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CSCS cards

Red CSCS Apprentice card

Someone registered on a recognised construction apprenticeship.

How to get this card Not sure this is the right card?
A red CSCS Apprentice card, the temporary card for someone on an apprenticeship
Valid for
4 years and 6 months
CITB test
Operatives
You need
You are registered on a recognised construction apprenticeship
Renewable
No

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 Red Apprentice card

  1. 1

    Get your apprenticeship registration

    Your training provider or college supplies the evidence.

  2. 2

    Cover the health and safety part

    The Operatives CITB test, or a one day Health and Safety Awareness course certificate, or a Certificate of Unit Credit.

    Next course dates

    Fri 18 Sep 2026 · 08:30Stoke-on-Trent · £130.00 + VATFri 2 Oct 2026 · 08:30Stoke-on-Trent · £130.00 + VATWed 7 Oct 2026 · 08:45Manchester · £130.00 + VAT
    All course dates and prices
  3. 3

    Apply to CSCS

    The Apprentice card is issued free of charge. It lasts four years and six months.

    Applying for the card

    Apply on the CSCS website£36

    Paid 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 are registered on 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.

Book the CITB HS&E test Ask us to book both

Renewal

When this card runs out

No. It cannot be renewed. You are expected to finish the apprenticeship and move to the skilled card it earns you.

The other cards

Other CSCS cards

A red CSCS Industry Placement card, the card for a student on a construction work placement Red Industry Placement card A student or learner doing a work placement that forms part of a construction qualification. 2 years A red CSCS Provisional card, the temporary card for someone new to construction Red Provisional card Someone brand new to construction who needs to get on site quickly while they sort out a qualification. 6 months A black CSCS Manager card, the card for a site manager Black Manager card A site manager, contracts manager or project manager running construction work. 5 years A green CSCS Labourer card, the card for general site operatives 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 A gold CSCS Supervisor card, the card for a site supervisor or foreman Gold Supervisor card A site supervisor, foreman or ganger running a team on site. 5 years A gold CSCS Advanced Craft card, the card for a tradesperson holding a Level 3 NVQ Gold Advanced Craft card An experienced tradesperson who has taken their trade to Level 3. 5 years A blue CSCS Skilled Worker card, the card for a tradesperson holding a Level 2 NVQ Blue Skilled Worker card A qualified tradesperson: bricklayer, joiner, plasterer, painter, glazier, roofer, tiler and so on. 5 years A white CSCS Academically Qualified Person card, the card for someone holding a construction related degree, HNC or HND White Academically Qualified Person card Someone with a construction related degree, HNC, HND or an accepted NEBOSH or CIOB qualification. 5 years A white CSCS Professionally Qualified Person card, the card for a member of an approved professional body White Professionally Qualified Person card A current member, at a professionally qualified grade, of a CSCS approved professional body. 5 years A red CSCS Trainee card, the temporary card for someone registered on a qualification 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 A red CSCS Experienced Worker card, the temporary card for someone with site experience but no qualification yet 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 A red CSCS Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card, the temporary card for an experienced technical, supervisory or management worker 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

Red CSCS Apprentice card: common questions

Nothing. CSCS issue it free of charge. A replacement card costs the standard application fee.

Four years and six months, and it cannot be renewed.

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