The 13 cards at a glance
The colours below are those of the card images on the CSCS types of cards page; CSCS itself describes its red entry level cards, blue skilled cards, gold cards and black cards in the same way. Validity periods come from each card page and from the CSCS renewal page.
| Card | Colour | Who it is for | What you need (besides the test) | HS&E test level | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labourer | Green | Unskilled labouring roles only | Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or an accepted alternative | Operatives | 2 years on first issue |
| Apprentice | Red | People on a recognised apprenticeship | Proof of registration on the apprenticeship | Operatives, or an approved alternative | 4 years 6 months, not renewable |
| Trainee | Red | People registered for a qualification such as an NVQ/SVQ, HNC, HND or degree | Proof of registration (five-year card) or an approved Level 2 non-competence qualification (two-year card) | Operatives, or CIC test for academic courses | 5 years or 2 years |
| Industry Placement | Red | Students on a course with at least three weeks of work placement, such as a T Level | Proof of registration | Operatives, or an approved alternative | 2 years, not renewable |
| Provisional | Red | Probation periods, short work experience, newcomers exploring construction | Never held a CSCS card before | HS&E test within two years | 6 months, once only |
| Experienced Worker | Red | Experienced workers without a qualification yet | Registration on a Level 2 NVQ/SVQ or higher | Level for your occupation | 1 year, not renewable |
| Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager | Red | Experienced supervisors, managers and technical staff | Registration on a TSM NVQ/SVQ Level 3 or higher | Level for your occupation | 3 years, not renewable |
| Blue Skilled Worker | Blue | Qualified tradespeople | NVQ/SVQ Level 2 (SCQF level 5) or a completed apprenticeship | Operatives for most; Specialist for some | 5 years |
| Gold Skilled Worker | Gold | Advanced craft and senior trades | NVQ/SVQ Level 3 (SCQF level 6) or an approved apprenticeship | Operatives for most; Specialist for some | 5 years |
| Supervisory | Gold | Supervisors and technical roles | Supervisory/technical NVQ or SVQ Level 3 or 4 | Specialist (Supervisory) | 5 years |
| Manager | Black | Managers and technical occupations | Construction management/technical NVQ/SVQ Level 4 to 7 (SCQF 10 or 11) | Managers and Professionals (MAP) | 5 years |
| Academically Qualified Person | White | Holders of certain construction degrees, HNCs, HNDs, CIOB certificates and NEBOSH awards | Copy of the qualification | MAP, or CIC Health and Safety Test | 5 years |
| Professionally Qualified Person | White | Members of CSCS-approved professional bodies | Proof of current membership | MAP, or CIC Health and Safety Test | 5 years, then a new application |
Two gold cards look alike: the Gold Skilled Worker card and the Supervisory card. The occupation printed on the card is what separates them.
The three levels of the HS&E test
Every card above needs a health and safety element, and for most people that is the CITB Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test, passed within the last two years. CSCS describes three levels:
- Operatives: a basic level of health, safety and environmental awareness. Required for the Labourer, Trainee and Apprentice cards, most Blue Skilled Worker cards and most Gold cards.
- Specialists: everything in the Operatives test plus a specialist area. Required for the Gold Supervisor card and for Blue and Gold cards in certain occupations. CITB's revision material lists the specialist subjects: supervisory, demolition, highway works, specialist work at height, lifts and escalators, tunnelling, HVACR, heating and plumbing services, pipefitting and welding, ductwork, refrigeration and air conditioning, service and facilities maintenance, and plumbing (JIB).
- Managers and Professionals (MAP): everything in the Operatives test plus material for managers and professionals. Required for the Black Manager card and the Academically or Professionally Qualified Person cards.
If you cannot tell which level applies to your trade, the CSCS card finder confirms it from your occupation and qualification. Booking the wrong level wastes a test fee, so check before you pay. Our guide to CSCS test cost and booking covers the booking side.
Red cards: temporary by design
Red cards are stepping stones. CSCS calls them entry level cards for people starting out, and almost none of them can be renewed: the holder is expected to finish the qualification and move to a skilled card before the red one runs out. For example, the Experienced Worker card lasts one year, and the Provisional card six months, once in a lifetime. The only partial exception is the two-year Trainee card, which can be followed by a three-year Trainee card if you register on an NVQ/SVQ (CSCS renewal page).
An apprenticeship leads to the red Apprentice card, not the Industry Placement card; CSCS states this explicitly for degree apprenticeships. The Industry Placement card itself never leads to a skilled card.
Green: the Labourer card
The Labourer card is for unskilled workers only. CSCS warns that skilled workers holding a Labourer card will be refused site access, and that if you already hold, or are enrolled on, a qualification for a skilled occupation you do not need the Level 1 course at all: you apply for the card that matches your trade. Step-by-step instructions are in our guide on how to get a CSCS green card.
Blue, gold and black: the qualified cards
These cards depend on a recognised qualification. CSCS sums it up: Level 2 NVQs for blue cards, Level 3 for gold, and Level 5, 6 and 7 construction management NVQs for black cards (the Manager card page also accepts Level 4). They last five years and can be renewed with the same qualification and a fresh test pass; see renewing a CSCS card.
White: academic and professional cards
The two white cards are not based on NVQs. The AQP card is for certain degrees, HNCs, HNDs, CIOB certificates and NEBOSH diplomas and certificates. The PQP card is for members of approved professional bodies such as RICS, ICE, CIOB or RIBA at listed membership grades. Both accept either the MAP test or the CIC Health and Safety Test.
What every card costs
A CSCS card costs £36, except the Apprentice card, which is free. The colour does not change the price. The test is a separate CITB fee.
Not on the list?
Some occupations are not covered by CSCS at all but by other schemes in the CSCS Alliance; CSCS says it is one of 38 card schemes that carry the CSCS logo. If your trade does not appear in the card finder, that is usually why.
Whatever the colour, most cards rest on the same 50-question HS&E test. Our free CSCS practice test uses original questions written from HSE and GOV.UK guidance, and the revision guide explains what the test covers. passmock is independent and not connected with CSCS or CITB.
Sources
- Types of CSCS cards — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Qualifications — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- CITB Health, safety & environment test and alternatives — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Renew or replace a CSCS card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Labourer card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Blue Skilled Worker card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Gold Skilled Worker card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Supervisory card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Manager card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Professionally Qualified Person card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Academically Qualified Person card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Apprentice card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Trainee card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Experienced Worker card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Industry Placement card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- Provisional card — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
- HS&E Test for Operatives & Specialists revision material (GT100) — CITB shop (checked October 3, 2026)
- CSCS FAQs — CSCS (checked October 3, 2026)
The Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test is owned and run by CITB. CSCS is the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. passmock is an independent practice service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CITB, CSCS or Pearson VUE. Our questions are original and are not taken from the CITB question bank.
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