Get a CSCS card to work on construction sites

Check whether a card is required

Holding a CSCS card is not a legal requirement. It is up to the principal contractor or client whether workers must hold a card before they are allowed on site, and most principal contractors and major house builders do require one.

The law sets a different test. Under regulation 8 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, any contractor appointed to work on a project must have the skills, knowledge and experience, and if it is an organisation the organisational capability, to do the work safely. A contractor must not accept an appointment unless it meets that test, and whoever appoints a contractor must take reasonable steps to satisfy themselves that it does. A CSCS card is proof that you hold the training and qualifications for the work you do, which is why site operators ask for it.

Ask the principal contractor or client what they accept before you pay for a test or a card. Some sites accept other construction scheme cards.

Pass the right health, safety and environment test

The CITB health, safety and environment (HS&E) test is a required part of getting a construction scheme card. There are three versions:

• the Operatives test, for general site workers
• the Specialist tests, for trade-specific roles such as supervisory, demolition, plumbing, highway works, specialist work at height, lifts and escalators, tunnelling and heating, ventilation and refrigeration services
• the Managers and Professionals test, for management positions

The CSCS card finder shows which test your card needs. The questions are multiple choice, and CITB sells revision books and an app for the Operatives and Specialist tests.

You can book online, by phone on 0344 994 4488 or through a local internet test centre. Have your personal email address, your full UK postal address, the test type, your chosen test centre and your CITB registration number if you already have one. You can ask for support, such as a translator or a British Sign Language interpreter, when you book.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before the test, and bring your booking confirmation and ID that shows your photo and signature. Candidates under 16 also need a signed parental consent form. You can reschedule free online up to 72 hours before the test, and you get a full refund if you cancel online at least 72 hours before. Keep your score report safe, because it holds the details you need for your card application.

Choose the right card and know what it costs

Check a worker's card

If you run a site or employ people on one, you can check a card with CITB's online card checker. You need two items, one of which must be the individual ID, registration number, CITB test ID or National Insurance number. The other can be the surname, date of birth or CSCS card number.

A genuine CSCS card has:

• a CSCS hologram in the top left-hand corner, with the words Construction Skill Certification Scheme visible in the reflective part when you tilt the card
• a photo of the cardholder on the right-hand side that is a good likeness
• the cardholder's name printed below the hologram, with their registration number and the card's expiry date below that, and the registration number repeated on the back
• a silver or gold HS&E Tested logo in a box next to the photo
• card colour that runs to the edge of the card, with sharp, clear printing

If you suspect a fraudulent card, keep the card if you can, photocopy the front and back, and record the cardholder's name and address and where they say they got the card. You can refuse access to site under your company rules and report the matter to the police. CSCS and CITB both ask for copies of the evidence.