How long does a CSCS card last? Every card colour, explained
Most CSCS cards last 5 years — but a first green Labourer card now lasts only 2, and red cards from 6 months to 5 years and can't be renewed. Here's every card, what you need to get it, and what happens when it runs out.
Your exact expiry date is printed on the card and shown in the My CSCS app. You can renew from 6 months before it until 6 months after it.
Every CSCS card: what it needs, how long it lasts
All cards also need a CITB Health, Safety & Environment test that's in date when you apply (except where noted).
| Card | Who it's for / what you need | Lasts | Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🟩 Labourer | Labouring roles. Level 1 Award in Health & Safety in a Construction Environment + HS&E Operatives test. | 2 years first time, then 5 | Yes — show you work in a labouring role |
| 🟦 Skilled Worker | Qualified trades. NVQ/SVQ Level 2 (or a completed apprenticeship) in your trade. | 5 years | Yes |
| 🟨 Advanced Craft | NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in your trade. | 5 years | Yes |
| 🟨 Supervisor | NVQ/SVQ Level 3 or 4 in a supervisory occupation. | 5 years | Yes |
| ⬛ Manager | NVQ/SVQ Level 5, 6 or 7 in construction management. | 5 years | Yes |
| ⬜ Academically / Professionally Qualified | A construction-related degree or HNC/HND (AQP), or membership of an approved professional body (PQP). | 5 years (AQP) | Yes |
| 🟥 Apprentice | Registered apprentices. Free. | 4½ years | No |
| 🟥 Trainee | Registered on a construction qualification at Level 2 or above. | 5 years | No — move to a skilled card |
| 🟥 Experienced Worker | Experienced on site, registered for the NVQ for your job. | 1 year | No |
| 🟥 Experienced Technical / Supervisor / Manager | Experienced, registered for the relevant Level 3–7 qualification. | 3 years | No |
| 🟥 Provisional | New starters who must be supervised; applied for through an employer. | 6 months | No — one only |
Summary of the CSCS card rules as of October 2026. Requirements vary by occupation — the CSCS Card Finder on cscs.uk.com tells you the exact card, qualification and test level for your job.
What changed in 2025 — and why your green card may say 2 years
Since February 2025 the first Labourer card is issued for 2 years, not 5. When it runs out you can renew it for 5 years, as long as you can show you work in a labouring role (for example a letter from your employer or the main contractor).
At the same time the CITB HS&E Operatives test result became valid for 3 years — so the test you sat for your first green card is still in date when you renew it. The Specialist, Supervisor and Managers & Professionals tests are still valid for 2 years.
The old “grandfather rights” cards — issued on experience alone, without a qualification — all ended in 2024. Every CSCS card now sits on a recognised qualification.
Before your card runs out
Check the date 6 months ahead
That's the earliest you can renew. Renewing early doesn't cost you the months left — and sites check cards digitally (Smart Check), so an expired card is spotted at the gate.
Check your test
If your HS&E test will be out of date when you apply, book a new one first on citb.co.uk (£23.50 for Operatives). Full details: the CITB test explained.
Renew yourself for £36
In the My CSCS app or on cscs.uk.com — no agent needed. Step by step: how to renew your CSCS card.
Red card? Plan the next card, not a renewal
Red cards can't be renewed. Finish the NVQ you're registered on before the card ends, then apply for the blue, gold or black card it leads to.
Add a photo of your card to Graftum Pocket and we remind you months before the expiry date — plus one PDF of all your cards for any employer.
Add my card — 2 minutesCommon questions
How long does a CSCS card last?
Most CSCS cards — Blue Skilled Worker, Gold, Black Manager and White — last 5 years. A first green Labourer card lasts 2 years and can then be renewed for 5. Red cards last between 6 months and 5 years and cannot be renewed.
How long is a green CSCS card valid for?
A first Labourer (green) card is valid for 2 years since February 2025. When you renew it with proof that you work in a labouring role, the new card lasts 5 years.
How much is a CSCS card?
£36 for every card type, paid on cscs.uk.com or in the My CSCS app. The Apprentice card is free. You also need an in-date CITB HS&E test (£23.50 for the Operatives test).
Can I renew a red CSCS card?
No. Red cards (Trainee, Experienced Worker, Provisional, Apprentice) can't be renewed. You move to a skilled card once you finish your qualification.
When can I renew my CSCS card?
From 6 months before the expiry date printed on your card until 6 months after it. After that you make a new application.
Is the CSCS card the same everywhere in the UK?
Yes — the same scheme and cards apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland the qualifications are SVQs instead of NVQs.
Do I need a CSCS card by law?
No law requires it, but most main contractors and almost every large site require a valid card at the gate. In practice, without one you won't get on most sites.
