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There are three versions of the CITB health, safety and environment test: the Operatives test, the Specialist tests and the Managers and Professionals test. Which one you need depends on the CSCS card you are applying for: Operatives for Labourer and most skilled worker cards, a Specialist test for the Gold Supervisor card and some trades, and Managers and Professionals for the Black Manager card.
We run the test at our Stoke-on-Trent centre, and the question we hear most at the front desk is “which one do I book?” So here is the straight answer, with everything you need to know before test day.
What is the CITB health, safety and environment test?
The CITB HS&E test is a short computer-based test that proves you have the basic health, safety and environmental knowledge to work on a construction site. For most CSCS cards you need to have passed the right version of it within the last two years (or hold an approved alternative) before you can apply.
You can book your HS&E test with Acadame at Trent House in Stoke-on-Trent, which is an approved CITB test centre.
The three CITB HSE tests and which card each leads to
| Test | Who it is for | CSCS cards it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Operatives | Labourers, apprentices, trainees and most tradespeople | Green Labourer, Trainee, Apprentice, most Blue Skilled Worker and most Gold Advanced Craft cards |
| Specialist | Supervisors and certain specialist trades | Gold Supervisor, plus some Skilled Worker and Advanced Craft occupations |
| Managers and Professionals | Site managers, contracts managers and construction professionals | Black Manager and Academically or Professionally Qualified Person cards |
If you are not sure which card you need, the CSCS card finder will tell you, and it will point you to the right test at the same time. Our CSCS cards guide also walks through each card.
Operatives test
This is the one most people take. It checks a basic level of health, safety and environmental awareness across five core knowledge areas: working environment, occupational health, safety, high risk activities and specialist. If you are going for a green Labourer card, this is your test.
Specialist tests
A Specialist test includes the same five core areas as the Operatives test, plus questions on your chosen specialist area. CITB currently offers these specialist tests:
- Supervisory (SUP)
- Demolition (DEM)
- Plumbing (JIB) (PLUM)
- Highway works (HIW)
- Specialist work at height (WAH)
- Lifts and escalators (LAEE)
- Tunnelling (TUNN)
- HVACR heating and plumbing services (HAPS)
- HVACR pipefitting and welding (PFW)
- HVACR ductwork (DUCT)
- HVACR refrigeration and air conditioning (RAAC)
- HVACR services and facilities maintenance (SAF)
The supervisory test is the one you need for a Gold Supervisor card. The trade specialist tests are only needed where CSCS asks for them for your occupation, so check the card finder before you book one.
Managers and Professionals test
The Managers and Professionals test covers the operative content plus extra material relevant to managers and professionals. CITB describes it as having a wider breadth of content, and it is not role specific. You need it for the Black Manager card and for Academically or Professionally Qualified Person cards.
CITB test format and pass mark
All three versions follow the same basic shape:
- 50 questions
- 45 minutes
- Pass mark of 90%, which means at least 45 correct answers out of 50
CITB currently publishes the same 90% pass mark for the Operatives, Specialist and Managers and Professionals tests. That leaves room for only five wrong answers, so it is worth revising properly rather than turning up cold. CITB’s official revision material, a smartphone app with timed practice and a free demo test are all available, and the app lets you practise knowledge questions against the clock.
If you need extra support, CITB offers a range of reasonable adjustments, including voiceover and British Sign Language options. Check CITB’s support page before you book so you know what is available where you are sitting the test.
How long is the CITB HSE test valid for?
CSCS asks for a pass within the last two years when you apply for a card. If your pass is older than that, you will need to sit the test again before applying. The card itself then has its own expiry date, which is separate from the test.
What to bring and what happens on the day
- Photo ID with a signature, in date and matching the name on your booking. A passport (UK or international), a UK or European photocard driving licence, or an eVisa shared through View and Prove are all accepted.
- Proof of a name change (original marriage or civil partnership certificate, decree or deed poll) if your ID is in a different name.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Take the ID seriously. CITB will not let you sit the test without acceptable ID, and the fee is not refunded. If you do not have a passport or photocard licence, CITB’s ID policy allows two secondary documents instead, one with a photo and one with a signature, so check the policy well before your test date.
After the test you will be given a score report. Keep it safe, as CITB tells candidates to hold on to it, and you will want your details to hand when you apply for your card.
Course and test on the same day
For a green Labourer card you need two things: a pass in the HS&E test and a recognised health and safety qualification. CSCS accepts the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course as one of the alternatives to the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment.
At Acadame you can do both in one day. On Fridays at our Stoke-on-Trent centre you can attend the one day CITB Health and Safety Awareness course in the morning and sit the Operatives test in the afternoon. That covers both requirements for the Labourer card in a single visit, and the course content is fresh in your mind when you sit down at the screen.
CITB HSE test FAQs
Is the CITB test the same as the CSCS test?
Yes, in everyday use. People often call it the CSCS test because you need it for a CSCS card, but it is set and run by CITB and its official name is the health, safety and environment test.
Which CITB test do I need for a Labourer card?
The Operatives test, together with the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment or an accepted alternative such as the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course.
What is the pass mark for the CITB test?
90%, or 45 out of 50 questions, for the Operatives, Specialist and Managers and Professionals tests.
Can I take the test without ID?
No. You must bring acceptable ID that matches your booking. Without it you will be turned away and lose the test fee.
Training and testing that covers this
- Book a CITB health, safety and environment test
- CITB Health and Safety Awareness (HSA)
- Green Labourer card
- Gold Supervisor card
- Black Manager card
- All CSCS cards
Read the source
- CITB: Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test
- CITB: HS&E test ID policy
- CSCS: CITB HS&E test and alternatives
- CSCS: Labourer card requirements
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.
Real people, quick answers. 0330 124 2165.
