coteca.co.uk > Blog > New to Construction? How to Choose Your First CSCS Card
If you are applying for a CSCS card first time, the choice can look confusing. There are more than a dozen card colours, and most guides list them all without telling you which one you can actually get today. In practice, most people starting out only need to choose between a handful.
The right card depends on what you can prove right now, not the job you hope to do later. Here is how to work that out before you spend a penny.
Start with the box that sounds most like you. Each one shows who the card is for, what you need to apply and how long it lasts.
For: labouring and general site work.
You need: the CITB HS&E Operatives test plus the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment or the one-day Health and Safety Awareness course.
Lasts: 5 years.
For: people who need site access for a short period and do not yet qualify for another card.
You need: a CITB HS&E Operatives test pass.
Lasts: 6 months and cannot be renewed.
For: anyone registered on a construction NVQ or SVQ who is not qualified yet.
You need: the HS&E test plus proof of your NVQ or SVQ registration.
Lasts: 5 years and cannot be renewed.
For: apprentices on a recognised construction apprenticeship.
You need: proof that you are registered on the apprenticeship.
Lasts: up to 4.5 years.
For: new to UK sites but already holding an NVQ or SVQ Level 2 in your trade.
You need: the Level 2 certificate plus the HS&E test.
Lasts: 5 years.
Use the boxes above. If you are unsure, ask before you book anything.
Revise with free mock tests, then sit the touchscreen test at a centre near you.
Complete the course or registration your card needs, such as the Level 1 Award.
Submit your application. When the card arrives, check your name and photo straight away.
Still not sure which card fits? Tell us what you have done so far and the work you are going for. Our team will confirm the right card, book your CITB test and handle the application for you. Start on our CSCS card page or call us on 0208 099 4324.
If you hold a construction-related degree, HNC or HND, the CSCS AQP card lets you prove your academic qualification on site without taking an NVQ first. Before you call CSCS about a missing card, check our guide so you have your registration number to hand.
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