Red CSCS card
Apprentice card
People on a recognised construction apprenticeship. Below: the qualification and test you need, how long the card lasts, and what it costs.
- Colour
- Red
- CSCS card
- Card fee
- Free
- for the first card
- Test fee
- £23.50
- CITB HS&E test
- Practice
- Free
- 50-question mock test
- Who it's for
- People on a recognised construction apprenticeship.
- Qualification
- Evidence that you are registered on an apprenticeship — a letter from your training provider or managing agency, or your Apprenticeship Agreement.
- Test
- CITB HS&E test within the last two years, or an approved alternative such as a one-day Construction Health and Safety Awareness course.
- How long it lasts
- Four years and six months.
- Renewable
- No. You are expected to finish the apprenticeship and apply for a skilled card.
- Cost
- Free for the first card.
Apply through CSCS Online or the My CSCS app. Approved cards usually arrive within five working days. Check exactly which card your job needs with the CSCS Card Finder.
Who carries this card
- Apprentice bricklayer, carpenter, plasterer or other trade on a recognised apprenticeship
How to apply, step by step
- Check the Apprentice card is the right one for your job with the CSCS Card Finder.
- Get the qualification or evidence it needs: evidence that you are registered on an apprenticeship — a letter from your training provider or managing agency, or your Apprenticeship Agreement.
- Pass the test: cITB HS&E test within the last two years, or an approved alternative such as a one-day Construction Health and Safety Awareness course.
- Apply through CSCS Online or the My CSCS app, uploading your qualification evidence and a photo that meets CSCS rules.
- Pay the fee — nothing for the first card.
Why applications get held up
- The CITB test was taken at the wrong level for the card applied for.
- The test pass is more than two years old.
- The qualification is not one CSCS recognises for that card — check it with the Card Finder first.
- The name on the qualification does not match the name on the application.
- The photo does not meet CSCS requirements.
Next step up: Blue Skilled Worker card
Common questions
- Is the Apprentice card free?
- Yes. The first Apprentice card is issued free of charge; replacing a lost or damaged one costs the standard card fee.
- How much does the Apprentice card cost?
- The card costs nothing for the first card when you apply direct through CSCS. On top of that you pay £23.50 for the CITB test, and the cost of any qualification the card needs.
- How long does the Apprentice card take to arrive?
- Approved cards usually arrive within five working days of a successful application. Apply before you need it — sites check cards at the gate.
- Which CITB test do I need for the Apprentice card?
- CITB HS&E test within the last two years, or an approved alternative such as a one-day Construction Health and Safety Awareness course. Book it through CITB; the pass must be no more than two years old when you apply.