CISRS scaffolding cards: labourer, trainee, scaffolder and advanced
To work on scaffolding in the UK you need a CISRS card, not a CSCS card. You start with the Labourer card (COTS course + HS&E test), move to a Trainee card while you do Part 1, Part 2 and the NVQ, then get the Scaffolder card. The Labourer and Scaffolder cards last 5 years; each Trainee card lasts 18 months.
From cisrs.org.uk and the NOCN application forms, checked October 2026. Every card also needs a Health, Safety & Environment test passed in the last 2 years. Course prices are set by each training centre. CISRS helpline (NOCN): 0300 999 1177.
The main CISRS cards
| Card | Who it's for | You need | Lasts | Renew with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labourer | Labouring and driving in support of scaffolders | COTS course + HS&E test | 5 years | COTS again + HS&E |
| Trainee Scaffolder | People training to be scaffolders | Labourer card for 3+ months, then Part 1 | 18 months (2 cards max) | Second card once Part 2 is done |
| Scaffolder (Tube & Fitting or System) | Qualified scaffolders | Part 1, Part 2, NVQ Level 2, 1-Day Skills Test, HS&E | 5 years | 2-day Refresher/CPD course |
| Advanced Scaffolder | Scaffolders who lead a gang | Scaffolder (T&F) card for 12 months, Advanced course, 2-Day Skills Test, NVQ Level 3 | Not stated by CISRS | 2-day Refresher/CPD course |
Cards can be renewed up to 6 months before they expire. CISRS says most of its cards are valid for 5 years.
From labourer to scaffolder, step by step
Pass a Health, Safety & Environment test
The CITB HS&E test (Operatives level), or the CISRS Operatives HS&E test from NOCN — taken online for £22. It must be passed in the 2 years before you apply. See the CITB test explained.
Do the COTS course and get the Labourer card
COTS is the CISRS Operative Training Scheme, at a CISRS training centre. With the Labourer card you work from a safe position — the ground, a floor, a finished scaffold platform. You may not put up, change or take down scaffolding.
Get site experience, then do Part 1
You need the Labourer card for at least 3 months and real site experience before the CISRS Part 1 course. Part 1 gives you the first 18-month Trainee card.
Do Part 2 and the NVQ
The second Trainee card needs Part 2. Before the second card ends you must also finish the NVQ Level 2 in Accessing Operations and Rigging (Scaffolding) and pass the 1-Day Skills Test. As a trainee you only work under the direct supervision of a CISRS scaffolder.
Apply for the Scaffolder card
Send the application form with copies of your certificates and HS&E test to NOCN. Tube & Fitting and System are separate routes — Part 1 and Part 2 are done for the one you choose.
You get two 18-month Trainee cards at most. All the training — Part 1, Part 2, the NVQ and the skills test — has to fit inside them. A Trainee card is not renewed if you haven't attended Part 2. Plan the NVQ early with your employer.
How to apply or renew
Download the right form
Each card has its own form on the NOCN Job Cards CISRS page (cpcs.nocn.org.uk/CISRS). Your training centre often sends it for you.
Pay the fee by phone
£38 for the Labourer or Scaffolder card, £33 for the Trainee card, on the current forms. Call 0300 999 1177 (option 1, then option 2) and write the payment code on the form. Fees are not refundable.
Send copies, not originals
Email the form, certificates and HS&E test to cisrs@nocn.org.uk, or post them to CISRS, NOCN Group, PO Box 1242, Kings Lynn, PE30 9FQ. Missing certificates mean the form comes back.
Wait for the card
NOCN says applications take up to 14 working days. You get a plastic card and a smart card you can tap on a phone.
Other cards and situations
“My card expired”
Renew it as soon as you can. CISRS says if a card has been expired for more than 6 months you may need extra training or re-assessment. Ask a CISRS training centre which applies to you.
BASE card
For non-scaffolders who put up very basic system scaffolds of one product, up to 6 metres, away from the public. 5-day BASE course; renewal with the 2-day SSPTS course.
Scaffold inspection cards
Basic and Advanced Scaffold Inspection cards are for people who carry out the statutory inspections. The Advanced course needs 2 years with the Basic card, or 2 years as a CISRS Scaffolder.
Supervisor card
For scaffolding supervisors and foremen: 5-day CISRS Scaffolding Manager/Supervisor course + the supervisory HS&E test. Renewal with a 2-day Supervisor Refresher.
“I scaffolded in another country”
CISRS says overseas qualifications are usually not accepted, apart from where a formal equivalence agreement exists. Most people start with the UK route.
Checking a card
Anyone can check a CISRS card on the NOCN card checker (cardchecker.nocn.org) with two details, one of them the registration or National Insurance number.
Graftum Pocket keeps a photo of your CISRS, CSCS and other cards and reminds you months before each one expires. Free, in 7 languages.
Add my cards — 2 minutesCommon questions
Do scaffolders need a CSCS card?
No. CSCS doesn't issue cards for scaffolding — it's covered by a partner scheme, and that scheme is CISRS. A CISRS card is what sites ask scaffolders and scaffolding labourers for.
How do I get a CISRS labourer card?
Pass a Health, Safety & Environment test (CITB or the CISRS Operatives test), do the COTS course at a CISRS training centre and apply with the form. The card lasts 5 years and the fee on the current form is £38.
How long does a CISRS trainee card last?
18 months from the date it's issued. It can be renewed once, so you get 36 months at most to finish Part 1, Part 2, the NVQ Level 2 and the skills test.
How long does a CISRS scaffolder card last?
5 years. You renew it with the 2-day Scaffolder Refresher/CPD course and an HS&E test passed in the last 2 years, from up to 6 months before it expires.
What is CISRS Part 1 and Part 2?
They're the two training courses for scaffolders, in Tube & Fitting or in System scaffolding. Part 1 needs 3 months on a Labourer card and site experience first. Part 2 comes after more time on site as a trainee.
How much is a CISRS card?
The card application fee on the current NOCN forms is £38 for Labourer and Scaffolder cards and £33 for Trainee cards. Courses are extra — each centre sets its own price.
Can I renew an expired CISRS card?
Often yes, but if it's been expired more than 6 months CISRS says you may need extra training or re-assessment. A Labourer card renewal also needs a COTS course done in the last 2 years.
Which HS&E test do scaffolders take?
Most take the Operatives level: the CITB HS&E test or the CISRS Operatives test from NOCN (online, £22). Supervisors and managers take the higher-level test.
