedicated page for that route, because it is the one most people ask about.
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
Black Manager card
A site manager, contracts manager or project manager running construction work.
5 years
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
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
Blue CSCS Skilled Worker card: common questions
The blue Skilled Worker card, which comes from the Level 2 NVQ in Bricklaying. The Level 3 NVQ takes you on to the gold Advanced Craft card.
The blue Skilled Worker card, from the Level 2 NVQ in Carpentry. Level 3 leads to gold.
No. An NVQ is assessed on the job from the work you already do, with an assessor visiting you on site.
The red Experienced Worker card gets you on site for one year while you register for and complete the Level 2 NVQ.
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