CSCS Card

PerkyG

Hi

My boyfriend is currently out of work, having working in the past doing labouring, roofing etc.

Does anyone know how you go about getting a CSCS card to do general labouring work. He doesnt have an NVQ and isnt employed so cant get it that way.

Have looked up some websites and it seems all a bit complicated!

Any help would be appreciated!!

brightonman123

check with jobcentre on next signon- depending how log out of work, they may require you to do a rather pointless 'employability skills' course (4 days, class based), before referring you to actual course people were after..

(CSCS, ITQ, SIA etc)

tigeress289

As above, check at job centre as they may pay the fee. Which I think is around £17.50p. You can also apply on line by google and download the test before booking. You will only receive a certificate, which does not get you the card straight away but you need it. If he is not going to work on a site,waste of time.

PerkyG

Thanks!!

He's only really got experience in manual labour type work and do think thts his best route to get work. He is going to the job centre tomorrow. If we paid for it privately can he get a card or is his only route to go via the job centre??

saintjammyswine

Job Centre will not act as employer to sign the applciation for the card once he has done the H&S test. Once he has passed the test, he can apply for the card but someone (current or former employer) must counter sign the form. JCP are no longer allowed to do this due to a change in the rules. You say he has worked as a labourer before, get his former employer to sign the form. The test costs £17.50, book online for your local centre, books & CDs for revision available, check your local library first for free copies but from £17.50 online (usually buy book, get CD ROM free). Once test is passed, he can get a form printed frm website to apply for card. Takes a few weeks (4-8 normally) to get the card but can use test pass certificate as evidence of passing H&S test in meantime.

bolton214

i have been wondering about this too. my partner is an apprentice trained builder. he applied for a card a couple of years ago, but they wouldn't give him one as he didn't have a certificate from the employer he did the apprenticeship with, he did however have the certificates from college for city and guilds. the employer has since passed away as it's over 30 years ago since he trained. does anyone know if there is anything he can do to get the card, bearing in mind that he has been unemployed for the last nine months.

saintjammyswine

Depends on which card he is looking to get. He should be able to get the general operative card on production of a health & safety test certificate as this does not require industry training. If he is looking for a trade specific card he will need to get some advice from the CSCS website, google CSCS Health & Safety test for info, the phone helplines are usually quite helpful as well.

Sambucus_Nigra

bolton214 wrote: »

i have been wondering about this too. my partner is an apprentice trained builder. he applied for a card a couple of years ago, but they wouldn't give him one as he didn't have a certificate from the employer he did the apprenticeship with, he did however have the certificates from college for city and guilds. the employer has since passed away as it's over 30 years ago since he trained. does anyone know if there is anything he can do to get the card, bearing in mind that he has been unemployed for the last nine months.

If he calls CSCS they should be able to give him the number to get his Indentured Apprenticeship Papers and, once he has passed his H&S test - he should be able to get the card - Blue Skilled Worker.

PerkyG wrote: »

Thanks!!

He's only really got experience in manual labour type work and do think thts his best route to get work. He is going to the job centre tomorrow. If we paid for it privately can he get a card or is his only route to go via the job centre??

He needs to apply for the Green - Construction Site Operative card; and as mentioned, he will have to get someone to complete the form for him...an ex employer usually will do this for the price of a pint. Obviously, pass the correct H&S test first.

PerkyG

Thanks - have rang CSCS and have booked him in for the test - the green card one. So fingers crossed - thanks for all the advice - never knew it was so hard just to get a job! They dont make it easy do they !!!

sickofusernames

PerkyG wrote: »

Thanks - have rang CSCS and have booked him in for the test - the green card one. So fingers crossed - thanks for all the advice - never knew it was so hard just to get a job! They dont make it easy do they !!!

Definitely not - I heard so many conflicting things with how to get a CSCS card I almost gave up. I booked the test online and passed the test at a Prometric centre about 6 months ago, not got the actual card yet but I guess if i leave it too long my test pass will expire?

Funny also that you apparently had to get someone working in the building trade to countersign your card application - DOH!

Sambucus_Nigra

PerkyG wrote: »

Thanks - have rang CSCS and have booked him in for the test - the green card one. So fingers crossed - thanks for all the advice - never knew it was so hard just to get a job! They dont make it easy do they !!!

To be fair; it is a scheme that is actually designed by the industry itself and it's the industry that made it hard to figure out because they wanted so many categories. It was brought in because the industry was killing and injuring too many people, so having minimum levels of H&S and trying to get people some degree of qualification is no bad thing.