CSCS and CPCS cards
The Government says construction companies and workers must be competent. More and more contractors are demanding qualified and card carrying workers – the CSCS and CPCS schemes are the best way of meeting all of these requirements. What’s more, health and safety regulations continue to play an important role in all work places - never more so than on construction sites, again, having a CSCS or CPCS card shows that you have passed an up to date health and safety test.
Having an NVQ is essential to achieve blue Skilled Worker card CSCS and CPCS certification. Many contractors are already requiring operatives to carry CSCS/CPCS cards, with more and more contractors and clients following suit. Many insist that all workers on site hold a valid card to prove their competence in their stated occupation and show that they have relevant health and safety awareness.
Construction Leaning World is the specialist in delivering and assessing on-site NVQs, as well as health and safety tests and CSCS/CPCS card registration. Our aim is to make the whole process as painless as possible for the employer and the employee. To date, we’ve already helped well over 17,000 people get an NVQ and CSCS or CPCS card.
Construction Learning World can help you to get the following CSCS or CPCS cards:
CSCS Skilled Worker – Blue Card
You may qualify for a blue skilled card, sometimes known as the blue craft card, if you have achieved a Level 2 NVQ or if you have completed an employer sponsored apprenticeship and completed a City and Guilds of London Institute Craft Certificate.
For example, a blue card can be gained by achieving a Level 2 NVQ in:
- Construction Operations – General Construction
- Trowel Occupations
Construction Learning World offers the above NVQs as well as many others suitable for blue card registration.
CSCS Experienced Worker – Blue Card
This card is available to everyone with on the job experience (normally at least one year in the last three), but missed the industry accreditation opportunity.
To qualify for a card you need to:
- Check to see if your trade is covered by CSCS.
- Pass the health and safety test.
- Register for an NVQ and complete an NVQ profiling session.
The card is valid for one year and is non-renewable; issued on a temporary basis while a NVQ is being achieved. It is expected to be replaced by a skilled five year card on achievement of a Level 2 NVQ.
CSCS Skilled Worker – Gold Card
You may qualify for a gold skilled card if you have achieved a Level 3 NVQ, or if you have completed an approved indentured apprenticeship.
Typically, a gold card can be gained by achieving a Level 3 NVQ in:
- Trowel Occupations
- Wood Occupations – Site Carpentry
CSCS Supervisor – Gold Card
You may qualify for a gold supervisor card if you are involved in a supervisory occupation. The card can be gained by achievement of a Level 3NVQ or, for some occupations, the professional membership route (see the CSCS website for the full range of professional bodies). All applicants must pass the supervisor level construction health and safety test unless an exemption applies.
Typically, a gold card can be gained by achieving a Level 3 NVQ in:
- Construction Site Supervision
- Occupational Work Supervision
CPCS Competent Operator – Red and Blue Cards
To gain a CPCS red card an operator is required to:
- Pass the Construction Skills health and safety test before any testing or training begins (if not passed in the last 2 years).
- Carry out any training necessary to bring the operator up to the standard required to pass the CPCS technical test.
- Pass CPCS theory test.
- Pass CPCS practical test.
Once you have a red card, you then have two years to work towards and complete your Plant Operations NVQ Level 2. To gain the blue card an operator is required to:
- Pass the NVQ with the unit appropriate to the category of plant required, within the 2 years of receiving a red card.
To find out more and ensure that you get the card appropriate to your trade or job, call Construction Learning World on 0115 973 9200 or contact us.
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) offers an easy way to prove competence in a range of occupations. The CSCS card scheme is the industry’s largest scheme, covering 220 occupations including trades, technical, supervisory and management.
Most contractors and clients now demand proof of competence, before allowing workers onto their sites, which is provided by a CSCS card.
The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) is a card scheme to prove the skills of plant operators. CPCS is the largest and most highly recognised card scheme for the plant industry and it helps to prove workers' operating skills and health and safety awareness.
