How to get the blue CSCS card: from green to blue
The blue Skilled Worker card needs an NVQ or SVQ Level 2 in your trade (or a completed apprenticeship) plus a CITB health and safety test passed in the last two years. Years of experience but no NVQ? You register for the NVQ, get the red Experienced Worker card, get assessed on site, then apply for blue.
The test level depends on your job — the Card Finder on cscs.uk.com tells you which one. The green Labourer card is for unskilled work only: CSCS says skilled workers holding it will be refused site access.
Which route is yours?
Pick the line that matches you. All routes end with the same blue card.
| Your situation | What you do | Card meanwhile |
|---|---|---|
| You already have an NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in your trade | Pass the CITB test at the right level, then apply for blue. | — |
| You finished an apprenticeship | Apply for blue with your completion certificate. Old City & Guilds certificates (from April 2013) need the e-certificate code. | — |
| Experienced on site, no qualification | Register for the NVQ Level 2 for your job and get assessed at work (OSAT or EWPA). | 🟥 Experienced Worker, 1 year |
| New to the trade, studying | Register on the qualification (NVQ, college course or apprenticeship). | 🟥 Trainee or Apprentice |
| Qualified abroad | Get an Industry Skills Statement from Ecctis, then apply with it. | Depends on the result |
From the CSCS card rules as of October 2026. If your trade is covered by another scheme in the CSCS Alliance (for example electricians, plant operators, scaffolders), that scheme issues your card instead.
No NVQ yet: the Experienced Worker route, step by step
Check your experience
CSCS normally expects about one year of on-the-job experience in the last three years in the job you're applying for.
Register for the NVQ Level 2 for your job
With a training provider or assessment centre. Experienced workers do it by On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or an Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) — no classroom course.
Get the registration letter
From the training organisation or awarding body. It must show your name, the full qualification title with the level, and a registration date within the last two years.
Pass the CITB test
At the level the Card Finder gives for your job. See the CITB test explained.
Apply for the red Experienced Worker card
£36 on cscs.uk.com or in the My CSCS app. It lasts 1 year and can't be renewed — so finish the NVQ inside that year.
Get assessed at work
An assessor visits your site several times, watches you work and checks photos and records of your jobs. CITB says most people finish in 3 to 6 months from the first visit.
Apply for blue
Once the NVQ certificate is issued, apply for the Skilled Worker card — £36, lasts 5 years.
What it costs
The card
£36 for the blue card (and £36 for the red one before it). Only cscs.uk.com and the My CSCS app are official — sites charging more sell the same form.
The NVQ
Each provider sets its own price. For comparison, CITB's own assessment centre (NCC) lists Level 2 at £699–£899 for the trades it covers. Ask for a full price in writing before you pay.
Your employer may get money back
A CITB-registered employer can claim a CITB grant when you achieve an NVQ Level 2 — including for subcontractors. Ask the firm before you pay yourself.
Free in England for some learners
Since August 2026 eligible learners on a Level 2 or 3 construction course funded by the Adult Skills Fund can have the card fee and CITB test paid by the training provider. Ask your college or provider.
The green Labourer card is for unskilled work only. If you're working as a tiler, dryliner, bricklayer or any other trade, CSCS says you need the card for that job — skilled workers on a Labourer card will be refused site access. The red Experienced Worker card is the legal bridge while you do the NVQ.
Graftum Pocket keeps a photo of each card and certificate and reminds you before your red card runs out — so you finish the NVQ in time. Free.
Add my cards — 2 minutesCommon questions
How do I get a blue CSCS card?
You need an NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in your trade or a completed apprenticeship, plus a CITB Health, Safety & Environment test passed in the last two years at the level for your job. Then you apply on cscs.uk.com or in the My CSCS app for £36.
Can I get a blue CSCS card without an NVQ?
No. Cards based on experience alone ended in 2024. If you're experienced but unqualified, you register for the NVQ, get the red Experienced Worker card, and apply for blue once the NVQ is done.
How long does an NVQ Level 2 take for experienced workers?
With on-site assessment, CITB says most people finish within 3 to 6 months of the first assessor visit. It depends on how quickly you can show evidence for every unit.
How much does an NVQ Level 2 in construction cost?
Providers set their own prices. CITB's own centre lists £699 to £899 for the Level 2 trades it assesses. A CITB-registered employer can claim a grant back when you achieve it.
What is the Experienced Worker CSCS card?
A red card for people with about a year of on-the-job experience in the last three years who are registered on an NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or higher. It lasts 1 year and can't be renewed.
How long does a blue CSCS card last?
5 years. You can renew it from 6 months before the expiry date, with an in-date CITB test.
Can I use my qualification from Romania or another country?
If CSCS doesn't recognise it, apply to Ecctis for an Industry Skills Statement. Ecctis checks whether it compares to a UK qualification, and you upload the statement with your CSCS application.
What is the difference between the blue and gold CSCS card?
Blue needs an NVQ/SVQ Level 2. Gold (Advanced Craft or Supervisor) needs Level 3. Both last 5 years.
