Gold CSCS card
Gold Skilled Worker (Advanced Craft) card
Advanced craft workers qualified at Level 3. Below: the qualification and test you need, how long the card lasts, and what it costs.
- Colour
- Gold
- 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
- Advanced craft workers qualified at Level 3.
- Qualification
- A construction-related NVQ/SVQ Level 3 (SVQ at SCQF level 6), or an approved apprenticeship, or an employer-sponsored apprenticeship with a City and Guilds Advanced Craft Certificate.
- Test
- CITB HS&E test at the level for your occupation, within the last two years.
- How long it lasts
- Five years.
- Renewable
- Yes, with a current HS&E test pass.
- 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
- Advanced craft bricklayer or joiner
- Setting-out tradesperson
- Craft specialist at NVQ Level 3
How to apply, step by step
- Check the Gold Skilled Worker (Advanced Craft) card is the right one for your job with the CSCS Card Finder.
- Get the qualification or evidence it needs: a construction-related NVQ/SVQ Level 3 (SVQ at SCQF level 6), or an approved apprenticeship, or an employer-sponsored apprenticeship with a City and Guilds Advanced Craft Certificate.
- 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: Gold Supervisor card
Common questions
- What is the difference between the two gold cards?
- The Gold Skilled Worker (Advanced Craft) card is for tradespeople at Level 3. The Gold Supervisor card is for supervisory and technical roles at Level 3 or 4 and needs the Specialist Supervisory test.
- How much does the Gold Skilled Worker (Advanced Craft) 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 Gold Skilled Worker (Advanced Craft) 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 Gold Skilled Worker (Advanced Craft) 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.