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Red CSCS Trainee card
Someone registered on a construction qualification and working towards it. There are now two different routes with two different cards.
- Valid for
- 5 years on the competence route, 2 years on the non competence route
- CITB test
- Operatives
- You need
- Route one: you are registered on a competence assessed qualification such as an NVQ, SVQ, HNC, HND or degree
- Renewable
- Yes
CSCS opened the second, non competence route in February 2025. Most sites still describe only the old five year card.
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 Trainee card
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1
Work out which route you are on
Registered on an NVQ, SVQ, HNC, HND or degree puts you on the five year route. Holding a Level 2 or above non competence qualification puts you on the two year route.
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2
Pass the Operatives test
Both routes need an Operatives level CITB test pass from within the last two years.
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3
Apply with your evidence
Registration evidence for route one, dated within the last two years for vocational qualifications or four years for academic ones. The qualification certificate for route two.
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
- Route one: you are registered on a competence assessed qualification such as an NVQ, SVQ, HNC, HND or degree
- Route two: you have gained an approved Level 2 or above occupation related non competence qualification in the last five years
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
Registered on a GQA glazing or fenestration NVQ puts you on the five year competence route.
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
The five year card cannot be renewed, because you are expected to finish the qualification. The two year card can be swapped for a three year Trainee card once you show you are registered on an NVQ or SVQ or an agreed alternative.
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
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 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
Red CSCS Trainee card: common questions
Five years if you are registered on a competence assessed qualification such as an NVQ. Two years on the newer non competence route, which can then be swapped for a three year card once you register on an NVQ.
The five year card cannot be renewed. The two year card can be exchanged for a three year one when you show you have registered on an NVQ or an agreed alternative.
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