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To renew a CSCS card you need a CITB Health, Safety and Environment test pass from the last two years and the qualification your card type requires. Get the test done first, then apply to CSCS before your card runs out.
Step 1: check your expiry date
Card lengths differ. The green Labourer card lasts two years first time and five years on renewal. The blue Skilled Worker card lasts five years. Trainee cards last five years on the competence route and two years on the non competence route. Start the renewal a couple of months early so you are never stuck at the gate.
Step 2: make sure your HS&E test is current
Every CSCS card application, renewals included, is checked against an HS&E test pass from the last two years. If yours is older, you sit it again. Make sure you book the right version: sitting the wrong one is the most common reason an application stalls, and the test is not refundable once sat. Our which CITB HS&E test guide goes through every version.
| Test | Cards it is used for |
|---|---|
| Operatives | Labourer, trainee, apprentice, most blue and gold trade cards |
| Specialists | Gold Supervisor, and blue and gold cards in certain trades |
| Managers and professionals | Black Manager and the white cards |
Step 3: check your qualification still fits
Your card must still match a qualification. If you have moved up to supervising, or you held an older card that never had an NVQ behind it, you may need a qualification before you can renew. Construction NVQs are assessed on the job, with no college and no exam, and on the GQA routes a temporary CSCS card is issued when you register. If you now run a team, the Level 3 NVQ in Occupational Work Supervision is the usual route to the gold Supervisor card.
Step 4: apply to CSCS
With a current test and the right qualification, apply through the CSCS website. Have your test result and qualification details to hand. Our CSCS cards page explains what each card needs.
Common mistakes
- Leaving it too late. Test slots and card processing both take time.
- Sitting the wrong test. Check the version against your card first.
- Assuming a course is a qualification. SSSTS, for example, is widely asked for but will not earn a gold Supervisor card on its own.
Where to sit the test
We are an approved test centre at Trent House, Stoke-on-Trent, with sessions every fortnight. It is fifty multiple choice questions in forty five minutes, and you get your result before you leave. You can book your HS&E test online.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to resit the HS&E test to renew my CSCS card?
Only if your last pass is more than two years old. Every application is checked against a pass from the last two years.
How long does a renewed green card last?
Five years on renewal, after two years on the first card.
Can I renew without an NVQ?
It depends on the card. If your card type needs a qualification you do not hold, you will need one first.
How long is the HS&E test?
Forty five minutes, with fifty multiple choice questions.
Read the source
CSCS (the Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card renewal guidance; the Acadame HS&E test, CSCS card and Level 3 NVQ pages. Facts checked on 23 October 2026.
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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