Green CSCS card
Labourer card
Unskilled labourers only. Skilled workers holding one will be refused site access. Below: the qualification and test you need, how long the card lasts, and what it costs.
- Colour
- Green
- 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
- Unskilled labourers only. Skilled workers holding one will be refused site access.
- Qualification
- The Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or a CSCS-approved alternative such as the REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
- Test
- CITB Health, Safety and Environment test (Operatives).
- How long it lasts
- The first Labourer card is valid for two years.
- Renewable
- Yes. Still labouring after two years, you can renew for a further five years with evidence of labouring work, within one year of expiry.
- 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
- General site labourer
- Groundwork labourer
- Labourer supporting a trade gang
How to apply, step by step
- Check the Labourer card is the right one for your job with the CSCS Card Finder.
- Get the qualification or evidence it needs: the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or a CSCS-approved alternative such as the REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
- Pass the test: cITB Health, Safety and Environment test (Operatives).
- 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
- How long does a green CSCS card last?
- A first Labourer card lasts two years. If you are still labouring, you can then renew it for five years with evidence of your labouring work.
- Do I need experience to get a Labourer card?
- No. Evidence of labouring work is not required for the first two-year card — only the Level 1 health and safety award (or an approved alternative) and a pass in the HS&E test.
- How much does the Labourer 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 Labourer 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 Labourer card?
- CITB Health, Safety and Environment test (Operatives). Book it through CITB; the pass must be no more than two years old when you apply.