Red CSCS card
Provisional card
People on probation, short work experience (under three weeks), or new to construction and exploring a career. 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
- People on probation, short work experience (under three weeks), or new to construction and exploring a career.
- Qualification
- None, but you can only apply if you have never held a CSCS card, and only once.
- Test
- CITB HS&E test within the past two years.
- How long it lasts
- Six months.
- Renewable
- No. Before it expires, gain or register for a qualification and apply for the card that matches your job.
- 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
- New starters on probation
- Short work-experience placements
How to apply, step by step
- Check the Provisional card is the right one for your job with the CSCS Card Finder.
- Get the qualification or evidence it needs: none, but you can only apply if you have never held a CSCS card, and only once.
- Pass the test: cITB HS&E test within the past 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.
Common questions
- Can I get a second Provisional card?
- No. It can be applied for once, and only by someone who has never held a CSCS card.
- How much does the Provisional 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 Provisional 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 Provisional card?
- CITB HS&E test within the past two years. Book it through CITB; the pass must be no more than two years old when you apply.