Cscs card???

saintjammyswine

andy_brown11 wrote: »

hi im thinking about getting my cscs card so i can do more work, dont know where to do it though. Can anyone recommend a good college?

It is not a funded qualification so although colleges may offer courses to help with the test, it will normally be through a specific project, usually in partnership with JCP or Work Programme providers. Are you in receipt of JSA or ESA (WRAG)?

andy_brown11

thank for the quick reply, no i am not but have been looking at a couple of colleges in glasgow and the near vicinity and just wanted to speak to someone who had maybe taken the test at one of them.

saintjammyswine

Best to look at CITB direct as the test is quite straightforward and can be easily passed with simple revision. It costs £17.50 for the test, which is taken at a local test centre and you can get revision books & CDROMs from the internet or shops like waterstones etc. There are usually second hand versions available as well.
Information here http://www.citb.co.uk/en-GB/Cards-testing/Health-Safety-environment-test/
Be very wary about other companies advertising the test etc as they are not always genuine and can cost more than booking direct.

kajay

My husband runs his own successful decorating business for the last 25 years. His employees have all successfully obtained CSCS cards. He takes on CITB apprentices and trains them while they attend college. He has been refused a card as he does not hold certificates. They initially gave him a skilled worker card but that run out and is not renewable. He has a Health and Safety certificate, but CSCS will not accept time served as proof of his ability as a painter and decorator. They want certificates as proof. This would mean he would have to go to college and train as a painter and decorator. Luckily the companies he has had contracts for work recognise his time served skills as proof, together with health and safety certificate. It would not be possible for him to go back to college as he works and runs business everyday. He was told that even if he did go to college, one of his employees would have to approve and sign off his work. He's been told the accreditation route for card application is closed.

saintjammyswine

Correct, there have also been unadvertised changes to the General Operative (or Labourer) green card. This is being replaced and just taking the H&S test alone is no longer enough, you will now also have to take a Level 1 Award in Health & Safety in a Construction Environment (or similar) course although this is a very short course, it does add on more beaurocracy.