CSCS Card – Health Safety and Environment Tests

Green CSCS Card

The CSCS green Labourer’s card is perfect for anyone currently working or who wants to work in construction, as well as those already in the industry looking to refresh their qualifications. The Green Labourer’s Card is a requirement of working on a UK building site.

Colchester Institute offers the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment at all of our centres and candidates requiring this will be recommended to enrol.

In some cases, candidates may be required to obtain the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment in addition to passing the CITB test.

Colchester Institute offers this qualification to those relevant to enrol on this course. CSCS Green cards require a valid qualification to gain.

Most candidates will progress directly to employment in the construction industry.

Red CSCS Cards

Apprentice – Available to people in the process of completing or who have completed a CSCS-recognised apprenticeship. The Apprentice card is issued free of charge and demonstrates proof you are registered on a valid apprenticeship scheme and have passed the CITB HS&E test (or an approved alternative).

It’s valid for four-and-a-half years and cannot be renewed. You are expected to complete the apprenticeship by the time the card expires.

Trainee/ Industry placement – Available to those on work experience for over 30 days in Construction industry.

Blue CSCS Card

The Blue Skilled Worker card is valid for five years and for those who have achieved a construction related NVQ/SVQ level 2 or SVQ at SCQF level 5 or completed an apprenticeship, such as an Employer sponsored apprenticeship, a City and Guilds Craft Certificate (CGLI) or a CSCS Approved Apprenticeship Standard.

Gold CSCS Cards

Gold Skilled Worker – The Gold Skilled Worker card is authorised for five years and eligible for renewal. It shows you are highly skilled within your field in the construction industry.

You can apply for this card if you have either:

• Achieved a Construction Related NVQ/SVQ level 3 or SVQ at SCQF level 6
• Fulfilled an approved apprenticeship (e.g. With NJCBI)
• Completed an employer-sponsored apprenticeship, including attaining a City and Guilds of London Institute Advanced Craft Certificate

Supervisor – availably for supervisor and technical occupation subject to the achievement if: Construction Related Supervisor/ Technical NUQ or SVQ Level 3 or 4 and the HSE test. Valid for 5 years.

For some trades, if you have the experience, but don’t have the qualifications, you can obtain a Blue, Gold or Black CSCS card through Experienced Worker NVQ equivalencies.

CSCS Managers and Professionals (MAP) Tests and CSCS Cards (Black cards) 

These CSCS cards demonstrates your competence as a manager or Academically Qualified person within the construction industry. 

The test aims to examine knowledge across a wide range of topics to improve safety and productivity on site and is an important way for construction workers to show employers they can be safe on the job. 

The Manager card is available for managers and those in technical occupations subject to: 

• Achievement of a relevant Construction Management/Technical related NVQ/SVQ level 4, 5, 6 or 7 
• An SVQ at SCQF Level 10 or 11 in Construction Management/Technical related qualification 

The White Academically qualified person card is available to people who have completed certain construction related degrees, HNDs, HNCs, CIOB Certificates and certain NEBOSH diplomas and certificates.

Both cards are valid for five years and all applicants must pass the CITB Managers and Professionals Health, Safety and Environment test. 

This exam covers everything in the operative test, plus additional material relevant to managers and professionals. This test is required when applying for the Black Managers card and the White Academically or Professionally Qualified person cards. 

If you have passed the CIC Health and Safety Test 

CSCS have approved the acceptance of the CIC Health and Safety Test as equivalent to the CITB Manager and Professional (MAP) Level Health, safety and environment test for the purpose of applying for an Academically Qualified Persons card or a Professionally Qualified Persons CSCS card. The CIC Health and Safety Test must have been passed within two years of the application being made for either card. 

The CIC Health and Safety test is only acceptable to apply for the Academically Qualified Persons card or Professionally Qualified Persons CSCS card and is not accepted for any other CSCS card.