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Labourer

Do not apply for this card if you work in a skilled occupation. This card is for unskilled workers only, it show employers the holder is not on a recognised training pathway. You will be refused entry to site if you work in a skilled occupation and you hold a Labourer card.  

The Labourer card is valid for five years and can not be renewed. Instead, individuals should apply for a new Labourer card when their existing card expires.

All applicants must pass the CITB health, safety and environment test for operatives and hold one of the following:

  • The Level 1 (Scotland Level 4) Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
  • The Scottish Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate
  • The NOCN/CSkills Awards Construction Health and Safety (F/618/0738) unit
  • A CSCS approved alternative qualification – see below.

How to apply

All applications are made via CSCS Online.

Once an application is approved, cards should arrive within five working days.

This Level 1 award was developed for Labourers needing to obtain a CSCS card.

CSCS do not deliver training. To take this level 1 award, please contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus.

These organisations can advise about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.

The following awarding organisations have approval from OFQUAL to offer this qualification

ABBE

AIM Awards

Ascentis

City & Guilds

CSkills Awards (now NOCN)

EAL

ETA Awards

Gateway Qualifications

GQA Qualifications

Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC)

LANTRA Awards

Laser Learning Awards

NOCN

OCN London

OCNWMR

Pearson

ProQual

Qualifications Network

The Learning Machine Ltd (TLM)

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)

SQA

The following awarding organisations no longer offer the qualification although qualifications already issued will be accepted:

AGORED Cymru

Qualsafe Awards

Qualification standard

Download the qualification standard for the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment.

CSCS accepts a number of alternative courses for Labourer card applications.

Alternative qualifications which expire can only be used once, so you will need to retake these qualifications in the future when you renew your Labourer card.

CSCS do not deliver training. To take one of the required courses, please contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus.

These organisations can advise about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding for your course is available.

Awarding Organisation Course Name Lifetime of Course Delivery
CITB Health and Safety Awareness Course Five Years Classroom or Online
COSAC Safe2Site Five years Online
Drilling and Sawing Association DSA 1 Day Health and Safety Awareness Course Five Years Classroom
IOSH Safety, Health and Environment for Construction Workers Three years Classroom and virtual (face to face). IOSH e-learning courses are not accepted for a CSCS card.
JTJ JTJ Introduction to Construction Course N/A Closed – renewals only.
NOCN Health and Safety Awareness in Construction Five years Classroom
NPORS NPORS Site Safety Awareness Course Five years Classroom
SPA – Safety Pass Alliance SPA – Core Construction Course Five years Classroom
Priestman Associates Principles of Construction Site Health N/A Closed – renewals only.
Rushmoor Borough Council Rushmoor Borough Council Health and Safety in a Construction Environment L1 N/A Closed – renewals only.
Play video

How to apply for a CSCS Labourer card

In this short video, we explain how to apply for a CSCS Labourer card online as an individual applicant.
Watch and subscribe: YouTube.com/@OfficialCSCS