Red CSCS card
Experienced Worker card
Workers with on-the-job experience — normally at least a year in the last three — who do not yet hold the qualification for a skilled card. 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
- Workers with on-the-job experience — normally at least a year in the last three — who do not yet hold the qualification for a skilled card.
- Qualification
- Registration on an approved construction NVQ/SVQ at Level 2 or above, with proof dated within the last two years.
- Test
- CITB HS&E test at the level for your occupation, within the last two years.
- How long it lasts
- One year.
- Renewable
- No. You must finish the qualification and then apply for a skilled 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
- Tradespeople with years on site but no formal qualification, working towards their NVQ Level 2 or 3
How to apply, step by step
- Check the Experienced Worker card is the right one for your job with the CSCS Card Finder.
- Get the qualification or evidence it needs: registration on an approved construction NVQ/SVQ at Level 2 or above, with proof dated within the last two years.
- Pass the test: cITB HS&E test at the level for your occupation, 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: Blue Skilled Worker card
Common questions
- Can I renew an Experienced Worker card?
- No. It lasts one year so you can work while you complete your NVQ; after that you apply for the Blue Skilled Worker card (or Gold, at Level 3).
- How much does the Experienced Worker 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 Worker 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 Worker card?
- CITB HS&E test at the level for your occupation, within the last two years. Book it through CITB; the pass must be no more than two years old when you apply.