Red CSCS card
Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card
Supervisors, managers and technical staff with on-the-job experience, normally at least a year in the last three. Below: the qualification and test you need, how long the card lasts, and what it costs.
- Colour
- Red
- CSCS card
- Card fee
- £36
- £42 from 1 February 2027
- Test fee
- £23.50
- CITB HS&E test
- Practice
- Free
- 50-question mock test
- Who it's for
- Supervisors, managers and technical staff with on-the-job experience, normally at least a year in the last three.
- Qualification
- Registration on an approved Technical, Supervisory or Management NVQ/SVQ at Level 3 or above, dated within the last two years.
- Test
- The appropriate level of the CITB HS&E test within the last two years.
- How long it lasts
- Three years.
- Renewable
- No. Complete the qualification and apply for the Supervisor or Manager card.
- Cost
- £36 (£42 from 1 February 2027), plus the CITB test.
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
- Foremen, supervisors and managers working towards a Level 3 or higher TSM NVQ
How to apply, step by step
- Check the Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card is the right one for your job with the CSCS Card Finder.
- Get the qualification or evidence it needs: registration on an approved Technical, Supervisory or Management NVQ/SVQ at Level 3 or above, dated within the last two years.
- Pass the test: the appropriate level of the CITB HS&E test within the last two years.
- Apply through CSCS Online or the My CSCS app, uploading your qualification evidence and a photo that meets CSCS rules.
- Pay the fee — £36 (£42 from 1 February 2027).
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: Gold Supervisor card
Common questions
- Who is this card for?
- Experienced supervisors, managers and technical staff who are working towards the NVQ they need for a Gold Supervisor or Black Manager card.
- How much does the Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card cost?
- The card costs £36 (£42 from 1 February 2027) 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 Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager 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 Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager card?
- The appropriate level of the CITB HS&E test within the last two years. Book it through CITB; the pass must be no more than two years old when you apply.