The card that gets you through the gate.
The CSCS Green Card is the entry-level card in the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. It proves basic health and safety awareness for UK construction sites. No prior experience. No trade qualification. First rung.
No UK law technically requires one. But try walking onto a commercial site without it. Most principal contractors enforce a 100% carded workforce. No card, no gate, no work.
Construction is one of the few industries where your right to work is verified at the gate, every morning, by a physical card. In an economy where AI is replacing desk jobs monthly, the CSCS system is the barrier that keeps construction careers human.
Green is not a dead end. It is step one. Your employer expects you to move.
Each step = harder test + higher NVQ + more pay. Why you should not stay on Green →
Four steps. Two weeks. ~£180 all in.
Prices correct as of April 2026. HS&E test fee increased from £22.50 to £23.50.
Find training near you or book your HS&E test at FTBU Academy.
Find Training Centres FTBU AcademyWhat you are walking into.
Pearson centre. Touchscreen. Not online. 38 standard multiple choice. 12 behavioural case studies. Fire extinguisher questions trip people up. Know those cold.
Fail? Retake after 24 hours. Same fee. No limit. Pass valid for 2 years.
Delivered by Pearson Professional Centres across the UK. Data correct as of April 2026.
What nobody tells you.
Every website says "£36." That is the card fee. The real cost from zero depends on which card you are going for.
Prices correct as of April 2026. Course fees vary by provider and region.
Two organisations. Everyone mixes them up.
| CITB | CSCS |
|---|---|
| Construction Industry Training Board | Construction Skills Certification Scheme |
| Runs the HS&E test | Issues the cards |
| Collects the industry levy | Manages Smart Check + database |
| Government-backed statutory body | Industry-run scheme |
CITB tests you. CSCS cards you.
From 2025, first-time Green Card holders get a 2-year card. A push to progress. CSCS wants you on NVQ Level 2 and upgraded to Blue within those 2 years.
Cards issued before 2025 keep 5-year validity. The 2-year rule is for new applications only. Green is temporary. Blue is where you are heading.
Short answer: no.
| Country | Equivalent | UK CSCS accepted? |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | White Card | No |
| UAE / Dubai | Trakhees ID | No |
| USA | OSHA 10/30 Hour | No |
| Ireland | Safe Pass | No |
| Hong Kong | Green Card | No |
| New Zealand | Site Safe | No |
Card doesn't transfer. Qualifications do, via UK ENIC. Full country guide →
International data correct as of April 2026.
Private domestic work: no requirement. Larger developers: yes.
No. Checkatrade, MyBuilder, Rated People don't require it. But it adds credibility.
Don't let it lapse. Renew 3 months before expiry. Principal contractors enforce it.
Grandfather Rights ended Dec 2024. Fastest: EWPA (1-2 day assessment). Full guide →
Yes, you can get one. CSCS doesn't run DBS checks.
Find a training centre or book your HS&E test directly.
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