How much does a CSCS card cost?
A CSCS card costs £36 when you apply direct through CSCS, rising to £42 from 1 February 2027. On top of that you pay £23.50 for the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, and the cost of any qualification your card needs.
What you pay
Card fee: £36, paid to CSCS when you apply through CSCS Online or the My CSCS app. From 1 February 2027 it rises to £42.
CITB HS&E test: £23.50, booked through CITB. Your pass must be within the last two years when you apply.
Qualification: a Labourer card needs the Level 1 health and safety award, typically a one-day course. Skilled, supervisor and manager cards need the NVQ or equivalent you already hold or are working towards.
Total cost by card
Labourer (green): £36 card + £23.50 test + the one-day Level 1 health and safety course.
Skilled Worker (blue) or Gold: £36 card + £23.50 test, if you already hold the NVQ or apprenticeship. Without one, the NVQ is the big cost — often paid or part-funded by employers, and CITB grants are available to registered employers.
Supervisor and Manager cards: £36 card + £23.50 for the Specialist Supervisory or Managers and Professionals test, plus the NVQ.
AQP and PQP (white): £36 card + £23.50 for the Managers and Professionals test (or the CIC test), with your degree or professional membership as the qualification.
The Apprentice card is free
The first Apprentice card is issued free of charge. Replacing a lost or damaged one costs the standard card fee.
Watch out for resellers
Many websites sell 'CSCS card packages' for well over £100. Most are bundling the same £36 card, the £23.50 test and a course, with a mark-up. You can apply direct to CSCS yourself.
Never pay a recruiter or employer for a card before starting a job — that is one of the most common construction job scams.