The Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) has chosen to withdraw from the CSCS Alliance and will no longer issue CSCS-logoed cards from 21st April 2025.
To ensure SAFed cardholders will not be prevented from carrying out their work, sites are advised to continue accepting CSCS-logoed SAFed cards until 30th September 2025, as long as they are still valid and within the original expiry date.
SAFed cardholders, or their employers, have until this date to replace their cards either via CSCS or TWI Certification Ltd (TWI Cert) via their Certification Scheme for Personnel (CSWIP), depending on their occupation.
What cardholders need to do
SAFed cardholders should take the following steps before 30th September 2025:
- If you work as a Steel Fabricator Welder or a Stud Welder: You can replace your SAFed card through CSCS
- If you work in all other welding occupations or are a Welding Inspector: You can replace your card via CSWIP
- If you work as an Engineer Surveyor: You can obtain a CSCS card via CSCS.
SAFed withdrawal FAQs
SAFed have given notice to withdraw from the CSCS Alliance and therefore will no longer issue CSCS-logoed cards from 21 April 2025.
Existing SAFed cards remain valid until 30th September 2025. Sites will not allow SAFed cardholders access following this date.
If you work as a Steel Fabricator Welder or a Stud Welder: you can replace your card through CSCS. Please contact us via CSCS.uk.com/contact.
If you work as any other type of welder; you can replace your card from TWI Certification Ltd (TWI Cert) via their Certification Scheme for Personnel (CSWIP). Please contact cscspartner@twicertification.com
If you are a Welding Inspector: you can replace your card from TWI Certification Ltd (TWI Cert) via their Certification Scheme for Personnel (CSWIP). Please contact cscspartner@twicertification.com
If you are an Engineer Surveyor: you can replace your card through CSCS. Please contact: CSCS.uk.com/contact
If your card expires before September 2025, you will need to put a plan in place to transfer to CSCS or TWI Cert depending on your occupation.
You are strongly advised to plan your transition as soon as possible.
Engineer Surveyor
CSCS will require evidence of a pass in the CITB Health, safety and environment test (Managers and Professionals), together with the details of the engineering qualification that you hold and the certification provided by the UKAS accredited company you completed your examination/assessment with.
Welder
CSCS cards will require evidence of a pass in the CITB Health, safety and environment test (Operatives) together with the details of the welding qualification that you hold and the certification provided by the UKAS accredited company you completed your examination/assessment with.
TWI Cert will require:
- If the individual has a valid CSWIP certification and a CSCS card, i.e., they have passed the CITB or TWI Cert HSE Operative test, they can apply directly to get a CSCS card issued by TWI Certification Ltd (TWI Cert).
- If the individual has a valid CSWIP certification but no CSCS card, i.e., they have not passed the CITB or TWI Cert HSE Operative test, they must pass this and then apply to TWI Cert for their CSCS card.
- Those who are coded welders, e.g., they hold a Welder Performance Qualification (WPQ) issued by TWI Cert or another Recognised Third Party Organisation (RTPO), must undertake a job knowledge test and either the CITB or TWI Cert HSE test (as mentioned above) if they don’t already have one or a CSCS card.
Full details of the process can be found here.
For those individuals who do not have a valid CSWIP certification they must attain one before a card can be approved.
Welding Inspection
TWI Cert will require:
- If the individual has a valid CSWIP certification and a CSCS card, i.e., they have passed the CITB or TWI Cert HSE Managers test, they can apply directly to get a CSCS card issued by TWI Certification Ltd (TWI Cert).
- If the individual has a valid CSWIP certification but no CSCS card, i.e., they have not passed the CITB or TWI Cert HSE Managers test, they must pass this and then apply to TWI Cert for their CSCS card.
Full details of the process can be found here.
For those individuals who do not have a valid CSWIP certification they must attain one before a card can be approved.
It will depend on what is required to meet the new certification scheme’s requirements, but it is expected that once the requirements have been met then a card will be issued usually within two weeks.
There will be a cost to take the relevant CITB HSE test and any fee charged by the new certification scheme to cover the costs involved with administration and the card issuance.
If you apply for a replacement card before 30th September 2025 it will be treated as a new application and your card will be valid for as long as new card (usually five years – depending on the occupation).
No, a new welder qualification will be required.
To transfer a card, you must meet the criteria set by CSCS Cards or TWI Cert.